Little Mount Si
revised 9/20/2021
Little Mount Si and Mossy Bald Vista
Hike Length: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1100 feet, 1700 feet with Mossy Cliff Vista side trip
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
Map: Green Trails #206S “Mount Si”
With its sheer cliffs rising almost four thousand feet above the North Bend Valley, Mt Si forms a stunning gateway to the High Cascades. If the mountain were in any east coast state, it would be a national park. Here in Washington State, Mount Si is taken for granted as just another nice bit of scenery in a state chock full of natural wonders. Thousands of hikers pay homage to Mount Si by trooping up to the summit on one of Washington State’s most popular trails.
Fortunately, bus riders can join the fun, too! Mt Si is the only point where Metro’s extensive bus system approaches alpine country.
This hike description covers the route to Little Si, the distinctive rocky peaklet poking up by the base of Mt. Si. Little SI is not really so little, it just looks that way in comparison to Big Si’s massive bulk. Hiking to the top will get your pulse racing as the summit trail gains over a thousand feet from the valley floor.
Nearby to Little Mount Si is Mossy Cliff Vista, a worthwhile side trip for those with extra energy and time.
Little Mt. Si is the hill on the left (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
Getting There & Back
From Seattle, ride Sound Transit 554 to the Issaquah Transit Center. Transfer to Metro 208 (caution: very sparse schedule, no service on Sunday) and ride to downtown North Bend (Bendigo Boulevard and W 2nd Street).
Use TOTAGO to get round-trip transit directions, plus offline trail maps if you download the app:
The Hike
Cross Bendigo and head east a block on 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Street to Main, then turn left (N) and walk several blocks on Main until you reach the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, a gravel-surfaced footpath. Turn right (SE) and follow the trail.
Soon, the trail crosses a major arterial, Ballarat Avenue. An interpretive sign, located just past the road, explains the interesting history of the former railroad track that the current trail is built on. From here, the trail continues on for an arrow-straight 1.2 miles to Mt. Si Road. Along the way, inspiring vistas of Mt. Si and the other high peaks surrounding the North Bend Valley enliven what would be otherwise a somewhat dull walk.
Go left(N) onto busy Mt. Si road, which soon crosses the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River. This brand-new, pedestrian-friendly bridge features a wide sidewalk, unlike the old one. Beyond the bridge, continue walking on Mt. Si road past a side street (434th Ave). Beyond the street is the overflow parking lot for the Little Si Trail. Soon after, you will reach the main lot. Both lots are jam-packed on weekends, but bus riders will not have any parking hassles.
Walk through the parking lot and onto the trail, which climbs steeply up the rocky face of a former quarry. The trail levels out on a forested bench above the quarry, A signed side trail, the "Boulder Garden Loop" branches off here. Continue hiking onward on the main trail. Just before a creek crossing, note a signed trail branching right. This is the start of the Mt. Si Old Trail, and is also part of the Boulder Garden Loop. This trail can be used to access Mossy Cliff Vista -see description to follow.
Beyond the creek, the Little Si trail resumes climbing up a wooded hillside. In places, the path becomes a little rough and rocky. After a short ascent, the trail levels out and enters a peaceful valley enfolded by the slopes of Little and Big Si. The slopes of Big Si can be seen rising up for thousands of feet, an impressive mass of mountain especially when it is mantled with snow in winter.
The trail continues on up the valley, which grows narrower and soon becoming a gloomy, mysterious-feeling gorge. At one point, the north face of Little Si, a sheer cliff hundreds of feet high practically overhangs the trail. This spot is popular with climbers, and it is a rare day when you don’t hear the clink of carabiners and voices echoing down from the heights. Further on, the trail crosses a saddle and dips through a depressed spot in the valley, which lacks a lake or pond due to some geological drainage quirk. Instead, the valley floor is covered with a sea of sword ferns, which love the sunless, damp climate that prevails here.
Geologists think that this deep, gloomy canyon was carved by an “ice marginal river”, a huge river flowing between the Cascade Mountains and the massive ice sheet occupying the Puget Sound area 15000 years ago.
At length, the trail climbs out of the valley onto the sunnier north ridge of Little Si, and then picks a devious way up and around rock ledges to reach the summit of the peak, elevation 1560’. The rocky, wind-blasted summit offers stunning views in every direction, ample reward for all the effort you expended to reach it! Note the scattering of shore pines (a species similar to lodgepole pine) growing around the top of the peak, a botanical oddity taking advantage of a dry microclimate unusual in Western Washington.
When done with Little Si, return the way you came back to North Bend.
Side trip to Mossy Cliff Vista
If you have any energy left over after climbing Little Si, be sure to visit Mossy Cliff Vista. It’s a two mile side trip from the Little Si trail, adding 600 ‘ of elevation gain. To get there, return the way you came from Little Mount Si to the creek crossing noted previously (elevation 800’). Turn left onto the trail branching left just beyond creek crossing. This path is the start of the Old Si Trail and leads to the summit of that peak. The Old SI/ Boulder Garden trail wastes no time in in getting to its destination, climbing at a lung-busting pace up a vertiginous slope.. At 1400', the trail levels out in a narrow ravine walled in by mossy cliffs, then reaches a with the newer, well-constructed Boulder Garden trail branching right (S). A sign marks this spot.
Follow this delighful trail as it gradually descends through a forest dotted with a garden of mossy boulders. In less than a half mile, the trail reaches an old logging road at a saddle at 1200', where there is a sign.
To get to Mossy Cliff Vista, go left (E) and follow the gradually descending road a short distance, a hundred paces or so, then look for a narrow trail heading off into the woods to the right (S). This rude little path climbs over a forested knoll and onto the sloping rock of Mossy Cliff Vista. Moss covers the bald rock slope in a amazingly thick carpet. The south edge of the rock slope drops down to the North Bend Valley in a tremendous cliff. Watch your step and enjoy the view.
To return to North Bend, retrace your steps to the junction at the 1200' saddle, and follow the old logging road / Boulder Garden Trail westward as it switchbacks down a steep, forested slope. Along the way, the path passes more impressively large moss cliffs. Eventually you reach the Little Si Trail, joining it not far above the steep initial ascent from the trailhead parking lot.
Follow the Little Si Trail down to the trailhead, then retrace you steps on Mt Si Road and the Snoqualmie Valley Trail to North Bend.