Nestled near the Cascade Mountains, just below Snoqualmie Falls, and along the Snoqualmie and Raging Rivers, you’ll find Fall City. As the colors change, the days get shorter, and the leaves start to drift from the trees, Fall City’s quaint downtown gets a little quieter than its bustling metropolitan neighbors. A true outdoor haven, the forests of the Northwest are Fall City’s backyard—whether it’s a casual stroll along an easy pathway or the navigation of a challenging terrain for a seasoned hiker.
An easy drive from the metro, Fall City is only 20 miles from Bellevue. In the last decade, this unincorporated King County town has grown by about 20 percent, as more people discover the charm of this semi-rural area. Placed in what locals refer to as a “gentle valley,” the region benefits from the “natural air conditioner” provided by the valley, river, and falls.
When the holidays approach, Fall City revels in the festivities, hosting an annual holiday market the first Saturday in December, followed by a tree lighting at Olive Taylor Quigly Park. On a late-autumn evening downtown, you might even hear the sweet sound of carolers, singing from horseback.
The pace picks up in the summertime as the town celebrates Fall City Day, a family-friendly event with a foundation in the Cub Scout Derbies of yesteryear. Now, the event includes parades, family entertainment, a “ducky derby,” live music, and more. As temperatures climb, locals and out-of-towners alike flock to the Snoqualmie River in the summer for a float. Remember that natural air conditioner? On the hottest days of the year, floaters at water level can experience drafts as much as 20 degrees cooler than the surrounding air.