Overview
Duvall to Carnation - coming soon
Carnation to Fall City - coming soon
Fall City Connector to North Bend (10.6 miles total)
The section of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail from the Fall City Connector Trail to Ballarat Avenue just north of downtown North Bend is 10.6 miles long and has an elevation gain of 325 feet. The Fall City connector connects the SVT with SE 39th Street in Fall City. You can park down at Fall City Riverfront park and bike or hike up from there on 39th. Riverfront Park is the takeout point for the Fall City Float.
Fall City Connector to Tokul Rd Snoqualmie (5.3 miles)
From the junction with the Fall City Connector trail, the Snoqualmie Valley Trail proceeds steadily and gently uphill through a beautiful forest. After 1.3 miles, the trail crosses a short trestle bridge and shortly thereafter reaches the 356th street parking lot.
As the trail ascends past 356th, you periodically get glimpses of the Snoqualmie Valley and the mountains on the other side through breaks in the trees. About a mile past the parking area, the trail passes under a power line. You get a great view to the valley at this point, seeing the clearing under the powerline extending far into the distance. Another mile past the power lines, cross over the long trestle bridge over Tokul Creek. Don’t try to bushwack down to the creek below as that property is part of a shooting range. Over this stretch there are several small streams that flow under or near the trail, including one small waterfall.
After the Tokul Creek trestle bridge, it’s only 3/4 mile to the culvert under Tokul Road. At this point the Snoqualmie Valley trail is closed and you need to either use the trail or the steps on the other side of the culvert to go up to the road and continue there. The total elevation gain from the Fall City connector to Tokul road is 325 feet.
On-Street Detour Around Snoqualmie Mill Site (2.5 Miles)
Turn right onto Tokul Road and proceed mostly downhill 3/4 mile to the Tokul roundabout. For those using the trail in the opposite direction, this is a 100 foot climb up Tokul Road. The Tokul Circle is shared by traffic from busy Highway 202 so stay to the left of the circle to avoid this traffic and turn left onto Mill Pond Rd.
You’ll start off on Mill Pond Road with the Snoqualmie River on the right hand side. After 3/4 mile, look to your left for an absolutely stunning view of Mt Si towering behind the Mill Pond directly in front of you. Another 3/4 mile gets you to a road junction with Reinig Road which is coming across the Snoqualmie River. Turn left and it’s only 1/3 mile more to Ronette’s bridge and the continuation of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail.
Ronette's Bridge to North Bend (2.8 miles)
There is so much happening in this next 2.8 mile section of flat trail! Highlights include Ronette’s bridge, Three Forks Natural Area, an off-leash dog park, Mt Si golf course, Meadowbrook Farm and Tollgate Farms! You might even see some elk!
There is a steep set of steps leading from Reinig Road up to Ronette’s Bridge. The bridge used to extend via a trestle over Reinig Road, but that portion was removed in the 1990s. When the former railroad right-of-way was converted into a trail, a stairway was added to provide pedestrian access from Reinig Road to the trail.
Crossing Ronette’s bridge, you get a nice look on both sides of the Snoqualmie River. Just above this point the three forks (North, Middle, and South) join together in the Three Forks Natural Area. The next time you see a river it will be the South Fork. At this point, you have entered the Three Forks Natural Area.
About half a mile past the bridge on your right is the back entrance to an off leash dog park. To the left is a beautiful trail through a meadow with a stunning view of Mt Si.
In another 1/4 mile, reach a gate. This is a gate to prevent the elk from entering the Mt Si Golf Course. There is a small gate for pedestrians and a large gate for bicyclists and equestrians. Please make sure you close the gates after you pass. Next to the gate is an arch which is an arts project designed and welded by students from the Two Rivers Middle School.
Upon passing through the gate, note the bustling activity at the Mt Si golf course clubhouse on your left. The next half mile of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail now passes through the golf course. On the other side of the course is the entrance to Meadowbrook Farm. There’s another elk gate to pass when entering Meadowbrook.
Next up is Tollgate Farm, which is 2/3 mile past the Meadowbrook entrance. The 410 acre Tollgate Farm Park is a favorite with both locals and out of town visitors.
Soon after Tollgate Farm, cross over the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River. Immediately on the other side of the river on the right side (South) is a trail along the river. This trail follows the South Fork through Riverfront Park all the way to Gardiner Weeks Memorial Park and the Moon River Suites by North Bend Escapes. Check out Riverfront Park for more information on this connecting trail..
It’s only another half mile to Ballarat Avenue and the site of the old North Bend train depot. If you want to stop or take a break in downtown North Bend, it’s only a couple if blocks from here.
North Bend to Rattlesnake Lake (5.3 Miles Total)
The southernmost section of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail runs from Ballarat Avenue just north of downtown North Bend to Rattlesnake Lake. This section is 5.3 miles long and has an elevation gain of 500 feet. The Ballarat Avenue intersection is the location of the old North Bend Depot as shown in the sign below. At this point you are very close to EJ Roberts Park. Hop onto NE 4th Street which runs parallel next to the trail and go 2-3 blocks north to have a look at Carl’s Bench from Twin Peaks in EJ Roberts Park.
Ballarat Avenue to North Bend Way Crossing (1.75 miles total)
The Snoqualmie Valley Trail is virtually flat for this stretch of trail. In 0.4 miles pass by the back side of Torguson Park. There are two places to enter the park from the trail if desired. There are public restrooms in Torguson Park. You cross SE 120th Street just past the park (a dead end street so not busy). Between Torguson Park and Mt Si Road, you will pass behind the Mt Si Trailer Park and the Snoqualmie Ranger Station (no entrance from the trail). In another 0.6 miles, cross Mt Si Road. This is the closest the trail gets to the Mount Si and Little Si trailheads (just across the bridge over the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River).
After crossing Mt Si Road, you’ll see the large Tanner Landing Park on the left side. This park covers almost the entire area between the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River, and Mt Si Rd. There are so many places to enjoy large meadows and the river in Tanner Landing Park. People park here to hike Mt Si and Little Si when the parking lots there are full. Plus the parking is free here – no Discover Pass needed!
The trail runs very close to Middle Fork Snoqualmie River at this point. When the trail hits North Bend Way (a busy crossing), the Middle and South Forks of the Snoqualmie are a scant half mile away from each other separated only by North Bend Way and I-90. It’s 0.75 miles between Mt Si Road and North Bend Way.
North Bend Way Crossing to Rattlesnake Lake (3.55 miles total and 500 feet elevation gain)
Immediately after crossing North Bend Way, you are at the finish line for many of the downhill marathons which start at Hyak by Snoqualmie Pass. The trail immediately passes under I-90 and crosses a bridge over the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River within a third of a mile.
For the next mile or so, the trail winds along the banks of the river. From this point, the trail starts up and climbs steadily all the way to Rattlesnake Lake. There is a picnic table about a mile south of the bridge. About a quarter of a mile after that, the trail passes under some power lines and you get a great view to the East towards the Twin Falls trailhead and Mailbox Peak. In late spring and early summer, look for an impressive display of foxgloves in this area as well as all along the trail. Pass the Boxley Creek Site preserve on your right going up the hill and crossover a bridge before nearing Cedar Falls Road on your right. On a summer weekend, you will begin to see overflow parking from Rattlesnake Lake. At the Rattlesnake Lake parking area, the Snoqualmie Valley Trail ends. Continue on up to the Cedar River Watershed Educational Center and the Palouse to Cascades Trail if you’re looking for a longer trip. Or enjoy Rattlesnake Lake or take a hike up to Rattlesnake Ledge.
