Snoqualmie Falls Park Changes

[BobH]

Puget Sound Energy is working on a major project at Snoqualmie Falls. Much of the work involves the Hydroelectric Plant, however they're also making revisions to the parks at the top of the falls and near the powerhouse at river level.

The traditional observation deck at the top of the falls has been closed. The signs say it is closed temporarily for inspection, but they have also built a new observation area a bit further down the cliff, so I don't know what the future plans are for the upper level deck.

The new area, called Peregrine Viewpoint is quite nice, and can accomodate larger groups. I also like the view from the new area. (In fact, I've always wondered why the lodge wasn't built at this very location, instead of it's current location where you can hear and feel the falls but not see them from most of the site.)

Here's a photo of the view from the new observation area:

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[BobH]

Puget Sound Energy has a website for the project, with more info and a timeline on the work.

http://www.pse.com/community/yourneighborhood/pages/KingCounty.aspx?tab=1&chapter=12#

BELLEVUE, Wash. (Sept. 1, 2009) – Puget Sound Energy will close Snoqualmie Falls Park, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, for approximately eight weeks to perform major landscaping improvements at the popular tourist site overlooking Snoqualmie Falls.

During the closure – required to ensure the public’s safety – construction crews will remove sidewalks, re-contour some of the park’s grounds, install new concrete walkways and commons areas, and perform other “hardscape” work.

Once this initial construction work is completed and the utility’s two-acre public park re-opens about Nov. 1, PSE contractors will begin a series of additional park-enhancement projects, such as building new fencing along the park’s cliffside rim and falls-viewing platforms, erecting new lighting, and installing educational and interpretive signage. All park improvements are expected to be complete by April 2010.
During most of the two-month park closure, a fenced walkway will maintain public access to the park’s main observation platform for viewing the falls. For limited periods, however, the platform also may be closed, during which visitors will be directed to the viewing platform at the end of PSE’s riverfront trail. The trail, located next to PSE’s Plant 2 Powerhouse below the park, can be reached by driving about a mile past the park on SR 202 (toward Fall City), turning left on 372nd Avenue Southeast, then left again on Southeast Fish Hatchery Road.

PSE’s enhancements to the park are part of a major, five-year redevelopment of the utility’s Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project, including upgrading the 111-year-old facility’s two power plants with new generator turbines, penstocks, and water-intake systems. PSE also will be renovating the project’s historic Train Depot and Carpenter Shop, upstream from Snoqualmie Falls, to showcase historical artifacts and photos of the power-generating facility.

More information on PSE’s Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project and the upcoming redevelopment work can be found at PSE.com.

Note that the press release is dated September, and aside from the old observation deck being closed, most of the site was open to the public. The new trails are quite nice, and they've also created a path that doesn't have all the steps that the old one did.

 

[squirl033]

note too that the view from the platform along the riverfront boardwalk is extremely limited. if you want a good view of the falls, you have to climb over the railing, down the bank, and walk upstream on the riverbank. it's not hard, though the climb from the platform to the riverbank does require modest agility, and you will get much better views of the falls...

 

[BobH]

Rocky, you are correct about the boardwalk. Unfortunately, not only do you have to climb over the railing, you also have to ignore "no trespassing" signs. Not sure if they ever ticket folks though, since you always see people out there wandering around and the trail is obviously heavily used.

They also note that they will be making improvements to that trail, and that it could be closed during construction. I expect that either one of two things will happen. They'll either change the trail to get a better view, or they'll leave it in the current location and make it much harder to climb over the fence and down into the riverbed. If they truly feel that area is dangerous, I think they'll work to limit access as much as possible.

Hopefully they'll provide a safe and legal way to get a good view and good photos.

 

[BobH]

Another photo from the Peregrine Viewpoint, as you can see it's quite a nice view.

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[squirl033]

Rocky, you are correct about the boardwalk. Unfortunately, not only do you have to climb over the railing, you also have to ignore "no trespassing" signs. Not sure if they ever ticket folks though, since you always see people out there wandering around and the trail is obviously heavily used.

They also note that they will be making improvements to that trail, and that it could be closed during construction. I expect that either one of two things will happen. They'll either change the trail to get a better view, or they'll leave it in the current location and make it much harder to climb over the fence and down into the riverbed. If they truly feel that area is dangerous, I think they'll work to limit access as much as possible.

Hopefully they'll provide a safe and legal way to get a good view and good photos.

i hope so too... i certainly couldn't have gotten that double-rainbow shot of the falls from any existing "official" viewing spots. i've never heard of anyone being ticketed... i think the only reason for the signs is to cover their backsides - if someone gets hurt down there, PSE can simply say, "they shouldn'ta been there...". but people do it all the time... i've even seen folks standing on larger rocks in the pool below the falls, fishing!


PS - i like the view from Peregrine Viewpoint better than the old platform... the old one was too close and too far above, so you always felt you were looking down at the falls. this new view is still a down angle, but not as pronounced, and gives a more pleasing - to me, at least - perspective.

 

[BobH]

Rocky, I agree with you on the new view, I like it better too. Here's a shot from the old lookout for comparision. You can't get as nice of a view, and as you mention, it's too high to look natural. It also makes the falls look smaller, which is probably not the effect most photographers are looking for.

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You're also right about the view of the falls from the lower walkway. Here's the view from the "official" viewing platform. Not great, and as you can see, many folks ignore the signs and climb down into the river area.

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[squirl033]

and in summer, when those trees along the bank are fully leafed out, the view from that lower platform is even more restricted... that's why so many folks just climb down to the beach. and the view is so much better from closer to the falls...