We had the best time adventuring around the North Bend and Snoqualmie area! I grew up in Sammamish which is really close to this area, but never spent a ton of time exploring the hiking around here and the little towns have changed so much since I was a kid! We walked through downtown Snoqualmie, checked out the train museum and Snoqualmie Falls Brewery. We stopped in at the really nice park right along the river and ate Mexican food at Rio Bravo which was SUPER fresh and delicious before heading off to hike the 2.3 mile old Snoqualmie Tunnel!!!! Some friends had told us about this location and it really was awesome to check out. Many people were biking through the tunnel, but we walked which took about 1.25 hours or so each way. It’s VERY dark (obviously) and chilly inside the tunnel, so jackets and flashlights are recommended. This tunnel was built around 1912 and abandoned in 1980, now acting only as a recreational addition to the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail system. I highly recommend checking out the historical sign to your right before you start down the path to the tunnel and packing refreshments for a little relaxation on the other side!!
On top of it all, we had a WONDERFUL Airbnb to come back to and rest up for a big wedding day at The Salish Lodge and Spa. The Valley Trail Retreat was spotless, inviting, centrally located and had everything we needed for a really fun weekend away. The newly refinished space offered a beautiful kitchen with the added touch of a fresh bag of local coffee beans from our host, a huge outdoor space with a fire pit and small pond and beautiful views of Mount Si. The home was just moments from the trailhead and just a short drive to many, many other outdoor opportunities! I couldn’t recommend it more!
