Fall City, Washington
Highway 5 cuts through the western part of Washington state, leading to Seattle. Any main roads near Highway 5 and surrounding cities can have heavy traffic almost anytime of day. To get to Fall City, a small town east of Seattle, and to avoid heavy traffic, we had to trick our GPS into taking us further east. The route we took was on back country roads through many small towns. The drive was really beautiful and much more relaxing.
One of Washington’s main industries is lumber. We saw many acres of forested land. Where the trees had already been harvested, we saw many acres replanted with new trees.
Snoqualmie Falls
It was just a short drive from our campground in Fall City to Snoqualmie Falls, one of Washington’s most popular scenic attractions. This two acre park includes an observation deck overlooking the 270 foot waterfalls. There is free parking and a pedestrian bridge crossing the highway to the park.
The park has information about the history of the waterfalls and the underground power plant. An underground power plant was built in 1890. The original generators are still functioning today.
It would be fun to stay in the Lodge at the edge of the cliff. At night time, colored lights light up the falls. The Lodge also houses a nice gift shop and restaurant.
From the top observation deck, we could see the waterfalls and the outlet for the underground power plant.
It was late summer when we visited and the water flow was low. In spring time, the water falls can cover from one side to the other in a huge torrent.
There’s a mile and a half trail to the bottom of the falls, or one can drive a couple of miles to a parking lot at the bottom. From the bottom on our way to the falls, we passed the penstock carrying water diverted from the river to the power house below.
We walked by the power house to a catwalk along the river leading to another observation point.
No one is allowed down along the riverbank because of the danger of quickly rising river levels. These two power plants supply power to the surrounding areas.
Monroe, Washington
We moved to Monroe, Washington, just a short distance from Fall City. This campground was along a river. Washington has no shortage of rivers. In the evening, we took a walk down to the river. In one direction, the sun was fading on the peaceful river.
In the other direction and later on, the sun lit up the trees in autumn colors while the jagged peaks of the Cascades could be seen jutting up in the distance.
While we were in Monroe, we drove up Highway 2 beyond Stevens Pass to Lake Wenatchee. It’s only a few miles from Leavenworth. Homes line most of the lake edge, but we were able to find a beach access from Lake Wenatchee State Park with a nice walkway clear to the water’s edge.
It was a windy day, so not many people were out enjoying the water.
There was a roped off swimming area. A couple of islands with tall trees made me want to sail out and walk around on them.
Lake Wenatchee is such a pretty area. If it hadn’t been so cold and windy, we might have spent more time enjoying the scenery.
Skykomish, Washington
On our way home, we drove through the town of Skykomish, a Great Northern Railroad town. It’s a quaint little town.
I liked the caboose-shaped road signs, and of course, the train in the background. The railroad was originally built to go from Montana to the Pacific Ocean.
Main Street is short, but today about 20 trains pass through this little town with shipments of products from all over the US, and even from foreign countries. Amtrak passes through twice a day, once from each direction, between Seattle and Chicago.
We enjoyed exploring the back roads near Fall City and Monroe, Washington. Soon we were off to another destination further north.
Make me know Your ways, Lord;
Teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4