•HIKING MOUNT SI•

HIKING THE POPULAR MOUNT SI TRAIL in NORTH BEND, WASHINGTON

01•19•2024

A very popular hike only 40 minutes outside of Seattle, Mount Si offers dramatic views for those who are up for the challenge. If you do make it to the lookout at the summit, you’ll be rewarded with views of Mount Rainier, the Snoqualmie Valley, Bellevue, Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains.

•the stats•

•8.0 miles round trip•

•3,150 feet elevation gain•

•Discover Pass required•

•Getting there•

This hike is located in North Bend, just off the I-90 corridor at exit 32. There is a large parking lot, but don’t underestimate the popularity of this hike. Arrive early to secure parking on days with nice weather, and especially on weekends.

If you’re in Seattle and looking to try this hike, you can check out Trailhead Direct which offers seasonal weekend bus service from Seattle to the Mount Si trailhead (as well as Little Si and Mount Teneriffe).

•The Mount Si Trail•

The Mount Si trail climbs steadily through lush, dense forest from the time you leave the parking lot. Around halfway, the trail flattens out briefly as you stroll through huge old trees and you enjoy a short reprieve from the climb. However, the trail quickly resumes its moderate uphill climb and the many switchbacks that lead to the top.

Once you near the top, there are large rocks that you’ll have to traverse in order to reach the lookout. It’s not super clear the “path” you should take, so you’ll have to find your way up or follow others. Shortly after beginning the scramble, pause and look behind you as you’ll have breathtaking views on clear days of Mount Rainier behind you to the south.

Once you reach the viewpoint, you’ll have amazing views to the west spanning from the Snoqualmie Valley below you all the way to the Olympic Mountains. You’ll also have a great up-close view of the “haystack”, which is a rock formation that is the true summit of Mount Si. The haystack is a challenging class 3 scramble that should not be attempted by most hikers.

In the winter this hike is often snowy and micro spikes may be necessary. Always remember to check trail conditions at wta.org before setting out on a hike.

•my experience hiking mount si•

I lived in North Bend for almost four years, seeing Mount Si from my house every single day, before I finally did this hike. To me, 8 miles is far, and 3000 feet of elevation gain seemed impossible. But I built up gradually by doing other hikes in the area until I felt that I was ready for the challenge. Or as “ready” as I was going to be!

I actually felt really good about most of my trip up Mount Si! I was prepared for the elevation gain and the distance. What I was not prepared for, at least mentally, was the rock scramble to the lookout at the end. My husband conveniently hadn’t mentioned this part of the climb to me! When we came out of the trees and I saw the rocks in front of me, I honestly didn’t believe him when he said that this was our path. I said he must be joking – there must be a trail that wasn’t immediately obvious to me. Scrambling up to the lookout wasn’t as bad as I expected, but it certainly was an interesting way to end the climb.

The view from the lookout, and the views of Rainier as you scramble to the top, make it all worthwhile! It’s amazing how far you can see on a clear day – all the way to the Olympic Mountains. And Seattle and Bellevue look like tiny clusters of buildings far in the distance. It’s spectacular!

Once at the top, we did continue on the trail until we stood at the base of the haystack, which is a little ways away from the lookout. There were some folks coming down the haystack, and it was interesting to watch them scramble down, but climbing the haystack is not something that I would try!

The trip back down honestly seemed worse to me than the trip up! Scrambling back down the rocks near the top was challenging, and we did find ourselves off track once or twice as we tried to find and navigate a path down. Also, I might try hiking poles next time as my legs hated the continuous grind of the downhill trek. But in the end, I conquered this bucket list hike that used to seem unattainable to me! It certainly felt like an accomplishment.

•I Made it, Now What?•

If you’re looking for a reward (or a consolation?) after your hike, stop in the nearby small town of North Bend to refuel! If you’d like to grab a quick meal, stop at Scott’s Dairy Freeze for a burger and milkshake. Or if you’d like to sit and relax and enjoy a meal and a beverage, the North Bend Bar and Grill is one of our favorite places!

If you still have some energy left for sightseeing and want to make the most of your visit to the area, check out my separate post about things to do in the Snoqualmie Valley area. I highly recommend stopping at Snoqualmie Falls for a quick visit as it’s beautiful any time of year!

Don’t let the popularity of this hike lull you into false confidence! If you’re not accustomed to doing hikes with elevation gain like this, try some easier hikes first to test your abilities. But if you are ready and you do meet the challenge, enjoy the accomplishment. And the views!

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