Snoqualmie Pass/I-90

Snoqualmie Pass/I-90

Hikes and Areas of Interest:

Cougar Mountain
Tiger Mountain
Rattlesnake Ledge
Twin Falls
Mt Si
Mailbox Peak
Snow Lake & Gem Lake
Franklin Falls

Sunset from Rattlesnake Ledge

View of Mt Rainier from De Leo Wall trail on Cougar Mountain

The Snoqualmie Pass/I-90 region involves numerous hikes along I-90 in the North Bend area and the Snoqualmie Pass area. Two of the most easily accessible areas to Seattle are Cougar Mountain and Tiger Mountain. I spent several early spring days at Cougar Mountain. It is a maze of trails with minimal elevation gain. The hardest thing can be finding parking on a nice weekend because there are so many families on the trails. I’ve only hiked on one trail on Tiger Mountain but it is a favorite of many Seattle-ites. It is close to Seattle and offers a more challenging experience with much more elevation gain than the Cougar Mountain area.

View from Rattlesnake Ledge

View from Mt Si

I prefer to head to the North Bend area. It has some great, short, easier hikes that are perfect for new hikers or a quick after work hike. My favorite is Rattlesnake Ledge. This 4 mile hike gains 1,000’ of elevation over a very well maintained trail. The trail is generally pretty crowded as it winds throughout the trees on the mountainside. About half way up, a mile into the hike, there is a small clearing that offers you a view. The next views will be at your destination, the ledge. You can see the Cascade Mountains along I-90 and Rattlesnake Lake below. The ledge can be dangerous – there are no handrails or fences so keep an eye on little ones and pets. Another shorter hike is Little Si. It’s north of I-90 and similar to Rattlesnake Ledge. Based on the views you get from both, I prefer Rattlesnake Ledge.

Haystack at the top of Mt Si

Twin Falls can offer a good rainy day, easy hike alternative. Some gentle up and downs take you to the two waterfalls. The trail is well maintained and can be busy, although that is not always the rule. Mt Si is also in North Bend and is very popular. It’s often used as training for people hoping to challenge the big mountains like Mt Rainier. This hike gains 4,000’ over 4 miles one way. The trail is well maintained but very busy and is similar to the other two hikes. Your only real view is at the top. For new hikers, I would suggest not doing the scramble up the Haystack, the true summit of the mountain. Take a break at the rocks at the base and enjoy the view before heading down. Mailbox Peak is another famous hike in the area, this one gaining 4,000’ over 2.5 miles one way. The trail can be hard to follow and the steepness is severe, so do not attempt until you are a confident hiker.

Upper part of Twin Falls

Mailbox Peak

Snow Lake

Further along I-90 is the Snoqualmie Pass area. There are many trails that take you into the Alpine Wilderness from this area and there are some amazing alpine lakes to discover. One of the most popular hikes is to Snow Lake which departs from Alpental, the ski resort. I didn’t particularly find the hike to Snow Lake that interesting, but the continuation to Gem Lake that takes you around Snow Lake is awesome. Along the trail to Gem Lake you also get some great views into the Central Cascade Mountains. Franklin Falls is literally right beneath I-90, a hidden gem. This short 1 mile hike would be great for all abilities and the waterfall was quite impressive at the end – more impressive that I had no idea it ever existed even though I’ve driven past it numerous times on I-90.

Waterfall along the trail to Franklin Falls

Franklin Falls right alongside I-90

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