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Washington, United States

Snoqualmie Pass

A day on I-90: the falls, a depot full of trains, then snow at the pass. This guide pulls together 2 activities, 2 outdoor spots and 1 place to eat from our curated routes.

Plan Snoqualmie Pass with friendsBrowse 6 places
Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, United States
Places
6

2 Do · 2 Outdoors · 1 Eat · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth

Best season
Late Nov – Dec

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

21°C / 69°F avg high

Coolest month
December

0°C / 33°F avg high

Wettest month
January

about 258 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Snoqualmie Pass

6 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Snoqualmie Pass in Downtown Snoqualmie.

  • Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie PassPhoto: ItsDaDoc · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Northwest Railway Museum

    Railway museum based in the 1890 Snoqualmie Depot, running its Santa Train to the falls on December weekends.

    Tip Santa Train tickets go on sale in the fall and sell out; the depot and train shed are open without them.

    • Downtown Snoqualmie
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Weekends
  • The Summit at Snoqualmie in Snoqualmie PassPhoto: Buidhe · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    The Summit at Snoqualmie

    Four ski areas at the top of I-90, the closest skiing to Seattle, with one of the largest night-skiing operations in the country.

    Tip Come for night skiing after the Seattle traffic has cleared; tubing runs at Summit Central.

    • $$$
    • 4 hr
    • Evening

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Snoqualmie Pass. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Snoqualmie Falls in Snoqualmie PassPhoto: Guywelch2000 · CC0
    Outdoors

    Snoqualmie Falls

    A 268-foot waterfall on the Snoqualmie River, running at full force in the wet winter months.

    Tip The upper viewpoint is steps from the parking lot; the trail to the lower viewpoint is short but steep.

    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Outdoors

    Gold Creek Pond

    Flat snowshoe loop around a mountain pond on the east side of the pass, reached from the Gold Creek Sno-Park.

    Tip A Sno-Park permit is required; rent snowshoes in North Bend on the way up.

    • Hyak
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Midday

Eat

1 place to eat in North Bend, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Twede's Cafe in Snoqualmie PassPhoto: Dawid Glawdzin · CC BY 3.0
    Eat

    Twede's Cafe

    North Bend diner that played the Double R in Twin Peaks, still serving cherry pie and coffee under Mount Si.

    • North Bend
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Breakfast

Stay

Places to stay in Snoqualmie Pass.

  • Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie PassPhoto: Kpsudeep · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Stay

    Salish Lodge & Spa

    Lodge on the rim of Snoqualmie Falls with fireplaces in the rooms, a spa and a long-running country breakfast.

    Tip Not staying? Book the breakfast or stop in at The Attic for a drink by the fire.

    • $$$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Breakfast

How to fit Snoqualmie Pass into a trip

Snoqualmie Pass is stop 2 of 3 on our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route. Follow it as-is or lift Snoqualmie Pass into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Snoqualmie Pass month by month

Average daily highs run from 0°C / 33°F in December to 21°C / 69°F in August. January is the wettest month, with about 258 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Snoqualmie Pass weather and the best time to visit →

Near Snoqualmie Pass

8 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.

Snoqualmie Pass questions, answered

How many days do you need in Snoqualmie Pass?

On our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 5-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 6 places add up to roughly 9 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Snoqualmie Pass best known for?

A day on I-90: the falls, a depot full of trains, then snow at the pass. Standouts on our list: Snoqualmie Falls (A 268-foot waterfall on the Snoqualmie River, running at full force in the wet winter months); Gold Creek Pond (Flat snowshoe loop around a mountain pond on the east side of the pass, reached from the Gold Creek Sno-Park); Northwest Railway Museum (Railway museum based in the 1890 Snoqualmie Depot, running its Santa Train to the falls on December weekends).

When is the best time to visit Snoqualmie Pass?

Our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route is best Late Nov – Dec. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (21°C / 69°F), the coolest in December (0°C / 33°F) and the most rain in January (about 258 mm).

What are the best things to do in Snoqualmie Pass?

Start with Snoqualmie Falls, Northwest Railway Museum, The Summit at Snoqualmie and Gold Creek Pond. Our guide lists 6 places in all, from 2 activities, 2 outdoor spots, 1 place to eat and 1 place to stay.

What is near Snoqualmie Pass?

The closest destinations in our guides are Leavenworth (about 59 km / 37 mi), Seattle (about 72 km / 45 mi) and Pike Place Market & Waterfront (about 73 km / 45 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Snoqualmie Pass with your crew

Open the Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 6 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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