Seattle and surrounding areas are studded with spectacular waterfalls. The volcanic Cascade Mountains, glaciers and year round rainfall – the result is 1266 well documented Washington state waterfalls. We wanted to see at least few that are near to us. That’s what we did during our short summer break last week.
The first one in our list was Snoqualmie Falls (map). 25 miles east of Seattle, Snoqualmie River cascades 270 feet through an impressive, “u” shaped rock gorge. This is Snoqualmie Falls, one of the Washington state’s most popular scenic attractions. It’s about a 30 minute drive from our home. We had visited the falls on a week day, still the place had a healthy amount of visitors. Weekends must attract big crowds during summer times. The falls and the surrounding area has well maintained look. Few steps from car parking lot, there is an observation platform (upper deck) that offers an outstanding view of the falls. Perched on the overlook to the falls there is a lodge, a restaurant, gift shop and few picnic tables in a small park like setting, all very near to the observation deck and car parking lot.
There is also a river trail. It’s a pleasant half-mile walk through trees and open slopes, ending with a fantastic bird’s eye view of the falls. There is a small power plant near the base and behind it is a somewhat hidden wooden walkway. Don’t miss this part of the trail and follow the signs. A short boardwalk leads to another observation platform (lower deck), which offers great views of how the thundering falls turn to roaring rapids to gentle river flow.
Snoqualmie Falls is a peaceful place to spend a summer afternoon. We very much enjoyed our visit to this falls.
Here are some photos of Snoqualmie falls and Snoqualmie valley wild flowers.
Snoqualmie Waterfalls ~ View From Upper Observation Deck
Snoqualmie Waterfalls ~ View From Lower Observation Deck
Roaring Rapids ~ Snoqualmie River
Wild Flower in Snoqualmie Valley
Pretty Flower From the Valley
Looks spectacular. It must have been relaxing to just sit and watch the river flow. Love the flower shots.
Comment by Gini — June 23, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
looks great and such wonderful pictures. Must have been a wonderful trip. Glad you are back Indira! Hope you had a great trip!
Comment by Deepika Saripalli — June 23, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
Very beautiful pictures,Indira.You must have had a great time there.I only had the chance to visit Niagara and that too was a kind of hurried visit.But the picture is still fresh in my mind.
Comment by Vini K — June 23, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
Hey Indira,
I was at the same water falls in march, but didn’t get a chance to go to the lower observation deck. It looks beautiful. I am sure you had a wonderful time!
— Seetha
Comment by Seetha — June 23, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
The Snoqualmie River pic is just awesome! Lovely pics Indira…. very naturesque. 🙂
Comment by Coffee — June 23, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
Lovely post Indira.. Since you seem to like Snoqualmie falls, you may also want to visit Yosemite. You will LOVE it 🙂
Comment by Suganya — June 23, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
hey Indira,
Your descriptive words and beautiful photographs were very informative. May be you should start a travel blogg too. I am sure it will be as fantastic as your food blog!
Comment by Bindu — June 23, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
Hi,
The pictures are really good.
Snoqualmie is wonderful, you should go there at night, not many people are around and it’s calming to hear the roar of falls with a cold breeze in the summer months.
Before we could walk up very close to the falls but now it’s been blocked off.
I have a suggestion for you, it’s about finding organic local grown vegetables. Reply back to me if you’re intrested.
Comment by Sunil — June 23, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
Very lovely and soothing 🙂
Comment by The TriniGourmet — June 24, 2007 @ 3:20 am
Amazing photos Indira and a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing. And a special thanks for the Recipe list. I am cooking for a dozen people tonight and without your blog, it would nt have been easy. 🙂
Comment by B o o. — June 24, 2007 @ 3:26 am
hai,
those r lovely pics.what camera r u using?It takes avery nice snaps
Comment by ramya — June 24, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Hi Indira,
Happy to hear you spent your vacation waterfalling… I’ve done a bit of that in upper Michigan where the falls tend to be smaller than those majestic Pacific Northwest sites. There is something magical in the forces of nature, and waterfalls are one of the prettiest examples!
Welcome back 🙂
Comment by Linda — June 24, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
welcome back Indira! Beautiful shots of the falls.
A & N recently made the Snoqualmie falls Jatra too. They loved it. Its one of our favorite places to take out of town friends as its so close by and convenient. The Salish Lodge above the falls has an attic lounge/cafe area that is great for cooling drinks after a hot hike.
My favorite memories of waterfalls in the NW is the Sol Duc falls in the Olympic National Park, if you haven’t already been there, you must go! I also love the rainforest and coastlines in the park, the most biodiversity in such a short distance I found!
Comment by archana — June 24, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
A warm welcome! Atleast you are back! Hope you had a wonderful trip! The pics are excellent.
Comment by Nirmala — June 24, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
Gini: It’s a beautiful place to spend time.
Flower shots credit goes to THE photographer Vijay, the artistic fellow in the family.:)
Deepika: Thanks for the warm welcome. We had a short but good times kind of break before Vijay’s summer classes start again.
Seetha – the lower deck is not that far, just a half mile walk along the well laid out path. Worth the effort for that great heads-up look at the falls.
Thanks Coffee. The credit belongs to beautiful Snoqualmie.:)
Suganya: I watched about yosemite countless times on PBS. A must visit place in US for us.
Thanks Bindu.
Sunil: There was no blockade. See the fisherman in second photo. He walked up and down the edge of falls before settling at that position.
Do you grow organic vegetables?
Thanks Trinigourmet.
What a lovely blog you have!
Have a great time, Boo!
Happy cooking.:)
I use Nikon D70S, Ramya.
Waterfalls are nature’s way of showing us how insignificant and small we really are.:) Waterfalls are impossible to resist, particularly when there is a trek involved.:)
Thanks Linda!
The 30 minute drive is what makes snoqualmie a great showoff kind of falls to out of towners.:)
Sol Duc falls, I have to make a note of that one.
We did the Oregon trip, Archana. The Columbia river gorge and waterfalls and Mt.Hood, last week. Northwest is really a spectacular place to visit.
Thanks Nirmala.
Comment by Indira — June 24, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
Wonderful pictures.
Thanks Indira!
Comment by Kumudha — June 25, 2007 @ 8:17 am
waterfalls are always amazing
so u had lots of fun.
cool
luv the shots 🙂
Comment by anusharaji — June 27, 2007 @ 8:47 am
hi
indira,
welcome back
you have come back with a bang such great photos!!!
Comment by mahek — June 30, 2007 @ 5:51 am