Since we were in the area we stopped by this park. Only a few people when we arrived and they left…read moreso it was just a peaceful park. We walked around a bit taking in the fresh air and scenery. They have some structures and plants to see. It's a park so it's what you make of it. We just wanted to come by and walk around a bit and it fit the bill.

This park is a hidden gem. I was looking for a park that had mountain views and this spot…read moredefinitely delivers. There is a parking lot, bathrooms, and plenty of nature. I wish there were longer walking paths but it is situated near other trails.

This is truly a gem. I've only come a couple of times to see the elk, but it's been a beautiful…read moreexperience. At sunset on a hot day you'll see the elk come out as it cools down. They're so beautiful and you can hear them talking occasionally. Do not go into the natural area and approach them. It's not safe. Watching from a distance is safer for everyone.

Just like the other reviewer, I was driving down the main road when I saw the log, and had to stop…read moreby to take a closer look. The log pays homage to the challenges and opportunities that the virgin forest had given to the predecessors of the area, whether they worked in the woods or mill, or were the consumers of the straight grained lumber for their homes, farms and businesses. The log belonged to a tree that was about 400 years old. It's protected by the elements by a roof, and unfortunately there's a metal fence to deter vandalism so you can't get that close to it. Great stop to check out though!

An ode to logs (felled trees sometimes stripped of their branches). There is a beautiful walkway…read morelinking the Centennial Log Pavilion and the gazebo in the Railroad Community Park that is off the street and abundant parking along Railroad Ave. I appreciate the centrality of this park and the openness of the pavilion and the history it provided, useful for getting some context about the town of Snoqualmie and the area. The Centennial Log itself is a good reminder of how big trees could be back before logging was started and the old ones hadn't been mostly cut down. Worth a visit if you are passing through, I was driving through the town and saw it and being flabbergasted by the log's size turned my car around and stopped. Glad I did!

Picked this hike from the Washington Trails book, about 9.5 miles roundtrip with a 2700 elevation…read moregain. This was a tough hike, even though I chose it since the book said "moderate" and even looking up some reviews people had said the hike as relatively simple to enjoy a fantastic lake view. We were both pretty dead at the end due to the length and steep inclines. Knees were pretty banged up because of all the rocks. The trail in the beginning wasn't so bad, definitely got my heart pumping because of the elevation, but as you go higher up there were a lot of switchbacks and seemingly no end in sight. We hustled up the mountain pretty quickly though, which was why we were so tired at the end. The view is definitely worth it in the end; recommend bringing a hammock! There's also plenty of sitting area through slabs of rocks. Coming down we encountered: 1) a girl who was crying we believe because of the toughness of the trail, 2) a couple who stopped us to ask how much longer it was to the top (they unfortunately weren't even halfway) which signifies how tough this hike was. Definitely recommend bringing more than enough water or you will definitely be dehydrated (like we were). Otherwise glad we did this and would recommend (you won't regret it but your body will hate you haha).

Pretty but tough, Melakwa Lake gets you with its length and steady elevation gain. The trailhead…read moreis located in Snoqualmie and is part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area. Be sure to pick up a Northwest Forest Pass before you head over as the closest visitor center is about a 15 min drive away at Exit 52. If you've scoped out the WTA site already, it'll say that the trailhead has a parking lot for approximately 30ish cars with additional room to park along the side of the road. As the trailhead is shared with the very popular Denny Creek, I'd recommend you head early to snag a spot and to carpool - my friends and I arrived around 9AM and the lot was completely packed. There appears to be two parts to this hike - the family-friendly portion to Denny Creek and then the rocky and long jaunt up to Melakwa Lake. We saw a lot of families on the trail headed to the creek, which makes the perfect picnic spot during low water. If you want to continue on toward Melakwa Lake, head straight over to the other side of the creek where you'll find a tiny sign labeled "Main Trail" posted on a tree. The crowd thinned out after Denny Creek/the water slide (as referred to on WTA) as the hike got a bit tougher and rockier. If you have hiking boots, wear them, as you'll encounter two, long stretches of rocky terrain. The 2,000 ft elevation gain is gradual, but definitely noticeably on the last leg. You'll head up for what feels like forever before the trail starts to dip down again, taking you to the edge of the lake. This hike feels long, so be sure to bring an ample amount of water and snacks to help power on to the end! Once you're at the lake, there's room for you to sit out on the rocks before your journey back down. We even saw a few people swimming in the water - must've been so cold! XD My friends weren't the biggest fans of this hike, mainly because of the length, but I still think it's worth a visit with the right prep. Also, don't forget to bring bug spray! Apparently Melakwa is Chinook for mosquito, haha. :)

We were already in the area and decided at the last minute to swing by Snoqualmie Falls around…read moredusk, and honestly, that ended up being the best decision. It was absolutely beautiful. The falls themselves were stunning, especially with the evening lighting and mist coming off the water. One of my attached photos in particular from the lower part of the walkway came out amazing. The views from both the upper and lower viewing areas were gorgeous. It was a little crowded when we went, but parking was surprisingly easy to find. The upper walkway/viewing area definitely had a lot of people though. There was also a family there taking wedding photos while we visited. They weren't rude or anything at all, but they were using quite a bit of the viewing space, and I personally didn't want to accidentally end up in anyone's wedding album Because we came later in the evening, the café was already closed, so we didn't get a chance to try any food or drinks there. Overall though, it was such a relaxing and beautiful stop before heading home for the night. Definitely worth visiting if you're nearby, especially around dusk.

When I was a kid the road from I-90 to Snoqualmie Falls was like driving through a mysterious,…read moredense forest. It's not so magical anymore. Because of population growth, deforestation, and wildlife displacement, the Snoqualmie Parkway area is now urbanized. Its pretty much a carbon copy of what has happened in Issaquah, Sammamish, and Black Diamond. Instead of a canopy of Cedar and Douglas Fir trees you have a Dollar Tree. You can walk around the upper trail or you can hike down to the lower level. It's a trek back up so make sure you have the right hiking gear and bring water. The falls are pretty powerful and wild when there are rain storms. The sound of the falls is full of rage and the amount of water floods the lowland areas downstream in the Snoqualmie Valley. I'm glad they have a visitor center just like the Duwamish, the Suquamish, and the Tulalip tribes. They've added interpretive signs around the trails too. I'm glad they're preserving and sharing their history and hope to see more of it in the future.

Cute playground that's well maintained. Play structures for both older kids and young toddlers. My…read moreson had a blast, especially because it's train themed like the Railway Museum we had visited earlier that day. Definitely recommend checking out if you're on this end of the downtown block. There's a view of the Snoqualmie River adjacent too!

This is a nice park in North Bend, with just about everything for the community. The best part of…read morethe Si View Park is the view of Mount Si. You can't beat that. But there seems to be a lot going for it for those living in the area or visiting. There's a community center with a pool, restrooms, water fountain, a trail where you can walk and ride your bike around, a playground, covered picnic areas, accessible parking and a large open space in the center for just about whatever your heart desires. Located in downtown North Bend, it's easily walkable from the businesses and many residential areas around. Nice to know that the city of North Bend has a great community space to go to. I came here to enjoy my takeout and take a break from hiking, and and was happy to have such a large open space to myself. Well, it felt like I had the park to myself even though there were others around. Now I know where to go in North Bend for when I want to relax outside.

This is a little bit of everything: Community Center, Pool, Park, Playground, and much, much more…read more The building is the jewel of the Snoqualmie Valley. Built in the 1930's, it is a former WPA project. Until the early 2000's, it was part of the King County Parks system when it unceremoniously closed in order to save money. Fortunately, local community members banded together and formed King County Metro Parks. Visions were shared, plans were made, Public Bonds were proposed and passed. In the past several years we have seen the property and building transformed. It supports and/or hosts many classes and local events, including Family entertainment (Family Night), a variety of seasonal craft shows, Haunted House, Festival at Mt Si, North Bend Farmer's Market and much, much more. There's a local pool which offers classes, inexpensive swim sessions and rental for parties and events. The Community itself is also available for events. But if you really want to experience it for yourself, come out for the Farmers Market and free concert (featuring local bands and musicians) every Thursday afternoon throughout the summer, OR come to the Festival at Mt Si over the second weekend of August. Disclaimer: I'm not an employee or otherwise affiliated with this in anyway. I'm just an enthusiastic local resident who is thrilled by the transformation and enjoys the tremendous benefits this place provides.

Our kids' most favorite place for biking! The park has so much open space and offers so many…read moredifferent options for activities. There's a kid-friendly pump track, skatepark, soccer field, climbing wall, walking trail and much more!! If your kids like biking, they'd enjoy this park.