One more reason I love living in Washington State. Our waterfalls. According to studies cited in Travel & Leisure, we have more waterfalls than any other state. How many you may ask. Would you be surprised to hear that we have 2907 naturally occurring waterfalls? Alaska is our biggest competitor with 2013. Oregon is #3 with 1876 waterfalls.

Rivers and lakes are wonderful, and I’m very fond of oceans and seas. But there’s something uniquely special about waterfalls. They sparkle. They whisper or roar. They’re energetic. In many cases, they’re hidden from view which makes them prized all the more. Coming upon an unexpected waterfall, is a thrill. You feel as though you discovered it.

The big famous Washington waterfalls are easy to find. You just drive there and park. Snoqualmie Falls in western Washington has an observation deck, a gift shop, and free parking, not to mention a lodge and spa.

In contrast to the forested hills and mountains surrounding Snoqualmie Falls, Palouse Falls in southeast Washington exists in the midst of canyons and coulees.

The other 2905 Washington waterfalls are mostly hidden. You have to hike somewhere to find them. On hikes I’ve taken, sometimes I heard the falls roar before I saw it. Sometimes the sound of its gentle splash was soaked up by the trees and bushes. Suddenly, I stepped over a fallen tree and turned a corner. And there it was, sparkling, rushing, adding excitement to the quiet of the forest. This is the way I think of our waterfalls, as the destination that gives special meaning to a hike.

So why does Washington have so many waterfalls? You can chalk it up to our frequent rain and all that snow in the mountains that melts in the spring and summer. And then there were all those Ice Age glaciers that carved deep valleys into the mountains.

Do you have a favorite waterfall?

Extra: Iguazu Falls, the largest system of falls in the world, is not in Washington, but isn’t it awesome!? It’s on the border of Argentina and Brazil.