Recreation

Snoqualmie Valley - a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts

CLICK HERE FOR OUR GUIDE TO POPULAR TRAILS!
 

Snoqualmie Valley is known as the gateway to Snoqualmie Pass and Eastern Washington. Flanked by mountains, the Valley is nestled at the base of the Cascades. Discover great places to golf, ski, hike, bike, fish, picnic, or simply relax and enjoy scenic landscapes.

Golf

Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club, a PGA tournament course designed by golf pro, Jack Nicklaus, is located at Snoqualmie Ridge and open to members only.

Currently, there are six public golf courses within the Snoqualmie Valley:

Visit www.seattlegolfguide.com for a comprehensive list of golf courses within the greater Seattle area.

Ski, Hike, Bike

Located 20 miles east of North Bend, Snoqualmie Pass is a premier ski area and is home to four major ski areas: Alpental, Summit West, Summit Central, and Summit East. Wintertime visitors also enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. In warmer months, the lifts stay open for mountain bikers, hikers, and back packers. Elevation of the summit reaches 3,022 feet. For more information about Snoqualmie Pass visit www.summit-at-snoqualmie.com or Ski Agent.

The pass is central to year-round recreational areas including the Alpine Wilderness Area, Pacific Crest Trail, and other popular hiking trails of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The Snoqualmie Ranger Station at North Bend, a division of the United States Forest Service (USFS), is a great resource for hiking, trail, and camping information. They also sell permits, maps, books, and Smokey Bear memorabilia. You can call their general information line at 425-888-1421 or their Snoqualmie Pass Visitor's Center at 425-434-6111.

Our most popular hiking trails include:

  • Mt. Si Trail, an 8-mile hike round trip, is Washington's second-most hiked trail. It is challenging but offers spectacular views of Snoqualmie Valley, Rattlesnake Ledge, Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.

  • Little Si Trail is a great alternative for those who want views of the Valley and a shorter hike. Plan one hour each way for this moderate climb.

  • Twin Falls is a fairly easy trail along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River to a view of the falls. If a longer hike is desired, this trail connects with the Iron Horse Trail.

  • Franklin Falls is an easy two mile roundtrip hike, following the Snoqualmie River from Denny Creek campground, off I-90 at exit 47.

  • Rattlesnake Ledge is a 2.6-mile, moderate climb with an elevation gain of 1,100 feet. The trailhead is located at Rattlesnake Lake southeast of North Bend just 10 minutes from I-90 at exit 32. The lakeside park offers fishing, swimming, and picnic areas. A nearby Education Center is open to the public.

  • Olallie State Park is located 8 miles east of North Bend at exit 38 off I-90. This 540-acre park includes Garcia Recreation Area, Snoqualmie Pass Wagon Road Heritage Area, and Twin Falls Natural Area. Enjoy interpretive trails and over 21,000 feet of Snoqualmie River shoreline. Camping is allowed in some areas. For more information on Olallie State Park, call (425) 888-3325.

The Snoqualmie Valley Trail provides 31 miles of scenic views from Duvall to Cedar Falls, where it connects to the Iron Horse trail. Hiking and biking along this Valley trail provides great family walking opportunities as well as easy biking connections to all the Valley cities, and a chance to spot all kinds of wildlife and scenic vistas along the way. The Iron Horse trail follows the former Milwaukee Railroad from Cedar Falls easterly and under Snoqualmie Pass thru a 2.3 mile tunnel, exiting near the Hyak ski area.

More information on bicycling and hiking here and in other parts of King County related to trails, family events, races, bicycle commuting, and more can be found at theses sites:

For more information, visit these sites:

Water Sports - Kayaking, rafting, canoeing

Kayaking the Snoqualmie RiverOffering more than 40 miles of pristine whitewater for nearly every kayak, raft and canoe skill level, the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River — less than an hour's drive from Seattle - rates among the nation's finest whitewater resources.

Fish

Snoqualmie Valley and its surrounding forestlands are abundant with small lakes, rivers, and streams offering the finest trout, whitefish, and steelhead fishing. The Valley's main river system consists of the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork, which originate in the Cascade Mountains and then merge between the towns of North Bend and Snoqualmie forming the Snoqualmie River. It meanders the length of the Valley before it merges with the Skykomish River in Monroe forming the Snohomish River. The Raging River originates in the mountains south of North Bend, flows northwesterly bypassing Preston, and finally empties into the Snoqualmie River at Fall City.

Fishing licenses can be purchased at Ace Hardware in North Bend, at 402 Main Avenue South. Ace Hardware is open seven days a week and also sells Weyerhaeuser Company access permits and maps.

To learn more about Washington's fish and game regulations or to purchase a license online, visit Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife. You can also search their directory for other locations within King County to obtain a license. For more information about Washington's rivers and streams visit Seattle's Watersheds, Streamflow Water Resources of Washington State, a service brought to you by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Check out the Washington Fly Fishing Web site for boatloads of information on this region's waterways.

Relax

Recreation comes in many forms, and for those choosing to relax, a massage and spa at the Salish Lodge & Spa could be the ticket to soothe your soul. Or, perhaps a lesson in postural awareness and "pranayama breathing" at the Yoga Barn in Fall City is the answer.

Indoor Activities

Avoid the outdoor elements by bowling at the Adventure Bowling Center at 7940 Railroad Avenue SE, in Snoqualmie or swimming at Si View Park in North Bend. For movie goers, North Bend Theatre presents the latest movie attractions.

Valley Parks

North Bend. These parks are just a few blocks from supermarkets, restaurants, the North Bend Premium Outlets, and downtown area.

  • Si View Park features a baseball field, basketball court, playground equipment, and the Valley's only public swimming pool.

  • Weeks Park, adjacent to the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum and the North Bend Visitor Information Center, features a bandstand and picnic tables.

  • E.J. Roberts Park is on the north side of North Bend and features play equipment, picnic tables, tennis courts and a stage for special events.

Snoqualmie. The following parks are walking distance from of each other, the downtown area, and Snoqualmie Falls.

  • Meadowbrook Farm Preserve is 460 acres of scenic and historic public open space on the Snoqualmie Valley floor, located within the cities of Snoqualmie and North Bend.

  • Railroad Park on Railroad Avenue (a.k.a. Highway 202) in downtown Snoqualmie is just 2 blocks from the Northwest Railway Museum. Covered picnic tables sit next to an historical logging display.

  • Riverside Park, at Park and River Streets in Snoqualmie, has a playground, picnic area and public restrooms.

  • Sandy Cove Pointe Park borders King Street and is an easy walk from the Northwest Railway Museum.

Fall City. Just across the bridge from one another, the following two parks are walking distance to local amenities.
Visit their Web site by clicking here

  • Olive Taylor Quigley Park borders the southern bank of the Snoqualmie River. Across the street, a majestic totem pole reminds us of Fall City's Native American heritage. With picnic tables and running water, this park is a favorite rest stop for passing bicyclists.

  • Opposite the river from Olive Taylor Quigley Park on the northern bank of the Snoqualmie River, is Fall City Community Park . It features a horse arena, baseball diamonds, and the Hop Shed, another relic of Fall City's history.

The following Web sites contain additional information about recreational opportunities: