Granite Falls, city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Granite Falls is a small city in the foothills of the Cascade Range in Snohomish County, located between two rivers. The downtown sits compact and walkable, with early 1900s-era buildings surrounding a main street, while forests and mountains rise on all sides.
The area began as a portage site where Coast Salish tribes transported canoes between rivers long before European settlers arrived. Joseph Sousa Enas from the Azores became the first permanent European settler in 1883, the town was officially laid out in 1891, and it became a city in 1903, driven by mining and the railroad arrival in 1892.
The name comes from a waterfall north of downtown on the Stillaguamish River, a natural feature that has defined the place for generations. Visitors walking through town see how this connection to water and mountains shapes how people live and work here.
Visit during daylight hours to navigate the compact downtown and nearby mountain roads safely. The Mountain Loop Highway is best explored with plenty of time to stop and enjoy views, so plan for at least two to three hours of driving to appreciate the scenery properly.
The town has a surprising connection to actor Chris Pratt, who worked at the local Omega Pizza restaurant as a young man and painted a large mural on the wall that visitors can still see today. This detail reveals how even small mountain towns hold unexpected stories that surprise travelers passing through.
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