Snoqualmie Falls
A waterfall higher than Niagara half an hour from Seattle, sacred to the Snoqualmie Tribe and powering a hydro plant since 1899.
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The falls drop about eighty metres, higher than Niagara, and they carry real volume in the wet season. The Snoqualmie Tribe regard the site as sacred - their traditional account has the first people created here and the mist as prayers carrying upward - and the tribe bought back land around the falls in 2019. Puget Sound Energy has operated a hydroelectric plant here since 1899, and the first powerhouse was built inside the rock behind the falls, which was an unusual piece of engineering; water is diverted for it, so flow over the lip varies with generation as well as with rain. Twin Peaks used the falls and the lodge above them in its opening titles, which brings a steady stream of visitors.
What you actually see
- A drop of about eighty metres - higher than Niagara.
- A hydro plant inside the rock - operating since 1899.
- A sacred Snoqualmie site - with land bought back by the tribe in 2019.
- The Twin Peaks opening - filmed here.
When to go
November to April for maximum flow; year round otherwise. Two hours.
Honest expectations
Flow is reduced by diversion for the power plant, sometimes noticeably. The upper viewing area is small and crowded at weekends. The trail to the lower viewpoint is steep and closes at times. Parking fills quickly.
Nearby
North Bend is east; Seattle is west.
What to pack for Snoqualmie Falls
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
