From where I live in Tukwilla, it took less than 45min to travel from the 'hood to the trailhead...pretty quick! Twin Falls by itself is nothing to write home about. This was a fun, easy hike with family with a nice water feature! It's a quick, cute hike and there are nice views of the river and waterfalls. There's even a "secret" path where you can climb all the way down to the banks, where you can make your way to the boulder in the middle of the river. It's a great place to break, sunbathe, snack, enjoy the rush of the water around you.
The natural beauty in the Cascades is lush, wet and green: it is impressive to see fallen trees on the forest floor, almost completely grown over by moss and new plants. There are some old growth trees which tower above everything else and their trunks provide excellent perspective on what it takes to hold up a huge-ass tree for hundreds of years. In the forest, moss and vines are everywhere and lend a creepy quality to some of the dark scenery seen beyond the trail. If you go past the falls all the way to the top you just reach a gravel road and a dead tree.Kind of anti-cilmactic.
The trail itself is excellent: I saw people with strollers and a few frail-looking elderly folks moving along with no problem even my son of 2.5yr old didnt have much problem. The trail is mostly packed dirt and there are a few places with wooden steps. If you don't get out much, the trail might be tiresome; but if you are at all physically active the trail is very easy.
It's not a steep hike, but it is uphill on the way back, which is always a little masochistic for me. If you want something with more distance, you can always park away from the traditional parking lot for Twin Falls (exit 34??) and instead east from Rattlesnake Lake on the Iron Horse Trail. Easy hiking warmup and a decent enough view.
I recommend Twin Falls to anybody who lives in Seattle...it is so close, so pretty and so fun to romp around a forest for exercise.
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