Snoqualmie River Float

There is likely no more significant summer ritual for Seattle area residents than going down into the basement, dusting off and inflating an old black inner tube, calling up a few best friends, packing a cooler, and floating down the Snoqualmie River.

From the Plum Boat Launch just below Snoqualmie Falls to Fall City Park, the Snoqualmie River meanders roughly 3.3 lazy miles in the glorious and welcome Washington summer sun. For those feeling a quarter-mile more adventurous, the giant eddy at Plum #1 River Access Point just up SE Fish Hatchery Road also makes for an excellent put-in location.

Whether you have your own tube or not, Fall City Floating provides a shuttle service departing from Fall City Park on the northeast bank of the river. They also rent tubes or will happily help inflate your own. They operate Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

If you don't mind a little company, or if you really embrace the masses, then you'll definitely want to make it out on the Annual Snoqualmie Falls River Tubing Adventure, where thousands of rivergoers join together for an all-day summer bash on the river. Specific dates change annually and can be found online, but they are typically held in late July or early August.

Note: Expect float durations to range from between 2.5 to 4 hours based on water levels. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on all Washington rivers. For those seeking an all-day float, consider putting in at Fall City Park and floating the 10-mile stretch to the confluence with the Tolt River at Tolt-MacDonald Park in Carnation.