Fall City, WA
Fall City, Washington, is a quaint, rural community known for its natural beauty, especially the nearby Snoqualmie Falls. Historically, it has roots in logging and agriculture, and today, it continues to be a peaceful, small-town retreat just east of Seattle. We stayed here for a week so we could visit Anna’s niece and her family as we traveled west through Washington state.
Rattlesnake Lake
Rattlesnake Lake is a serene and scenic spot surrounded by dense forests, rugged mountains, and expansive views, making it a beautiful destination for nature lovers. The small lake’s calm waters reflect the surrounding peaks, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. It is a great spot for picnicking, photography, and simply enjoying the natural beauty of the area. For the more adventurous, there are various outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming.
The Lake has historical significance because it was once the site of the Rattlesnake Lake Dam, which was built in the early 1900s to provide water for Seattle. The dam was later removed, but remnants of the old dam structure can still be seen today. Additionally, the area around the lake includes the remains of the former town of Rattlesnake, which was submerged when the lake was created.
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is a stunning 268-foot waterfall located in Snoqualmie, Washington, about 30 miles east of Seattle. It is one of the most iconic natural landmarks in the Pacific Northwest and a popular tourist destination. The falls are fed by the Snoqualmie River and are particularly known for their dramatic drop, creating a misty, scenic display.
Snoqualmie Falls holds cultural significance for the Snoqualmie Tribe, who consider it a sacred site. It also gained fame through its appearance in the television series Twin Peaks, which helped further its recognition worldwide. Visitors can enjoy the falls from a nearby park, which offers observation decks, walking trails, and picnic areas, making it a favorite spot for nature lovers and photographers.
Originally built in 1898 and is one of the oldest hydroelectric plants in the Pacific Northwest. The plant harnesses the power of the Snoqualmie River to generate electricity, utilizing the natural flow of the river as it cascades down the falls.
The facility was crucial in the development of the region’s infrastructure, providing electricity to the growing towns and industries around Seattle. Over the years, the plant has undergone upgrades and modernization, but it still operates today, supplying power to the local grid. The dam and power station are located just upstream of the falls, and while the area is largely preserved for natural beauty, the hydroelectric plant continues to play a role in energy production.
Park Review – Tall Chief RV Resort
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Location: Fall City, WA
Type: Commercial Park
Check-in/Check-out times: 12:00/11:00
Site Quality / Amenities: Gravel roads and pads. Each site had a picnic table and a fire ring. The fire ring was unusable for us because it was too close to the trailer but it didn’t really matter anyway as there was a fire ban.
Access: We took exit 22 from I-90 onto Preston Fall City Road SE, then WA-202 West to SE 8th St. to the park. All these were fine for even a big rig.
Cellular/WiFi: Verizon was strong and fast. Starlink was significantly obstructed (>70%) however it still worked pretty well most of the time. There was occasional buffering when streaming.
Restaurants: Aroma Coffee Co. – Great coffee drinks as well as pastries. El Corporal – Not Tex Mex but decent Mexican food even for our tastes. Ivar’s Seafood Bar (Issaquah) – Great fried clams (maybe the best I’ve had) and their signature fried cod fillets. We weren’t thrilled with their clam chowder however as it was a bit bland and watered down. Issaquah Cafe – Great place for breakfast.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks nearby.
What we liked: Convenient to nearby family and attractions. The park felt like you were camping in a forest.
What we didn’t like: You weren’t assigned a site so you had to drive around and find an empty one. While this could be a good thing, it is more difficult having to navigate through the park to find a good site. Also there were only a few 50 amp sites and of course they were all taken. Because it was cooler we weren’t worried about 30 amps but the power wasn’t good on our site and we could really only draw about 10 amps without the voltage going too low. Lucky for us, we never needed to run our air conditioner and we only had one morning we couldn’t run our Latte machine without the low voltage causing our rig to shut down. Our site was not level side to side requiring some blocks under the wheels.
Verdict: We would probably stay here again if in the area as there aren’t a lot of convenient choices.