Olallie State Park

Just a short distance from busy I-90, at Olallie State Park (www.parks.wa.gov [1]), the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River drops 300 feet over a stunning series of cataracts. The park is accessible from exit 34 (five miles east of North Bend [2]); after exiting, turn right on Edgewick Road, and then left onto S.E. 159th St.; continue a half mile to the park. A 1.3-mile path leads to Twin Falls, and from there, you can cross a footbridge and continue uphill another 1.6 miles to a second trailhead near exit 38.

Day use only, and no mountain bikes or horses allowed on the trails. Olallie State Park continues eastward along the river above Twin Falls, with several good spots for catching hatchery trout.

The 113-mile-long Iron Horse State Park [3] trail (www.parks.wa.gov [1]) also starts from Olallie State Park and follows a gentle old railroad grade over Snoqualmie Pass [4] and all the way down to the Columbia River, 113 miles later. See the Iron Horse State Park [3] page for details on this popular hiking, horseback riding, biking, and ski trail.