North Bend Backpacking

Backpacking from North Bend to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Updated 9/19/2022

Hike Length: 40 miles

Hike Difficulty: Strenuous Backpack Trip (4 to 5 days)

Maps: Green Trails 205S “Rattlesnake Mountain, 206” Bandera”, and 207 “Snoqualmie Pass”

It is actually possible to step off a Metro bus and do a multi-day backpack in the Cascade Mountain high country. Starting in North Bend, this trip follows an abandoned railroad right of way far into the Cascades, then returns along the high divide between the South and Middle Forks of the Snoqualmie River. This divide comprises a choice portion of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness rich in lakes and alpine scenery. A 4 day itinerary is described below.

In this mountainous region, hikers should be prepared for bad weather and have good navigation skills. Heavy snow may blanket the area from November to June; the best hiking conditions will be found from July through September.

Upper Granite Lake

Getting There & Back

Use TOTAGO to get round-trip transit directions, plus offline trail maps if you download the app:
Backpacking from North Bend to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on Totago

The Hike

Day 1-North Bend to Dirty Harry's Connector trail

Ride Metro 208 to the Mt. Si Senior Center in North Bend. From here, ride the Snoqualmie Valley Transit door-to-door shuttle to Twin Falls Trailhead. This service only runs on weekdays and requires an advance reservation, made by calling SVT. Alternately, you can ride to Rattlesnake Lake Park, although this results in a longer hike.

Access the Palouse-to-Cascades Trail (sometimes called the Iron Horse Trail) from either the Twin Falls or Rattlesnake Lake trailheads. The Twin falls trail is a lovely one, which passes spectacular waterfalls before crossing the river and climbing the hill beyond to reach the Palouse-to-Cascades Trail.

Proceed east on Palouse-to Cascades Trail, built on the old Milwaukee Railroad grade. This trail has a gradual slope and is very well groomed; you should be able to cover the miles rapidly on it. The trail slowly climbs along the north slopes of Cedar Butte and Mt Washington, along the way crossing some spectacular trestle bridges spanning the deep side canyons of Change and Hall Creeks.

At the east end of the Hall Creek Trestle, look for a trail that descends into the canyon of Hall Creek. Follow the trail to the edge of a paved road, Old US 10. The most direct way to continue the hike is to walk east along Old U.S. 10, but exploring Ollalie State Park is fun. To do this, cross the highway and a screen of trees on the far side to get to the park, where there is a large lawn and picnic tables (no official camping, unfortunately). Go to the north side of the lawn and walk the short trail to view the pretty Snoqualmie River. Head east on a riverside trail, which leads in a quarter mile to Weeks Falls, an impressive sight during high water.

Scramble the slope to get back to Old U.S 10, now called Homestead Valley Road, and walk it east a half mile to the I-90 Exit 38 E interchange. Walk under the freeway bridge. Continue hiking north on a paved road and shortly arrive at the trailhead for Dirty Harry's Balcony trail, where there is a restroom and large parking area.

The start of the Dirty Harry's trail heads through a wooded area and soon reaches the paved Fire Training Center access road.

Follow the road, which crosses the picturesque Snoqualmie River on a bridge. On the far side of the bridge is the start of the new trail to Dirty Harry's Balcony. It's a scenic route that ascends a rocky ridge to Dirty Harry's Balcony, a spectacular vista point atop a cliff.

A rough trail that connects Dirty Harry's Balcony with the Mason Lake Trail, which is called Dirty Harry's Connector. A sign marks the start of the trail. It is not shown on any paper maps that I know of, although there are plans to create an improved official version of the route. On-line maps do show the trail these days, and it easy to follow as it is fairly well used.

Dirty Harry's Connector makes a rugged traverse of West Defiance Ridge, climbing through ravines and over a rock slide. Some of these ravines have flowing creeks, where you can collect water for camping. Beyond the rock slide, the trail crosses a forested flat. Possible camping site. Here, look for a short side trail going out to Upper Balcony Vista, elev. 2750'.

Day 2-Dirty Harry's Connector trail to Mason Lake

From the wooded flat, the trail continues the up-and-down traverse for a half mile before joining an abandoned but frequently-used trail that heads upward toward West Defiance Ridge and so-called Putrid Pete's Peak. Continue east on the descending branch of the trail.

Vista from Balcony Traverse Trail

The trail, considerably better quality from here on, gradually descends to a junction with the heavily used Mason Lake / Ira Spring Trail (18 miles, 2300'). Your navigation problems are over for now. Join the crowds and hike uphill in increasingly spectacular scenery to Mason Lake, a beautiful tarn in a glacially carved bowl (20 miles, 4200'). Find a place to camp, you've earned it.

Day 3- Mason Lake to Thompson Lake

Continue hiking along the trail on the north shore of Mason Lake. The trail eventually leaves the lake and makes a short climb to a wooded saddle and a signed trail junction. Turn left (west) onto Trail 1009.

Beyond the saddle, Trail 1009 makes a brisk climb almost to the summit of Mt. Defiance. At the high point of the climb, the trail traverses a steep meadow offering great views to the south, including the sight of ice-crowned Mount Rainier. A rough path climbs the southwest ridge of Mt. Defiance all the way to the top, a worthwhile side trip. From here, the trail makes a long descent on a little-used section to beautiful Thompson Lake. Great camping possibilities here.

Day 4-Thompson Lake to North Bend

The Thompson Lake trail climbs high above the lake to a pass at 4300', then drops down into Granite Creek basin. The trail eventually reaches an junction with a side trail leading in a half mile to pretty Upper Granite Lake. Worth a look if you have the time. Camping here is not legal since this is DNR land.

Otherwise, continue hiking down the Granite Lakes Trail, which makes a long descent down the Granite Creek valley. The trail eventually crosses the often raging Granite Creek on a bridge, then in a half mile reaches an important trail junction. The shortest way to North Bend heads left, following an old road bed, which descends 2.5 miles to the paved Middle Fork Road. Walk west on the paved road and shortly arrive at the popular Mailbox Peak trailhead. It will be jam-packed with cars on a weekend. If the Trailhead Direct service to the Mailbox Trailhead has been restored, then you can end your hike right there. This bus was cancelled during the Covid crisis, but may be restored in 2022. It would only run on summer weekends, however, so keep that in mind when planning your hike.

If there is no Trailhead Direct bus, keep walking west on the Middle Fork road. Eventually it passes some new housing developments and a school, then reaches a major intersection with a stop sign. Here, head right on SE 140th Street and follow it west to its end at a junction with North Bend Way. Continue west on North Bend Way less than a quarter mile to where it crosses the Snoqualmie Valley trail; from here, return to downtown North Bend via the SVT . From Ballarat Ave, it's only a few blocks walk west to the Metro 208 bus stop on Bendigo Ave.

Little Mason Lake