Mt. Si Trailhead — Attraction in North Bend

Went on Wednesday, April 5th. The parking lot was maybe 1/4 full, and very few people were on the trail. There were mosquitoes in the parking lot but I didn't see any after getting on the trail.

If you're new to hiking and wonder what to bring as far as food and water go, I find that 32oz is a comfortable minimum for water, but if it's hot you'll want more (+ always bring extra in case of emergency). My fitness app clocked my calories expended at around 2400, so definitely bring some high-calorie snacks.

With the snow at the top, ensure you have sunscreen and sunglasses. Your eyes will be shocked once you come out of the trees by how bright it is!

I recommend having your meal at the first viewpoint before continuing up the rocks in the colder season. It was sheltered from the wind and was relatively warm. There are a bunch of Gray Jays and Mountain Jays that will beg for your food, and the Gray Jays will stare at you from about 1 foot away. Once you pass the first set of rocks to the Snoqualmie Valley viewpoint, it's cold enough that taking off your gloves isn't fun.

The first 60% or so was mostly dry and nice. The next 20% was muddy and slushy, alternating. The last bit was all snow. I recommend microspikes but if you have poles I'm sure you could do without, but it's never fun to slide backward each step.

All the benches are quite wet this time of year as the snow melts, so even if it's a nice day you'll want something waterproof to sit on if you use them. The trees are unloading their snow as well, likely down your shirt at some point. Overall, this is a great challenging day hike. Going mid-week during the shoulder season means you never have to pass anyone or be passed by anyone going the same...

I love this trail so much— the hike isn’t terribly challenging if you exercise regularly. If you don’t, it may be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. One of the best things about the trail is that it’s a pretty consistent grade, so you don’t need to worry about the constant up and down as you may on other trails.

The parking here can be a challenge. It’s pretty mellow Monday-Friday, but if you get here on Saturday or Sunday between maybe 9AM-2PM, forget about it! Arriving early is key to getting parking on nice weather weekends. During the spring and fall when it’s not as busy, parking is usually okay.

I recommend hiking boots for the extra support, but I’ve done this hike in tennis shoes plenty of times.

Make sure you bring a snack for the top, and bonus points for bringing a hammock, compact camp chair, or something to sit on. You’ll want to hang out at the summit for a long time— the view feels like you’re in a plane!

Once up top, you can add a little challenge any hike to Haystack, which is a bit of a scramble and is not for beginner hikers. The view is a little higher, and you may even see a mountain goat (see attached video!). There are other longer trails that this connects to, and there are great spots in the woods to chill.

The pit toilets at the base are pretty gross in the summer… plan accordingly.

If I had to recommend one hike for someone visiting the Seattle area, this would be it. Best bang for your buck distance-wise. A great workout and regular conditioning...

Writing this review focusing on the trailhead itself and not any of the trails in the Mt. Si network, which are all well maintained and offer beautiful access to nature.

Sadly the condition of the Mt. Si trailhead is poor, with giant ruts and potholes, some in excess of 1 foot deep, awaiting every vehicle the instant you leave the pavement of Mt. Si road. Considering the parking area is immediately adjacent to the road, and considering the extremely high volume of cars per day, please pave this parking area!

On 11/5/22 I went to hike Mt. Si and bottomed out my car multiple times just trying to park in giant mud and water filled potholes. Considering we are all paying $30 a year for a Discover Pass, this is unacceptable. Please either pave the lot or regrade and gravel constantly to keep it usable for the hundreds of people per day that use this trailhead.

Also, the water spigot remains broken and graffitied with a giant "Fix Me" sign, restrooms were full of garbage, urine, and feces on walls and floors. Vine and branches were everywhere, not just the deadfall from recent storms. Sadly the condition of the trailhead does not match the beauty and maintenance of the trails themselves.

I did not take pictures this time but will on my next trip to document these issues so they may hopefully be addressed by calling...