The most popular trail in the greater Seattle area. Overrated or not, the views at the top are worth the hike.
Trailhead Location (according to Google maps street view):
46122 SE Mt Si Rd, Tanner, WA
Trail Stats:
Approximately 8 miles round trip from the parking lot. 3100ft of elevation gain.
Directions:
From Seattle, take I-90 East to Exit 32. At the end of the off ramp, take a left. Go to the end of the road and take a left on SE North Bend Way. Approximately .25 miles down the road, take a right on SE Mt Si Rd. Drive 2.3 miles down the road to the parking lot on the left. There is a small sign across the street pointing to the parking lot visible from the road. Get here as early as possible as it fills up quickly. We had trouble finding a spot at 8:30am.
Trail:
The Mount Si trail is the superhighway of the Puget Sound hiking trails. Not that it’s particularly better built than other trails, but that you’ll feel like you’re in a traffic jam at times. To say that this is a popular trail would be an understatement. If you plan on hiking Mt Si, get there early.
The trailhead itself is pretty easy to find. Walk to the end of the parking lot and look for the bathrooms. The trail starts quite obviously right near them. As you can see by the route profile, the trail is fairly flat in the beginning, but quickly begins to gain altitude. There isn’t much for views for most of the hike to the top as you slog up hill. Occasionally you’ll get a partially obstructed view through the trees, but most of the hike will be in the woods. The trail is extremely well marked, so it’s nearly impossible to get lost along the way.
After 3.5 miles there in a small break in the trees and you’ll get your first real view of the surrounding area. Resist the urge to break here for lunch and continue onward for another .5 miles. Once you finally break out of the trees, you’ll see exactly why this is the most popular hike in the region. The views of the surrounding area are spectacular. After 3100ft of elevation gain, you are well rewarded by the view. Note that the true summit of Mount Si is atop the huge rock named haystack. I’d avoid climbing it due to the exposure, and the views aren’t any better than at the base of haystack. Once you’ve had your fill of the view, turn around and go back the way you came.
If you hike Mount Si, you’ll notice that there are quite a few people on the trail with rather large packs for a simple day hike. This trail is a popular spot to train for rainier due to the constant uphill slope. As you would expect, this isn’t an easy hike. Be prepared and bring the proper clothing (including actual hiking boots). Expect snow near the summit into June. When I hiked Mt Si in May, there were still decent patches of snow to cross on the trail that would have been difficult in shoes.
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