Mount Washington (North Bend)

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Mount Washington is just out of North Bend with a low elevation trailhead just feet from Interstate 90 inside Olallie State Park. This makes the trail a popular destination year round. In winter, it is likely you are not going to need any snowshoes to reach the summit given the trail will be packed down. Views at the top have started to disappear as trees are growing but enough views remain for most people to be satisfied.

I-90 Corridor Hikes

Summit Elevation: 4,450 feet
Hiking Distance: 4.2 miles one-way
Elevation Gain: 3,250 feet
Access: Paved

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Getting to the Parking Area

Take I-90 to exit 38 just past North Bend. Head south (right), immediately crossing the South Fork Snoqualmie River, and take the first right turn into Ollalie State Park. Follow the short gravel road to the end.

Getting to the Mt. Washington Trailhead (Homestead Valley Trailhead)

The trail leaves the parking lot near the bathrooms. After a short distance, the trail hits a road, turn right as signs will indicate. In another short distance you reach the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (formerly called the John Wayne Trail and Iron Horse Trail). This is the old rail corridor that goes to Idaho if you want a longer hike. Turn right again, and follow the rail trail around a bend. Look for a unmarked trail going left into the forest.

Route

The trail follows a former logging road that was a real marvel in road design. The route twists up the most steep terrain imaginable (for a logging truck) going under and over cliffs. These cliffs today are popular rock climbing walls, notice all the silver bolts and chains. Once out of the lower steep section the trail hits a split and sign on a tree, go right toward Mt. Washington. More trail crossing are soon to be found so have a map or GPS route downloaded onto your phone. The upper part of the mountain has an actual trail constructed to reach the summit area, not following roads. Loop trips can be made from the many trails on the upper mountain taking advantage of the Palouse to Cascades Trail for the return to the car.

Recommend Loop

You can do a 15 mile loop by returning via the Olallie Trail and the Palouse To Cascades Trail. This will give you the full Mount Washington experience. For even more adventure, bushwhack down the west ridge from the summit to the Olallie Trail.

My Video of the Loop in Winter

Outhouse Peaks