Mountains to Sound Greenway

Extensive greenspace, numerous water bodies, and the surrounding mountains make Seattle one of the world’s most beautiful cities.  It seamlessly blends an evolution from its rough and tumble growth during the gold rush period, through the development of the major industries and international shipping, to its present sophistication with a vibrant cultural scene and as the home of major technology-driven businesses.

This remarkable 92-acre park was built over top of 2800 feet of Interstate 90 during its expansion in the 1990s.  While picnicking, walking or biking its trails, or playing basketball, softball, frisbee, or tennis on the numerous sports fields and courts, park visitors rarely sense that vehicles are constantly whizzing by just below.

Ready to lounge on a beach or take a swim in a freshwater lake?  Lake Sammamish State Park, a favorite day-use destination, also accommodates picnicking, hiking, motorized and non-motorized boating, and water skiing.

Nestled below the Issaquah Alps - Tiger, Squak, and Cougar Mountains –  downtown Issaquah exudes an abundance of history and charm.  A short walk takes you to the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery where you can learn about salmon’s unique life cycle and sometimes spot them in their different stages.

From time immemorial, the Snoqualmie Tribe has considered Snoqualmie Falls sacred – its birthplace of creation. Mists from the thundering 268-foot waterfall carry prayers to ancestors, and the Falls provide the gifts of food, water, life, health, and healing. Today, the Snoqualmie Tribe warmly welcomes all visitors to this sacred place to experience its power in their own way.

The Northwest Railway Museum resides in the grand Snoqualmie Depot, constructed in 1890.  Learn about northwest railway history inside the Depot, at a nearby exhibit hall, and at the collection of locomotives, freight cars, and passenger cars in town.  Culminate your visit aboard a five-mile train ride in a historic rail coach that provides a unique view of Snoqualmie Falls.

From the dramatic promontory at Snoqualmie Point Park, visitors can see the western front of the Cascade mountain range from British Columbia to Snoqualmie Pass.  Below the Cascades, the view sweeps over thousands of acres of forest and farmlands and comes to rest on the rural cities of Snoqualmie and North Bend, with the rugged face of Mt. Si towering above.

This scenic open space on the Snoqualmie Valley Floor is an important story location to the Snoqualmie Tribal people. Historically, the Snoqualmie Tribal people maintained the prairie through traditional methods. 

The majestic soft-surface Snoqualmie Valley Trail parallels the Snoqualmie River for 31 miles, following a historic railroad route from Duvall to Rattlesnake Lake in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.  It offers exceptional opportunities for off-road bicyclists, walkers, hikers, joggers, and equestrians to experience the rural King County landscape while also providing access to the towns of North Bend, Snoqualmie, Fall City, Carnation, and Duvall.

The Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum began with work of one woman, Ada Snyder Hill. She came into the Valley in 1910 to teach school and soon began collecting historic items included in the exhibit she arranged for the 1939 celebration of the platting of North Bend. These items subsequently became the nucleus for the present-day collection that includes cherished artifacts and anecdotes from all corners of the Snoqualmie Valley.

This stunning day use area along the rushing water of South Fork of the Snoqualmie River sits in one of the last remaining stands of old growth forest in the Snoqualmie Valley.

The Washington State Ski and Snowboard Museum honors Washington’s ski and snowboard legends, preserves this state’s ski and snowboard history, educates visitors about this rich sports story and inspires future participation in Washington State's many and varied ski and snowboard opportunities.

The Palouse to Cascades Trail spans Washington state from the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains to the Idaho border. Bicyclists, hikers, equestrians, skiers, and snowshoers experience Washington's diverse and scenic landscape, traveling through evergreen forests and dark tunnels, over high trestles and spectacular rivers, and across open farmland and high desert.

As you pass under this wildlife bridge, a good chance exists that elk, deer, coyotes, and/or numerous other large and small wildlife species are crossing just overhead.  Watch for North America’s largest wildlife overcrossing bridge while driving along Interstate 90, between mileposts 61 and 62, about nine miles east of Snoqualmie Pass.

Think of an outdoor recreation activity, and Lake Easton State Park probably accommodates it in a spectacular lake and forest setting on the east eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Enjoy hiking, bird watching, picnicking, swimming, camping, biking, kayaking, and in the winter months - cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Charming Roslyn maintains much of the character of its early years as a coal town, incorporated in 1889.  The Roslyn Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and many residential and commercial buildings constructed from 1889-1930 remain intact.  Tucked into the eastern foothills of the Cascades, Roslyn also serves as a gateway to abundant year-round outdoor recreation activities.

Connecting the towns of Cle Elum, Roslyn, and Ronald through central Washington forests, the Coal Mines Trail passes small mountains of tailings and other vestiges of the area’s mining heritage. Running along the former Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, this wide and relatively flat route is great for hikers, runners, bicyclers, equestrians, and cross-country skiers.

The Thorp Grist Mill - the oldest remaining industrial artifact in Kittitas County - showcases a remarkable collection of handmade wooden mill machinery.  Constructed in 1883, it served as an essential place for flour milling and social interaction for Kittitas County residents until 1946.

The historic and photogenic Caldwell Building houses the Kittitas County Historical Museum that contains artifacts from dinosaur bones to the modern-day tools.  Themed rooms display an eclectic collection of exhibits highlighting the military, automobiles, life in the early 1900s, business technologies, medical equipment, Native American heritage, and much, much more.