Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie is a city in King County of Washington state, just above the scenic Snoqualmie Falls. Moreso than other cities in the region, it has preserved ties to its varied past, as a Native American community, a logging company town and a busy rail depot along one of the region's first railways. == Understand == The area that is now Snoqualmie has been continuously occupied by members of the Snoqualmie Tribe. The first American settlers arrived in 1858. After a lumber mill was built in 1872, Snoqualmie quickly developed into one of the first logging towns in Washington. When the first transcontinental railroad link to the Puget Sound was announced in 1885, a competing line was quickly built from Seattle as far as Snoqualmie, before further extension across Snoqualmie Pass was abandoned. Instead, the railroad turned Snoqualmie Falls into a destination. The first power plant at Snoqualmie Falls was built in the late 1890s, and a small company town grew up to support it. The city of Snoqualmie incorporated in 1903. == Get in == === By car === State Route 202 (WA-202) passes through the center of town, connecting to North Bend and Fall City. Interstate 90 (I-90) passes one mile south of town. From Seattle, Bellevue and the west, take Exit 25 Snoqualmie Parkway or Exit 27 North Bend Way From Snoqualmie Pass and the east, take Exit 31 WA-202 North Bend. State Route 18 (WA-18) becomes Snoqualmie Parkway north of the I-90 interchange. It connects to I-5 (exit 142A) in Federal Way, through Auburn, Covington, and Maple Valley in southeastern King County. === By bus === King County Metro, ☏ +1 206-553-3000. Runs bus, streetcar and monorail routes within King County. Serves Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Tukwila, Vashon Island, White Center, and Woodinville. $3 for 2 hours ($1 seniors 65+, Free youth 0-18). (updated Sep 2025) == Get around == == See == Northwest Railway Museum (Snoqualmie Valley Railroad), ☏ +1 425-888-3030 ext 7202. A railroad museum with a collection of historic depots along a 5.5 mi (8.9 km) heritage railway that offers locomotive rides on weekends. The railway was built in 1889 by the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway (SLS&E) in an attempt to build over Snoqualmie Pass, in response to the Northern Pacific selecting Tacoma instead of Seattle as their western terminus. (updated Oct 2024) 1 Railway History Campus, 9320 Stone Quarry Rd. 11AM-4PM, closed Tuesdays. The museum's collection includes a variety of railway cars and locomotives that document the growth of the railway network in Washington from the 1880s through the 1990s. $10 adults, $5 children 2-12. (updated Aug 2025) 2 Snoqualmie Depot, 38625 SE King St. Exhibits daily 10AM-5PM, train rides Sa-Su. Built in 1890, this uniquely designed depot chiefly served as the gateway to this early recreation area, but also to transport local products to the markets of Seattle. Its atypical design was the result of this need for a rural combined freight-passenger depot, with lavish decorations to reflect the holiday spirit of vacationers from Seattle. Today, in addition to serving the heritage line, it also houses exhibits on early settler life and construction of the railway, as well as a gift shop. Exhibits free, train rides $28 adult, $24 seniors, $14 children 2-12. (updated Aug 2025) 3 North Bend Depot, 205 E McClellan St, North Bend. Sa-Su. (updated Aug 2025) 4 Centennial Log Pavilion (Railroad Park), 7971 Railroad Ave SE. Dawn to Dusk. Get a sense of how productive the timber harvesting used to be with this old-growth Douglas fir log beneath a preserved Weyerhaeuser Mill building. A tree-lined walking path links the pavilion through the park to the Railway Museum. (updated Aug 2025) Twin Peaks filming locations. Many scenes from the David Lynch television series Twin Peaks were shot in and around Snoqualmie. The Salish Lodge and Spa corresponds to the Great Northern Hotel of the series, the Reinig Bridge corresponds to the Ronette Bridge and the DirtFish Rally School corresponds to the sheriff's office. And, obviously, Snoqualmie Falls is seen in the opening credits of the show. The Double R Diner corresponds to Twede's Cafe in nearby North Bend. (updated Feb 2025) === Snoqualmie Falls === The 270 ft (82 m) 5 Snoqualmie Falls is the most dramatic waterfall within easy reach of Seattle. More than 1.5 million visitors come to the falls every year. There are two viewing areas, surrounded by parks and connected by a short but steep hiking trail. At times, the river is high enough to flow across the entire precipice, which creates an almost blinding spray. High water occurs following a period of heavy rains or snow followed by warm rainy weather. This can occur during the rainy season which lasts from November through March. During high water, the falls take on a curtain form. The land and surrounding concessions are owned by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe. The falls is central to their culture, beliefs, and spirituality, "the place where First Woman and First Man were created by Moon the Transformer" and "where prayers were carried up to the Creator by great mists that rise from the powerful flow." The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Plant, operated by Puget Sound Energy, is comprised of two power houses. Plant 1 was built in 1899 at the base of the falls embedded in the rock, the world's first completely underground power plant. Plant 2 was built in 1910 a short distance downstream of the falls. 6 Upper Observation Decks, 6501 Railroad Ave SE (Paid parking next to site, free parking across the street), ☏ +1 425-326-2563. Dawn-dusk. Several clifftop viewpoints of the waterfall and lodge. Closest deck is 200 ft (61 m) from parking via a wheelchair accessible walkway. Free. (updated May 2025) 7 Lower Boardwalk, 37479 SE Fish Hatchery Rd, Fall City (Free parking lot), ☏ +1 425-326-2563. Dawn-dusk. The boardwalk passes by a wetland and Power Plant 2 to a viewpoint near the waterfall pool. There is also a path for river access further downstream. Free. (updated May 2025) Snoqualmie Falls Trail. 0.7 mi (1.1 km) each way, 374 ft (114 m) elevation. A connector trail for the upper and lower viewing areas, with detailed interpretive signage for local plant and ecosystem information. (updated May 2025) 8 Hydroelectric Museum and Park, SE 69th Pl (opposite side of falls from Salish Lodge), ☏ +1 425-831-4445. Memorial Day to Labor Day, W-Su 10AM-5PM. This hydroelectric power plant, built in 1899, is the first hydroelectric power plant in the world built entirely underground. Exhibits are housed inside a historic carpenter shop and train depot. (updated Feb 2025) == Do == 1 Mount Si Golf Course, 9010 Boalch Ave SE, ☏ +1 425-391-4926, info@mtsigolf.com. 18-hole municipal golf course. (updated Feb 2025) 2 Snoqualmie Casino, 37500 SE North Bend Way, ☏ +1 425-888-1234, info@snocasino.com. (updated Feb 2025) === Events === Snoqualmie Days (formerly Railroad Days), info@downtownsnoqualmie.com. 3rd weekend of Aug. This annual festival features a parade, outdoor performances, historical train excursions and a logger competition. (updated Feb 2025) == Buy == == Eat == == Drink == == Sleep == 1 Salish Lodge & Spa, 6501 Railroad Ave, ☏ +1 425-888-2556, reservations@salishlodge.com. This luxury hotel offers rooms with a fireplace, a large bed, an office area and a large shower. (updated Aug 2025) 2 Snoqualmie Inn by Hotel America, 35228 Snoqualmie Pkwy, ☏ +1 425-363-3888. (updated Feb 2025) More lodging options are available in nearby North Bend. == Go next == Snoqualmie is on the Mountains to Sound Greenway, connecting to some of the best outdoor recreation in Washington.