Snowshed Falls
RATING - 40.0
VR - 4.0 (Sm/M) HR - 6.0 SR - 16/20
TYPE OF APPROACH - Trail
DIFFICULTY - Easy
LOCATION - Stampede Pass Area
TYPE - Horsetail
HEIGHT - 155'
WIDTH - 10'
DIRECTIONS - Drive East of Snoqualmie Pass and exit at the Stampede Pass exit. In one mile stay straight towards Stampede Pass. In .4 miles you will turn left onto a rough road. Follow this for one mile and then keep straight at a three way intersection. When the main road takes a sharp right, find a place to park. Follow the road up the right, passing a gate, and walk along the railroad tracks for a quarter of a mile to the falls.
Snowshed Falls was one of the first waterfalls I found out about that I wanted to visit when I began this hobby. For some reason, it took me nearly a decade before I finally visited. The small creek drops 155' over a beautiful, moss-covered cliff and drops down to the railroad tracks. A very large railroad tunnel blocks the bottom of the falls. The tunnel was built to protect the trains from the creek and falling snow in the winter. Where the entire falls visible from up close this would be a beautiful waterfall. The "snowshed" adds a unique touch to the scene.
I'm not 100% sure of the legality of visiting this waterfall. There is a sign at the gate that says something about RR employees only being allowed on the road and another sign part of the way in at a "Private RR Crossing". I think it's OK to walk up to the falls but I'm not 100% sure so behave yourself if you visit. Definitely stay off the tunnel, don't hop the fences, etc.