What’s “Up” with Snohomish Balloon Rides?
Are you looking at Snohomish balloon rides and wondering what it’s all about? Let me fill you in!
When I think of hot air balloon rides, what comes to mind are: panoramic al fresco views, romantic basket getaways, and Victorian modes of transportation.
Taking a hot air balloon ride in Snohomish convert these wild conjectures into a reality (no one’s telling you you can’t wear Victorian garb onboard!). Experience Washington state from a unique vantage point as you sail above Snohomish county with its verdant valleys, winding rivers, and towering mountain ranges just 30 miles north of Seattle.
My in-laws have an incredible view from their home overlooking Snohomish County and we always enjoy watching the hot air balloons floating in orange sunset skies with the Olympics residing in the background.
I even got to experience a tethered hot air balloon ride with Snohomish Balloon Rides company at the Winthrop Balloon Roundup and it was so much fun!
So let’s see what hot air balloon rides are all about in Snohomish and if this is something you should consider!
Why Snohomish for Balloon Rides?
Why take a balloon ride in Snohomish you ask?
For one, it’s less than an hour away from Seattle, so it’s super convenient to get to.
Secondly, the view from Snohomish gives you a panoramic vista to see a majority of what makes Washington, well…Washington.
As you float gently upward, the ground beneath you becomes a patchwork of Snohomish farmland, over 63,000 acres worth, with the Snohomish River weaving through it. To the west are the Olympic mountains and to the east are the North Cascades, and Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier photobomb your view in between.
It’s arguably one of the best views in the state!
Who to Fly Hot Air Balloons with in Snohomish
There are two hot air balloon companies that fly in Snohomish: Balloon Depot and Snohomish Balloon Rides. Both companies collaborate together, testing the weather with scientific helium balloons prior to flying and consulting each other about safety and flight paths.
Let’s see what each one offers.
Balloon Depot
- Flying Dates: May 1 – Sept 30
- Flight Time: 1-1.5hrs
- Total Tour Duration: 3-3.5hrs
- Age Minimum: 5 years old
- Balloon Capacity: 4-6 or 9-12 passengers
Balloon Depot has been flying balloons since 1978.
Meet your pilot at the designated launch site and get hands on experience by helping with the balloon inflation.
Allow for 3-3.5hrs for the entire experience from start to finish with about 1-1.5hrs of flight time. If, for some reason, the flight lasts less than 40 minutes, they will prorate the ticket price.
The size of the group determines the size of the balloon you’ll be flying in. They have balloons that hold 4-6 passengers or bigger ones that hold 9-12 passengers.
Depending on weather, you’ll be flying anywhere from 500 to 5,000 feet up in the air, but the average height is up to 1,500ft.
After the serene flight over Snohomish, there will be celebratory champagne and snacks as well as a “certificate of ascension” souvenir autographed by your pilot.
🌄 Sunrise Flight – take off early in the morning just after sunrise. Because mornings don’t tend to have as much wind in the evening, you probably won’t travel as far BUT often you are in the air longer. Enjoy a post-flight toast of champagne or sparkling cider (orange juice provided for mimosas!) and breakfast-y snacks.
🌅 Sunset Flight – take off just before sunset, landing before it gets dark. Enjoy an “afterparty celebration” with a champagne toast and yummy snack tray!
If you don’t want to fly with your friends but have FOMO (fear of missing out), Balloon Depot offers a ride along option in the chase van so you can take part in all the on-land activities. Just let them know at check-in and pay the small fee to participate.
Other services Balloon Depot offers are: private balloon flights for romantic couples or private parties, tethered balloon rides for special occasions, and Winthrop Balloon Roundup packages.
💁♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: consider spending the night at Snohomish Inn the day before a sunrise balloon ride so you can have a more leisurely morning. Check booking rates here!
Snohomish Balloon Rides
- Flying Dates: May 15 -Sept 30
- Flight Time: 45min-1.25hrs
- Total Tour Duration: 3-3.5hrs
- Age Minimum: 6 years old
- Balloon Capacity: 2-10 passengers
Captain Bob, owner of Snohomish Balloon Rides, has been flying balloons in Snohomish since 1998.
I can vouch for Captain Bob because I took a tethered ride with him at the Winthrop Balloon Roundup and he was happy to answer everyone’s questions and you can tell how much he loves what he does!
Meet him at Harvey Field or a different designated spot based on the weather.
Allow for 3-3.5hrs for the entire experience from start to finish with between 45min-1.25hrs of flight time, depending on which flight time you choose.
Depending on the weather, you’ll be flying from as low as a couple hundred feet to as high as 3,000ft.
🌄 Sunrise Flight – take off about 30 minutes after sunrise and you’ll spend about 1-1.25hrs in the air. These flights run from May 15 – September 15
🌅 Sunset Flight – take off about 2hrs before sunset and you’ll spend about 45min-1hr in the air. These flights run from May 15 – September 30
Other services Snohomish Balloon Rides offer: private balloon flights for romantic couples or private parties, Winthrop Balloon Roundup flights
The Balloon Ride Experience
When you arrive at your meeting destination, you’ll get to see how the hot air balloon is inflated.
They lay out the sturdy and colorful ripstop nylon balloon, hooking it up to the woven basket which is on its side.
Large fans blow into the balloon cavity to do most of the heavy lifting of inflating the canvas. This part takes about 10 minutes or so.
When the balloon is mostly inflated, they start up the propane tanks and blow fire into the balloon. From there, it doesn’t take much to get the balloon floating and lifting the basket into an upright position.
Passengers have to climb into the basket by stepping into foot holes and swinging your legs over. I was able to gracefully get in, but getting out was a little trickier.
These hot air balloons are NOT handicap accessible! There are not many companies in the country that offer a handicap accessible basket.
Once inside, I was kinda’ve surprised that I could feel the weaving of the basket below my feet. Tarp covered the floor, but it was definitely not a solid, flat surface.
As soon as everyone is safely in the basket, the pilot lights the fire for take off. I didn’t even feel when we lifted off from the ground, it was that smooth!
Before you know it you’ll be hundreds of feet in the air, looking down on Snohomish and beyond. Squares of verdant farmland, Snohomish River winding through the valley, and mountains on all four sides. See if you can spot the skyscrapers of Seattle, 30 miles away.
Each balloon ride will be different from the next. Perhaps your pilot will dip just above a flowing river where you can spot salmon or beavers. Maybe you’ll fly higher than the birds at almost 5,000 feet! It will all depend on the weather, the winds, and your location.
Because you are riding the current of the winds, there really isn’t a breeze while you’re floating across the landscape. It’s actually rather peaceful.
Those who are afraid of heights (as I am) often aren’t usually afraid up in the balloon, as they expect they might be. Even though I didn’t go up to full elevation, I could tell that I could probably handle the height as long as I disassociated myself and didn’t think too hard about it.
Another thing to note is that if you are prone to motion sickness (again, like me), I would recommend taking Dramamine or another form of preventive measure just in case. I was feeling a little queasy on my tethered ride, but I’m not sure if that’s because of the swinging from reaching the top of the ropes or if it was the act of being suspended in the air.
The balloon will drift where the wind takes you until you reach a landing spot where the chase van meets you, which has been following your flight path.
Depending on the company you take, you might enjoy a celebratory drink and snacks afterwards or you will just immediately take the van ride back to where your car is parked.
❓Random Fun Fact: Contrary to popular portrayal, Phineas Fogg did not go Around the World in 80 Days in a hot air balloon. In fact, he never flew in one at any point in the book!
Is Hot Air Ballooning Safe?
As most things in life, there is a risk to flying in a hot air balloon. But the probability of being caught up in a terrible accident is pretty slim to none.
First of all, pilots of hot air balloons must undergo extensive training and obtain a license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ensuring they are well-prepared to manage the balloon under severe conditions and prioritize passenger safety.
Secondly, balloon pilots take weather very seriously. As flights are dependent on the winds, flights are scheduled for times when the wind is calm, which is why they take off shortly after sunrise or before sunset. The balloon companies are equipped with modern technology to monitor weather patterns closely, allowing them to avoid flying in adverse conditions
And while accidents in hot air ballooning are rare, they can still happen. However, statistics show that hot air ballooning has a very low rate of incidents and fatalities compared to other activities. For example, from 2000-2011, there were 78 balloon crashes in the United States with only 5 fatalities (I was having a hard time finding more current, reliable statistics).
So yes there’s risk, but I’d say that’s pretty low.
What to Wear on a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Surprisingly, even at 1500 feet above the ground in the unprotected air, the temperature is hardly different than being on the ground, and that’s because you’re traveling WITH the wind, so no cold breezes.
A good rule of thumb is to wear what you are comfortable in on the ground. However, my suggestions are:
- Layers – as in most PNW scenarios, dressing in layers is always wise. If you choose to do a sunrise balloon ride, the temperature will warm up as the sun comes up. Or, if you do the sunset balloon ride, the temperature cools off as the sun goes down.
- Sunglasses – If you have sensitive eyes, like me, you’ll probably want to have a pair of sunglasses on to keep the sunshiny rays under control.
- Comfortable Shoes – you’ll be standing for the entire balloon ride on a mostly flat surface, so wear comfy flat shoes. High heels are not allowed, for obvious reasons!
What Else to Do in Snohomish
Since you’re in Snohomish already, you might as well take advantage of what’s in the area either before or after your flight.
Shopping – downtown Snohomish is famous for its antique shops. Walk down picturesque First Street and pop in and out of cute, but overpriced, antique shops and find fun old (or not so old) used items. There are also just as many stylish boutique shops selling new things as well.
Restaurants – Snohomish has plenty of restaurants to eat. My favorite places are:
- Fred’s Rivertown Alehouse – their Asian nachos are sooooooo good!
- Cabbage Patch – fun atmosphere in a converted Victorian house
- Spada Farmhouse Brewery – delicious pub food and some of the best beer around
Coffee Shops – coffee gets its own category because I’m a snob 😛 :
- Looking Glass Coffee – not really an Alice in Wonderland theme, but has a cozy, historical atmosphere with decent coffee.
- Legacy Coffee – I’m not even exaggerating when I say this is the best coffee I’ve had in Washington! Their Honeycomb Latte is the smoothest, richest drink ever.
Seasonal Events – Snohomish always has some sort of event happening throughout the year like:
- Snohomish Farmers Market
- Snohomish Wine Walks
- Kla Ha Ya Days
- Snohomish Pumpkin Patches
- Christmas Craft Markets
There’s plenty of fun things to find in Snohomish, so make the most out your day!
Is a Balloon Ride in Snohomish Worth It?
For most people, a hot air balloon ride is a bucket list item. And for good reason! There’s something so magical about being able to float in the sky in a basket underneath a giant balloon.
Here’s what other balloon goers have said about the experience on Google reviews:
“Such a fun experience! Sunset was a great time to go and around Halloween to see the corn mazes from above was cool. It was like we had a map for the maze afterwards haha. Definitely recommend this company! I went twice” – Jules
“5th time is the charm! Tonight, we finally got the opportunity to hit the skies with Snohomish Balloon Ride, and to say that it was anything short of magical would be an incredible disservice to Bob and his amazing crew. It was 100% worth the wait, and I can tell how much Bob and team love what they do. Flying over the beautiful Snohomish landscape was an amazing experience. Even if you are afraid of heights, I can say with confidence that you will be just fine! Bob’s expertise made for an incredibly smooth flight where we felt safe the entire time.” – Linh
“Bucket list item checked off. My wife and I along with our six grandchildren enjoyed a truly wonderful experience flying with Balloon Depot. Jay a pilot of with thirty years of experience gave us a trip that we will always remember. As one grandchild said, “This is better than Disney Land”!” – Larry
“This was an outstanding adventure! Jay made it a super fun experience! We had 9 people aboard our flight yet he kept it personable . The end of flight celebration topped our night off just right! Can’t wait to do this again!!!!!!!” – Kathryn
Seeing that not one person who has taken a Snohomish balloon ride has ever had a regrettable experience, I’d say that it is definitely worth doing!
🌲 Washington Travel Planning Guide 🌲
🚨 Should I buy Washington travel insurance?
YES — I recommend Travel Insurance Master because you can compare multiple options with one click. With plans starting at $5/day per person, why not give yourself piece of mind? Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!
🚗 Is it safe to rent a car in Washington?
YES — It’s totally safe to drive in Washington. And unless you are planning to just stay in Seattle, renting a car is pretty much a necessity! Beware of tolls whether crossing bridges or driving in HOV lanes. I recommend Discover Cars as they have some of the best prices around.
📞 Will my phone work in Washington?
YES — All major cell providers work in Washington. However, be prepared for some dead spots in the more remote parts like in the middle of the cascades.
🛏️ What’s the best way to book my Washington accommodations?
For Washington hotels, Booking.com is amazing because you can often reserve your room with no money down. If you are looking at Airbnbs for a more home-like stay, don’t forget to check VRBO for potentially better prices and options.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy Washington flights?
I recommend looking at Skyscanner for finding cheap flights. Pro Tip: check if flying into Everett is cheaper than flying into Seattle.
🛂 Do I need a passport to visit Washington?
NO — If you are a US citizen, you do not need a passport as Washington is part of the United States. If you are from out of the country, the same passport and visa requirements are the same as entering anywhere in the United States from your country.
🧳What should I pack to Washington?
Layers! Layers! Layers! Weather can get finnicky, so prepare for both rain and sunny warm days. Wear comfortable walking shoes that can go from city strolls to mountain hiking.
