Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail

This beautiful tucked-away trail offers runners, hikers, and backpackers a new view of their favorite neighboring peaks - like Mailbox Peak and Mt. Si - from one of the most scenic river trails in the Seattle area.

Often overlooked in favor of more rigorous hikes, the Middle Fork is a gently graded single-track that winds in and out of the forest and follows the Snoqualmie River all the way to the Pass. It's a spectacular running trail and training ground for distance runners, and it's frequently maintained by the volunteers at WTA and Mountains to Sound Greenway. Bridge crossings, waterfalls, and wildlife sightings along with towering trees make the Middle Fork a superb trail choice along the I-90 corridor.

One of my favorite things about this trail is that it remains between 1000 - 1,500 feet for its first seven miles, making it a great low elevation option during winter months and shoulder season. You'll get to enjoy a snow-free running trail with all of the beauty of snow-capped peaks revealing themselves at every corner.

Pack according to the weather and your desired activity. Families can bring young children along this trail for as few as two miles and still enjoy a long day picnicking by the water, other backpackers may continue on up toward the end of the trail to visit the Gold Meyer Hot Springs. Runners can continue as far as they'd like - you'll hit Snoqualmie Lake at mile 8.7, making a 17.4-mile round trip. However you choose to enjoy it, make sure the Middle Fork is on your winter adventure list.