Just a half hour east of Seattle is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Pacific Northwest. And it is just not any tourist destination. The rushing 270-foot Snoqualmie Falls takes your breath away, leaving you refreshed and renewed by its presence. As a Seattleite, I heard about it for years without going because I thought it was too touristy and nothing special. Wow, was I ever wrong. The falls are awesome, especially in late spring. So, let’s dive in and I will share tips and insights on this perfect Snoqualmie Falls Seattle getaway.
Directions and Parking: Take I-90 east from Seattle for approximately 30 minutes, taking Exit 25 to Snoqualmie Falls. Just follow the signs to the site and the free parking lot is open dawn to dusk.
The beautiful waterfall drops 270 feet from a canyon into the Snoqualmie River. Surrounding the falls is a 2-acre forest park with old and new-growth trees. From the upper observatory deck you witness from slightly above the falls plummeting below. It’s quite the rush to be there with the refreshing air and intermittent mountain water spray invigorating you.
Best Time to Go: Late spring is the best time to go because this is when the falls display the maximum water flow from the mountain’s snowmelt.
Snoqualmie Falls Seattle Getaway
It’s a half mile steep walk down the trail to the lower observatory. The walk is serene through the new and old growth forest with trees, such as, Big Leaf Maple, Red Alder, Black Cottonwood, Western Hemlock, Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar. Depending when you are there, wildflowers and herbs grow throughout the trail. For example, at end of April I saw abundant yellow flowers from the Oregon Grape plant (left photo).
At the bottom of the trail you walk on a boardwalk along the Snoqualmie River and past the hydropower plants to the endpoint with an awesome view of the falls from the ground level. Overall, this is a nice complement to the upper observatory, offering a full perspective on the wonder of Snoqualmie Falls. The whitewater rushing of the river is also thundering by, along with the pine and woody scents from the forests. It’s truly invigorating!
Fun Wellness Fact: Moving water, such as, waterfalls and ocean waves create negative ions that are believed to produce biochemical reactions in the body that increase levels of serotonin, boosting our mood and alleviating stress and depression.
Salish Lodge and Spa
The Salish Lodge and Spa are located next to and overlooking the drop of Snoqualmie Falls. The guest rooms provide a luxury retreat and a quintessential Pacific Northwest experience. I would love to stay here with the windows open listening and feeling the rejuvenating falls while in a deep slumber. And the spa is right there to pamper yourself. Conde Nast Traveler named the Salish Lodge and Spa one of the “Top 50 Hotel Spas in the United States.”
Overall…
When I left Snoqualmie Falls, I felt so refreshed and rejuvenated from my day. It was from being among nature’s best with the trees and ions from the rushing falls that was therapeutic. So, whether you’re a tourist visiting Washington State or a Washingtonian needing a nature break, Snoqualmie Falls is the perfect getaway for renewal. And with the Salish Lodge and Spa, anyone can make this the ultimate wellness retreat.
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