26 Jul Day Trip to Snoqualmie Falls from Seattle

Snoqualmie Falls is one of the most visited attractions in the entire state of Washington, and it is not hard to see why. The falls are spectacular, and visitors are able to enjoy them from multiple viewpoints as well as an interpretive hiking trail. Trust me, you do not want to miss out on the opportunity for a day trip to Snoqualmie Falls from Seattle.

Looking for other day trip ideas? Then head up to North Cascades National Park to take in views of Diablo Lake and hike the Thunder Creek Trail. On the other hand, you can spend an entire day exploring the city of Seattle. Hint – it ends at Kerry Park where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Seattle skyline.

Contents:

1) Location of Snoqualmie Falls

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts

5) Background of the Falls

6) Hiking Trails and Viewpoints

7) Other Attractions in the Area

8) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Location of Snoqualmie Falls – Day Trip

Ready to take on a day trip to Snoqualmie Falls from Seattle?! Snoqualmie Falls is located in Snoqualmie, Washington (convenient naming, right?). For reference, it is a 40 minute drive east from Seattle. Based on numbers from 2020, the population of the town is approximately 35,000.

Parking

There are two different parking lots for the upper falls. First, there is a gift shop parking lot. This lot is closer to the gift shop and the falls, though it does cost around $8 for parking.

Second, there is a free parking lot across the street. Based on its name, you can probably already tell that it is free – you do not have to pay anything to park here. There are also more spaces in this lot than in the gift shop lot across the street. After parking here, walk along the footbridge to cross the street and arrive at the walkway to the falls.

Third, there is one parking lot by the lower falls. The Snoqualmie lower falls parking lot is just a short walk from the lower viewpoint. It also costs around $8 to park here.

However, please be aware that all parking lots can fill up at peak visit times, which are weekend evenings and weekend afternoons. We were lucky when we visited and managed to grab a spot as soon as we turned into the parking lot. Nevertheless, there were many other cars circling the lot at the time. 

Lodging

There are a few accommodations in the town of Snoqualmie itself. However, if nothing there suits your interest or everything is booked, check out other nearby towns. Some options include North Bend, Issaquah, and Snoqualmie Pass.

Nearby Airports – Snoqualmie Falls Day Trip

There are a few regional airports near Snoqualmie Falls, though they are all fairly small. The closest international airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which is 40 minutes west. 

Moreover, there are no public transportation options available from the airport to the falls. You will thus need to rent a car or utilize a ride share service such as Uber. 

Snoqualmie Falls partially hidden by the surrounding scenery

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

Snoqualmie Falls, including the free parking lot as well as the upper and lower viewing platforms are open from sunrise to sunset every single day of the year. Therefore, be sure to visit while the sun is visible in the sky to be able to view the falls from the best angle. 

Entrance Fee

There is no entrance fee for Snoqualmie Falls. It does not get better than that – seeing a gorgeous waterfall for $0. 

However, there is an $8 parking fee for the gift shop as well as the lower falls parking lot. Nevertheless, you can choose to park in the free lot across the street from the gift shop to keep a small budget.

3) The Best Time to Visit – Snoqualmie Falls Day Trip

Peak crowds tend to arrive at the falls in the evening on the weekdays as well as in the afternoons on the weekends. Your best chance at avoiding crowds is thus to arrive in the morning on a weekday. Otherwise, plan to visit either in the early morning or late evening on a weekend. 

Best Season to Visit

Normally the summer season is the best season to visit an attraction. However, Snoqualmie Falls is a bit different. First, spring is one of the best seasons to visit due to the runoff from the nearby mountains. As snow melts on the mountain, more water flows down into the river and then feeds into the waterfall. 

Second, autumn is one of the best seasons to visit due to the beautiful fall foliage. The waterfall will then be surrounded by the leaves changing colors, making for a wonderful view.

Estimated Visit Time

Plan at least one and a half hours in your itinerary for your day trip to Snoqualmie Falls. The trail from the upper falls viewpoint to the lower falls viewpoint is 1.4 miles (~2.3 kilometers) round trip. An average hiker can complete the hike in 45 minutes. However, you will also want to spend a bit of time at each of the viewpoints taking pictures and admiring the beauty and strength of the falls. Additionally, you might want to stop at the gift shop to pick up some souvenirs. 

Panoramic view of Snoqualmie Falls from the upper viewpoint

4) Quick Facts

1. Snoqualmie Falls is located in Snoqualmie, Washington, which is approximately 40 minutes outside of Seattle. 

2. The free parking lot as well as the upper and lower viewpoints are open from dawn to dusk every single day of the year. 

3. Snoqualmie falls is one of the most visited attractions in the entire state of Washington. 

4. There is a 1.4 mile (~2.3 kilometer) round trip trail from the upper viewpoint to the lower viewpoint of the falls. 

5) Background of the Falls – Snoqualmie Falls Day Trip

Let us begin with an interesting fact. Snoqualmie Falls is one of the most visited attractions in the state of Washington. It lands only behind attractions such as Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks. Additionally, it was made even more popular due to its feature in the show Twin Peaks. The falls stand at approximately 268 feet (~82 meters). 

The Snoqualmie Tribe consider the falls to be a sacred place as it was the birthplace of their people. When translated, Snoqualmie means moon. The tribe continues to love, care for, and fight to protect the beauty and natural wonder of Snoqualmie Falls to this day.

Water cascading down Snoqualmie Falls

6) Hiking Trails and Viewpoints 

You have three options for viewing Snoqualmie Falls and hiking some trails on your day trip there: (1) upper falls viewpoint (2) short boardwalk hike and lower falls viewpoint (3) upper to lower falls + boardwalk hike and all viewpoints.

Looking for another beautiful attraction near Seattle? Consider North Cascades National Park.

Upper Falls Viewpoint

If you want to avoid any hiking or elevation changes, park at one of the lots by the upper falls and walk to the viewpoint. Trust me, the view is stunning. You will be slightly higher than the top of the falls at this viewpoint.

Short Boardwalk Hike and Lower Falls Viewpoint

If you want a little bit of adventure but do not want to commit to the entire 1.4 mile (~2.3 kilometer) round trip hike, then this is the option for you. Park at the lot by the lower falls and then walk 0.3 miles (~0.6 kilometers) one-way on the boardwalk to the lower falls viewpoint. Moreover, the boardwalk is mostly flat with just a few stairs. 

Upper to Lower Falls + Boardwalk Hike and All Viewpoints

If you want to view the waterfall from all angles, then commit to the 1.4 mile (~2.3 kilometer) round trip hike from the upper to the lower falls. First, parking at one of the lots by the upper falls. Second, check out the upper falls viewpoint for a view from slightly above the falls.

Third, hike 0.7 miles (~1.1 kilometers) down to the lower viewpoint. The first half of the hike is 0.4 miles (~0.6 kilometers) long and somewhat steep. The elevation change is 250 feet (~76 meters). Remember, if you hike down, you will have to hike back up! The second half of the hike is a 0.3 mile (~0.5 kilometer) walk along a boardwalk. This portion is fairly flat with only a few stairs.

Fourth, check out the lower falls viewpoint. Fifth, hike back up to your car. You can also do this in the opposite order – park by the lower falls and hike to the upper falls and back down again.

Some greenery just in front of Snoqualmie Falls

7) Other Attractions in the Area – Snoqualmie Falls Day Trip

First, check out the Snoqualmie Falls gift shop if you have some extra time on your day trip to Snoqualmie Falls from Seattle. They have everything you need in terms of souvenirs, for example magnets, stickers, apparel, etc. Otherwise, check out their online store.

Second, book a stay at the Salish Lodge and Spa. They have a variety of rooms available as well as spa options. Additionally, you can rent out the space for events such as conferences, meetings, and weddings.

8) Recommended Items to Bring

For additional recommendations on things to pack while traveling, then check out travel essentials for women as well as travel accessories for men.

1. Water bottle: Be sure to bring water with you on your day trip to Snoqualmie Falls. Water is even more important if you are visiting in the summer, for the heat can make you become dehydrated real quick. For example, I always carry around my Yeti water bottle.

Hygiene

2. Sunscreen: While this might not be as important on a cloudy day, it will be on a day full of beautiful clear skies. Walking around even for just 30 minutes can lead to sunburn if you have fair skin.

3. Bug spray: Let’s be honest – mosquitos, gnats, and any other little type of fly can ruin an experience. You cannot truly enjoy an attraction if you are swatting away bugs from your face the whole time. Therefore, be prepared with bug spray or a mosquito repellent bracelet.

Hiking Items – Snoqualmie Falls Day Trip

4. Hiking shoes: A pair of hiking shoes will be incredibly helpful as you hike down to the lower viewpoint and back up again.

5. Hiking poles: Hiking poles are not necessary for the trail from the upper to the lower viewpoint. However, bring them along if you would like a bit of extra support.

6. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice along the hiking trails. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of shoes.

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Thinking about visiting North Cascades?: 3 Reasons to Visit North Cascades National Park.

Check out a beautiful hike in North Cascades: Thunder Creek Trail: Hike to Suspension Bridge.