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Snoqualmie Falls is one of the most popular natural attractions in Washington. It’s located only a half hour drive from Seattle and can be combined with a wine tasting trip to nearby Woodinville.
Visiting Snoqualmie Falls
The falls are surrounded by a two-acre park with a gift shop, trail, picnic tables, and an observation deck. The observation deck is open from dawn to dusk daily and there’s a free parking lot. Check the official website for more info.
To get to the falls, you first cross a covered wooden footbridge leading from the parking lot to the observation deck. The distance is about 200 feet. There are some historic photos you can admire while on the bridge.
At the observation deck, you’ll find a few interpretive panels about the history of the falls and the nearby hydroelectric power plant. The power plant consists of two power houses completed in 1899 and 1910. Both are still operational.
On the day we visited, the falls were raging and there was lots of mist in the air. It was impossible to see them clearly but it was still quite a sight.
Trail
There’s a short ½ mile trail to the view the falls from the base but we decided not to do it because of the low visibility. If you don’t want to hike down to the river, there’s a lower parking lot you can access via Fish Hatchery Road.
Salish Lodge
Before leaving, we popped into the Salish Lodge, a luxury resort and spa owned by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. The lodge is best known as the inspiration for The Great Northern Hotel in the hit television show Twin Peaks.