Snoqualmie Falls WASHINGTON
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Snoqualmie Falls framed by yellow autumn leaves on the cliffs

Snoqualmie Falls day trip from Seattle

Autumn color around Snoqualmie Falls from the upper park, October 2006. Photo: A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation (National Archives) · Source · Public domain

A full day out from Seattle that puts Snoqualmie Falls first, ahead of the crowds, then fills the afternoon with trains, a hike or the valley towns.

Updated · Independent visitor guide

Morning: beat the crowds to the falls

Leave Seattle by 8 a.m. and you will reach the falls in about 40 minutes, ahead of the tour buses. Park free in the main lot, cross the footbridge and start at the upper deck, then walk the rim to the other overlooks. Get a coffee at the Salish Lodge café or a snack at the gift shop.

Late morning: the trail to the river

Walk the trail to the lower falls, past the 1910 Plant 2 powerhouse to the boardwalk and the lower viewpoint, and climb back up; allow about an hour. In season, the hydroelectric museum opens at 10 a.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Afternoon: Snoqualmie or a hike

Drive a mile to downtown Snoqualmie for lunch on Railroad Avenue. On a weekend from April through October, ride the two-hour train from the Snoqualmie Depot. Otherwise, hike Twin Falls or, if you are fit, Rattlesnake Ledge.

Evening: North Bend and the drive home

Finish in North Bend with pie at Twede’s Cafe, the Double R Diner from Twin Peaks, and a look at Mount Si in the evening light. I-90 back to Seattle takes 35 to 45 minutes, longer on Sunday evenings when traffic returns from the mountains. For more meal options, see where to eat.

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Keep planning your visit

Walkers on a wide gravel trail under tall evergreen treesItineraryTwo hours at the falls

Short on time? Two hours is enough to see Snoqualmie Falls from the top and the bottom, with a coffee to finish.

A two-lane road curving toward the rocky face of Mount SiPlan your visitGetting here

Snoqualmie Falls is about 30 miles east of downtown Seattle, just off I-90. Most people drive; the trip usually takes 35 to 45 minutes without traffic.

Window-side dining at Salish Lodge beside the crest of Snoqualmie Falls, overlooking a forested gorgeSnoqualmie Falls guideEat & drink

You can eat right at the falls at Salish Lodge, or drive a few minutes to the restaurants of downtown Snoqualmie, North Bend and Fall City.