Monday, May 25, 2009

Twin Falls Natural Area, Olallie State Park


Originally this hike was scheduled to be along the Snoqualmie River on the Middle Fork trail, but the forest road leading to the trail was washed out. As I was writing this summary, I came across some significant information as I plan these early season hikes – the lower western slope of the Cascades is probably the second wettest place in the state. Luckily, a neighbor next to the washed out road directed us right across the freeway to a popular trail called Twin Falls. I took this hike two years ago and recognized it immediately.


It was nice spring day so of course the trail was busy and we had to park along the road leading to the parking lot and the trailhead. The trail follows the south fork of the Snoqualmie River and climbs to two waterfalls. After the falls the trail climbs further and connects to the Iron Horse Trail (John Wayne Pioneer Trail), which follows the former roadbed of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad for 300 miles (480 km) across two-thirds of Washington from the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains to the Idaho border.


The trail was a little more elevation gain than planned, but nobody seemed to mind since most of switchbacks are at the beginning and the falls are only a 1.25 miles into the trail. The trail is also of soft dirt and well managed making it easy on the feet. Being next to a river and falls most of the trees were covered in moss and licorice firs and the ground was rich with spring growth. At the top of the switchbacks is a bend with a distant look at the falls. The trail was busy and the benches were taken so we continued on.


The trail descended a bit and followed the river below. At one point there’s an old growth Douglas Fir protected by a slit-rail fence. The tree is a reminder of what the Cascades was before logging. The trail then reaches a boardwalk and bridge over the river. The bridge crosses just above the lower falls and provides a view of the multiple stages of the upper falls and plunge pools as the water makes its way back toward the trail’s beginning.


After spending time taking in the falls we decided to continue on up the trail towards the Iron Horse Trail junction. The trail follows a few more switchbacks and becomes a little less crowded and less managed. The vegetation becomes dryer as the trail breaks through the canopy exposing Grouse Ridge just beyond I-90 and the Mount Tenereffe beyond that.


We ate lunch at the junction of the Iron Horse Trail and made our decent back. It was very pleasant hike that taken to this point would be great on a mid-week getaway, but with its connection to Iron Horse and further trail networks in Olallie State Park it could be a much larger venture.

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