Plan your visitGetting hereSnoqualmie 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.
Plan your visit to Snoqualmie Falls
The upper park walkway and overlook in autumn, November 2023. Photo: Chris Light · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Snoqualmie Falls is easy to visit: a free park 30 miles east of Seattle, open daily, with the main view a few minutes from the car. A little planning helps with parking, crowds and the climb to the river.
Updated · Independent visitor guide
Plan your visitGetting here
Plan your visitParkingParking at Snoqualmie Falls is free if you use the large lot across the highway. A small paid lot sits next to the falls, and a separate lot serves the lower park.
Plan your visitMap & layoutSnoqualmie Falls Park has two levels joined by a short, steep trail. This map shows the viewpoints, lots, trail and lodge so you can decide where to park and walk.
Plan your visitHours & admissionSnoqualmie Falls Park is free and open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. Only parking in the lots nearest the falls costs money.
Plan your visitBest time to visitSnoqualmie Falls changes more through the year than most waterfalls, because its flow depends on rain, snowmelt and how much water the power plants take. Here is what to expect in each season.
Plan your visitHistoryLong before it was a tourist stop or a power plant, Snoqualmie Falls was a sacred place. Its story runs from the Snoqualmie People through the first underground power plant to Twin Peaks and a tribe reclaiming its land.
Plan your visitAccessibilityPlan a visit around the accessible upper park. The steep trail to the lower viewpoint is a different route, with different access limitations.
How the park is laid out
The upper park sits on the north rim of the gorge beside SR 202, with the gift shop, the viewpoints and restrooms. Salish Lodge stands a few minutes’ walk south, at the top of the falls. The free main lot is across the highway, linked by a footbridge, and a small paid lot sits by the gift shop. A trail drops to the lower park beside the river, which has its own small lot. Our map shows the layout.
How long to stay
Allow 30 minutes to an hour for the upper park alone, and 1½ to 2 hours if you walk down to the lower viewpoint and back. Add a meal at the lodge or in downtown Snoqualmie, a train ride or a nearby hike, and the falls fill a relaxed day; see our itineraries.
Safety and respect
Stay behind railings and on marked paths: the rocks near the falls are slick, and the river below can rise without warning. The falls are a sacred site for the Snoqualmie People, who have lived in this valley since time immemorial, so treat the place with respect. Leashed dogs are allowed but discouraged at busy times, drones are banned, and it is wise to lock your car with valuables out of sight.
Keep useful information close
The park’s address is 6501 Railroad Avenue SE, Snoqualmie, and it is open from sunrise to sunset every day. Check PSE’s park page for notices and the National Weather Service for the forecast. Our guides to getting here, parking, hours and admission and the best time to visit cover the details.
Frequently asked questions
How long should you spend at Snoqualmie Falls?
30 minutes to an hour for the upper park, or 1½ to 2 hours if you hike to the lower viewpoint and back.
Can you bring a dog to Snoqualmie Falls?
Yes, on a leash, although dogs are discouraged at busy times.
Sources & current information
- Puget Sound Energy: Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Museum and Park
- Snoqualmie Falls Gift Shop and Visitor Center: visitor information
- Snoqualmie Falls visitor site: FAQs
- National Weather Service: Snoqualmie Falls forecast
- City of Snoqualmie: Snoqualmie Falls
- Wikipedia: Snoqualmie Falls
Check the responsible provider for current access, schedules, prices and availability.
Keep planning your visit
Plan your visitMap & layoutSnoqualmie Falls Park has two levels joined by a short, steep trail. This map shows the viewpoints, lots, trail and lodge so you can decide where to park and walk.
Plan your visitGetting hereSnoqualmie 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.
ItineraryTwo hours at the fallsShort on time? Two hours is enough to see Snoqualmie Falls from the top and the bottom, with a coffee to finish.