The Preston Snoqualmie Trail is a pleasant paved rails-to-trails conversion that winds through forested hillsides in the town of Snoqualmie, easily reached from I-90 east of Seattle. It is only 14 miles round-trip, so there are few bicyclists on it and the location further from the urban cores means that even the runners and walkers are relatively few and far between compared to other closer-in trails.
The rail corridor was built in 1890 and abandoned in 1974, opening up the opportunity for expanding King County’s public trails network. The mostly native overhanging forest lines the entire route – creating a natural green-filtered tunnel – and flowers grow at the sides. At one point midway, an old railroad trestle was removed and the trail dips steeply down to the 1915 Luten Bridge over the Raging River and then switchbacks up again. Otherwise, it is classic smooth railroad grade traveling. At the end of the trail, rest benches look out to Snoqualmie Falls and the Salish Lodge & Spa in the distance on the other side of a valley.
Riding through maple trees and evergreens
Crossing over the rather tranquil “Raging River” at summer water levels, on Luten Bridge
A salamander joined us on the trail
Switchback up from the Raging River, in valley where railroad trestle previously crossed
Viewpoint at end of trail looking out to Snoqualmie Falls, Salish Lodge & Spa, and Mt Si