Little Mashel Falls

Little Mashel Falls is in Eatonville, Washington, about 30-45 minutes away from Olympia in one direction, and Mt. Rainier the other. There are a set of 3 waterfalls here. The largest one is the Middle Falls so we followed that route.

On this approx 1.5 mile there-and-back hike (from my directions at the bottom of this post), you can get very close to this waterfall which makes it really fun! I rank it as a moderate difficulty hike due to the incline in the beginning needing a rope to help, and the walk along a railroad track bridge (if you are afraid of heights). You can also make this hike approx 5 miles via the directions from All Trails.

Directions on how to get to the Falls and the hiking trail: Click here for directions to where you can park on the side of the road. From here, there are little trails that lead you down to a railroad crossing. On the way down the steep slope to the railroad, there is a rope you can use, so hold on tight! After you cross the railroad, turn right up the first path, then turn right again once you hit pavement. You will then see writing on a rock to lead you to the Falls. Take this trail to the Middle Falls for this stunning view. If you want an easier hike, I believe you can park here. I have not tried it but it is worth it if you don’t want to climb down a hill while holding onto a rope!

On the way to Little Mashel Falls from Olympia is a church called Tanwax Country Chapel that has a bench with a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier. Along that same route there are other gorgeous views of the volcano. If heading east along this route, continue along it until you hit Highway 161 to head towards Eatonville.

Nearby in Eatonville, there is a new restaurant/bar called Mill Haus Cider Co. They have live outdoor music, great cider, and really good food. During my first time there, I sat next to the owner who said it opened in November of 2021.