Miles: 10+ miles (my trip 11.6 miles)
Elevation Gain/Highest: 800ft/1785ft
Map: Green Trails Mount Si No. 175 and Skykomish No. 175
Favorite Eats After Hike: Garlic Crush, Agave Cocina, North Bend Bar & Grill, Chang Thai & Pho, The Commonwealth, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
Hike Details:
This is a long, rambling hike along the Taylor River in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area with very little elevation gain unless you divert onto a side trail up to a lake or waterfall (of which there are plenty). There are multiple viewpoints along the way, so venture out as far as your heart desires. If looking for a great beginner backpacking trip, this trail also provides quite a few spots along the river to stay at while you explore the area. You can even take it all the way to Snoqualmie Lake (thus the name) and then beyond to Lake Dorothy on HWY 2 almost 20 miles if you are feeling adventurous! Video includes mile markers for waterfalls and significant stream crossings.
My hike:
12/30/2017
Check out the video below for details about our wet and wily hike, starting with having to clear the road of downed trees. For the written story behind my hike, read Don’t Let The Weather Stop You.
Editor’s Note: We stopped at the Thai place I like in North Bend and the food is delicious. I must warn you, though, service is NOT speedy so expect to have plenty of time to enjoy the company of your hiking buddies, especially if you are a large group like we were.
For more hikes in the area, visit my I-90 Snoqualmie Pass page.
Directions: Drive east from Seattle on I-90 to exit 34. Go left on the overpass and follow it about a quarter mile to the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road (the sign is hard to see on the left and turn right. Follow it past the school on the left and then keep left when it meets Lake Dorothy Road (this is residential). Follow until you reach a Y at stop sign and turn left, back onto the Middle Fork Road. Stay on this road (past the Middle Fork TH which has the last available bathroom) as it crosses the river and becomes gravel. The road then splits with the Taylor River Road on the left and this is where you park to access the trail as the road is barricades (room for about 10-12 cars). Northwest Forest trail pass is required.
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Need some eating out suggestions when friends want to stop after a hike? I have a Pacific Northwest Eating Guide here.
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