Snoqualmie Falls

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**Snoqualmie Falls**

Snoqualmie Falls as seen from below. The Salish Lodge is in the upper left.
Location	West of Snoqualmie, Washington
Latitude	47.54192
Longitude	-121.83685
Type	Curtain
Total height	268ft (82m)
Average width	100ft (30m)
Number of drops	1
Watercourse	Snoqualmie River

Snoqualmie Falls is a 268 ft (82 m) waterfall on the Snoqualmie River between Snoqualmie and Fall City, Washington, USA. It is one of Washington's most popular scenic attractions, but is perhaps best known internationally for its appearance in the cult television series Twin Peaks. More than 1.5 million visitors come to the Falls every year, where there is a two acre (8,000 m²) park, an observation deck, and a gift shop.

Most of the river is diverted into the power plants, but 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. Wikipedia Commons has pictures of the falls taken on 22 December 2005, 7 November 2006 and 11 January 2006 showing the massive flow of water that occurs at these times. During high water, the falls take on a curtain form.

For the Snoqualmie People, who have lived for centuries in the Snoqualmie Valley in western Washington, Snoqualmie Falls is central to their culture, beliefs, and spirituality. A traditional burial site, to the Snoqualmie, the falls are "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."^[1] The mists rising from the base of the waterfall serve to connect Heaven and Earth.^[2]

1 Power plants
2 The town of Snoqualmie Falls
3 Salish Lodge & Spa
4 Hiking
5 Gallery
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Power plants

Cutaway diagrams of Power Plant 1

There are two hydroelectric power plants at Snoqualmie Falls, both currently operated by Puget Sound Energy. Power plant 1 was built in 1898 and operates at the base of the falls embedded in the rock 270 feet below the surface. It was the world's first completely underground power plant.^[3] Power plant 2 was built in 1910 and further expanded in 1957, and is located a short distance downstream of the falls. The power plants have a combined output of 44,000 kilowatts.^[4] Approximately 1% of Puget Sound Energy sales comes from the plant.^{[citation needed]}

The 1898 generating system was designated an ASCE Civil Engineering Landmark in 1981.^[5]

[edit] The town of Snoqualmie Falls

The town of Snoqualmie Falls was located near the waterfall. It was associated with the Weyerhaeuser mill there. It had many structures including a hospital, school, community center, and many homes. When the town disbanded, many houses were moved to the nearby town of Snoqualmie.

[edit] Salish Lodge & Spa

The Salish Lodge

The historic Salish Lodge & Spa overlooks Snoqualmie Falls. The original building on the site was erected in 1919. For 70 years, a small inn known as the Snoqualmie Falls Lodge catered to travelers to the falls with comfort foods. Generations of Puget-Sound area residents took family outings to the Lodge to enjoy the scenic view, country hospitality, and famous^[6] specialty breakfasts.^[7]

In July 1986, the real estate subsidiary of Puget Sound Energy (which owned the land) terminated the lodge's lease as part of a major redevelopment project in conjunction with Salish Resorts.^[6] The 1919 lodge structure was completely remodeled and reopened in 1988 as the 89-room Salish Lodge & Spa. The fireplace is the only remaining part of the original structure.^[8] The dining room continues to be recommended worldwide for its lodging, spa, and multi-course country breakfast.^[1]

In Twin Peaks, the building stands in for exterior shots of the Great Northern Hotel.

[edit] Hiking

The top of the waterfall is less than 100 yards from the parking lot, which has a gift shop, espresso stand, and bathrooms. The main views are from the side of the falls, with a fence separating visitors from the edge of a cliff.

This area has picnic tables and benches, and a small grassy meadow called the Centennial Green, where weddings are performed through the summer. Here, the river trail winds half a mile down hill; it's a steep hike climbing 300 vertical feet coming back up.

Hikers are treated to a piece of temperate rain forest on the way down, with a few moss covered trees, giant ferns, and a few places to step off the trail and rest, or enjoy the scenery. Heavy foot traffic makes it pretty unlikely to see any wildlife; this is mainly a scenic (or historic) hike. The park does not allow pets.

At the bottom of the trail is the 1910 powerhouse, closed off behind fences, and the river itself. Visitors can leave the boardwalk and hop from stone to stone in good weather to see the massive waterfall from below, but caution is advised: the river has flooded the boardwalk before.