Snoqualmie Falls Hike: 2 Miles, Waterfall & Rainforest

The 268-foot waterfall sits inside an old-growth forest, not at the end of a paved overlook.

This is a guided hiking tour near Seattle that takes you 2 miles into the temperate rainforest of the Cascades to reach Snoqualmie Falls, a 268-foot waterfall featured in Twin Peaks. The tour runs 4 hours and includes transportation from Seattle, a live English-speaking guide, and ecological and cultural interpretation of the forest as you walk. Children from age 5 are welcome, and the hike suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Snoqualmie Falls and hike forest

• Travel to Snoqualmie Falls
• Enjoy the 268' waterfall view
• Hike 2 miles in temperate rainforest
• Experience ecological and cultural interpretation

The experience

The question most people ask about Snoqualmie Falls is whether you have to stand behind a railing at the visitor center. This tour answers it by taking you into the forest instead. You hike 2 miles through old-growth temperate rainforest in the Cascades (trees several hundred years old, the kind of canopy that blocks the sky), and the waterfall reveals itself as you walk deeper in, not as a postcard view from a parking lot. Transportation from Seattle is included, so the day starts when the guide picks you up, not when you figure out the drive.

The hike itself is steady but not steep, and the operator notes that several different fitness levels have completed it without issues. Along the way, the guide offers ecological and cultural interpretation of what you're walking through: why the forest grows this way, what the trees are, what the land means. You're not just moving toward the waterfall. You're learning how a temperate rainforest works as you stand inside one. The 268-foot drop of Snoqualmie Falls is the destination, but the forest is the experience.

The whole tour runs 4 hours from start to finish. Infants and small children can come along in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome. If you don't have a car or you're staying elsewhere in Seattle, the included transportation means you don't have to arrange a separate ride or figure out parking at the trailhead.

What’s included

• Transportation from Seattle.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• ecological and cultural interpretation of the forest and the waterfall.

Information

Lasts 4h, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 76.93 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.1 with pickup ›

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Infant (5 to 6 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Explore Oregon Tours

Is this one for you?If you're staying in Seattle without a car, the included transportation means you don't have to arrange a separate ride or figure out parking. The guide picks you up and brings you back. The hike reaches the waterfall through the forest itself rather than from a visitor center, so you experience the old-growth rainforest as part of the same morning.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (5 to 6 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is the hike to Snoqualmie Falls on this tour?

The hike is 2 miles through the rainforest to reach the waterfall. The operator notes that people of different fitness levels have completed it without issues, and the pace is steady rather than steep.

What is Snoqualmie Falls, and why is it worth seeing in person?

Snoqualmie Falls is a 268-foot waterfall in the Cascades near Seattle, featured in the television show Twin Peaks. On this tour, you reach it by hiking through old-growth temperate rainforest instead of viewing it from a visitor center overlook, so you experience the forest and the waterfall as part of the same landscape.

Does this tour include transportation from Seattle?

Yes, transportation is included in the tour price. The guide picks you up, so you don't need to arrange a separate ride or worry about parking at the trailhead.

What does the guide talk about during the hike?

The guide provides ecological and cultural interpretation of the temperate rainforest as you walk, explaining how the forest grows, identifying the trees, and sharing what the land means to the region.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 4 hours from pickup to return, including the hike, time at the waterfall, and transportation.