Snoqualmie Valley Trail IV

Heading into the Cascades on a former railroad grade

Hike Length: 15 miles round trip

Elevation Gain:420 feet

Hike Difficulty: Strenuous (due to length)

Map: Green Trails-Green Trails #205S Rattlesnake Mountain

Revised 9/20/2021

The final portion of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail from North Bend to its end at Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area offers some of the best hiking of the whole trail. The first few miles are uneventful as the trail traverses the flat and civilized floor of the Snoqualmie River valley. Then the trail leaves the flatlands and makes a winding ascent of the canyon of Boxley Creek, eventually arriving at the scenic environs of Rattlesnake Lake. The round trip distance to the lake is long, but the trail’s forgiving gravel surface helps to ease the effort.

Rattlesnake Lake (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

Getting There

In downtown Seattle, catch Sound Transit 554, and ride the bus to the Issaquah Transit Center.

Here, transfer to the Metro 208 minibus (caution- sparse schedule: plan your arrival at Issaquah Transit Center carefully). Sit back and enjoy the long, scenic ride to North Bend.

When the bus rounds a sharp corner and heads into downtown North Bend, signal the bus to stop. Disembark at the stop located on Bendigo Boulevard next to the downtown movie theater.

The Hike

Cross Bendigo Boulevard and head east a block on 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Street to Main ; then turn left (NW) and walk several blocks on Main until you reach the Snoquamie 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 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 peaks surrounding the North Bend Valley enliven what would be otherwise a somewhat dull walk.

The trail crosses Mt. Si road and continues another flat mile to an intersection with North Bend Way . Cross this major road and locate the continuation of the trail at a trailhead parking area. In a short distance, the trail goes underneath the I-90 Freeway and crosses the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River. The bridge offers a pretty spot to rest and admire the clean, rushing waters of the snowmelt-fed river.

Beyond the bridge, the trail passes by a small housing subdivision, then starts a gradual climb out of the valley floor. The surroundings soon become forested and wild. As the trail climbs, views open up toward the Middle Fork River and the Mailbox Peak/Mount Defiance ridge, especially so in winter when the trees are bare. A tributary of Boxley Creek is crossed on an impressive trestle bridge, a good turnaround spot for tiring walkers. Boxley Creek itself can be heard rushing below in its deep ravine.

Eventually the trail leaves the Boxley Creek drainage, at a point where the old railroad grade is cut into the hillside in a pretty wooded area [6.0 miles, 880’]. Rainbow Lake (private, no access) is passed on the left, then the trail enters the more suburban surroundings near Cedar Falls Road. The final mile to Rattlesnake Lake, closely paralleling the road, is straight and uneventful. The trail finally ends at the complex of parking lots and picnic areas in the recreation area surrounding Rattlesnake Lake [7.5 miles, 920’]. The magnificent rock cliff towering above the lake is called Rattlesnake Ledge; a good trail ascends to the top.

Note to the concerned: there are actually no rattlesnakes anywhere around here, or anywhere in Western Washington for that matter.

It’s worth following a trail on the east shore of Rattlesnake Lake a half mile or so to the Cedar River Watershed Education Center. The setting there is beautiful, and you must see (and hear) the outdoor sound sculpture consisting of a collection of drums hit by water dropping from computer controlled nozzles. Bring you lunch here and enjoy a mesmerizing rhythmic concert.

Exceptionally fast hikers, or backpackers with overnight equipment may continue further from Rattlesnake Lake, either hiking up the spectacular trail to Rattlesnake Ledge, or walking east toward Snoqualmie Pass on the Iron Horse Trail, which begins here and crosses the entire state of Washington.

When you've had enough, return the way you came to North Bend.

The Snoqualmie Valley Trail is ideal for bus-and-bike riders. You can cover the distance to Rattlesnake Lake much faster on a bicycle, even on a folding bike, which should handle fine on the smooth gravel-surfaced trail.

Snoqualmie Valley Transit offers a "dial a ride" service https://svtbus.org/ that can take you all the way from North Bend to Rattlesnake Lake. A ride on this door-to-door shuttle must be arranged a few days in advance. A fun option would be to use that service to go to Rattlesnake Lake Park, then hike back to North Bend on the route described previously.

Getting Back

The Metro 208 bus to Issaquah Park&Ride leaves every two hours from Bendigo Avenue in downtown North Bend. If the bus is not coming for a while, the King County Library on 4th and Main is a good place to spend some time. Ride the bus to Issaquah Transit Center, where connections are good to downtown Seattle.