There were short stretches of loose gravel and some pot holes to negotiate, but for the most part the riding was easy and freed us up to talk with each other and enjoy the scenery. It climbs at a railroad grade, so it was pretty mellow, even with a load. There was no tire skinnier than 35mm on the ride.įrom Rattlesnake Lake we rode East on the trail, which is generally trending uphill. I was riding my new Surly Ogre with 2.3 inch tires and Laura was riding her monstercrossed Vaya with 45mm Vee Rubber tires. The trail is unpaved gravel which is very rideable but is more enjoyable with some fat rubber.
We started riding at the trailhead at Rattlesnake Lake (about 43 miles from Seattle). It was great to hear his insight about the potential and challenges of the trail. It just means we will travel to places that are easy to get around without driving.Īfter taking the bus to Seattle, we all gathered the next morning and got a lift from Steve, who actually wrote his graduate thesis on the Iron Horse Trail and is active in mapping and advocating for the trail. Our generation may not be into owning cars, but it doesn’t mean we don’t like to travel.
Iron horse bike trail directions full#
Also interesting to note was that the bus was full of Gen X/Y riders. We’ve taken the Bolt bus where they have accommodated upto 6 bikes sans bike rack. For us, this illustrates that accommodating bikes is more about attitude/policy than hardware. Interestingly, the buses don’t have racks but instead allow you to place them in the luggage area UNBOXED. The coaches are newer, have WiFi and MOST importantly aren’t jerks about taking bikes. For those that don’t know, the Bolt is a generally less sketchy Greyhound (though it operates The Hound umbrella). There are some odd trip reports here and there, but nothing with photos that really give you a flavor of the trail. Surprisingly, for a trail of its length, proximity to Seattle and general potential for awesomeness, there is very little information about it. We have been eyeing the Iron Horse Trail for quite some time because it looked like an intriguing gravel ride and because it seemed to have good bike tourism bones. You will pass the Rattlesnake Lake parking lot and the Iron Horse Trailhead parking area will be found on the left.When we heard that our friend Jason from Swift Industries was planning a little weekend bike touring / fly fishing extravaganza for the 4th of July AND that we would be riding a portion of the Iron Horse Trail, we couldn’t say no. Turn right on Cedar Falls Road SE and drive 4.5 miles. Directions:ĭrive east on I-90 and take Exit 32 – 436thAvenue SE. These wooden trestles can be found at 4.5 miles from the trailhead near Change Creek and near Hall Creek. There are several trestles that offer gorgeous vies of South Fork Snoqualmie Valley and Middle Fork Valley, also enjoy the views of Mount Si and Mailbox Peaks that can be found to the north. Check our pictures below and you will see with your own eyes how beautiful and diverse this trail is. Kids have fun here, they can ride a bike, enjoy wildlife and sluicy streams. Children enjoy this route because it is not exhausting for them. The trail is wide, well-maintained and doesn’t gain much elevation, it’s pretty flat. Iron Horse Trail is perfect for families with kids. The old rail-trail crosses Boxley Creek and continues to run east along the flank of Cedar Butte. The western part of the trail is located at Rattlesnake Lake Recreational Area. You can ride a bike or hike it and enjoy green walls that surround you, lots of flowers of different colours, and you can even find and taste berries here. In summer this route is truly picturesque. In winter the route offers wonderful possibilities for skiers.
The trail also provides access to many other connecting trails in the Cedar River divide area. Iron Horse Trail offers wonderful possibilities for an easy hiking or bicycling in the heart of picturesque region. Nowadays, this picturesque trail runs all the way across the State of Washington. Government bought this land and turned it into a wonderful trail for non-motorized vehicles. It was in operation until the 1970s when the railroad company turned bankrupt. Originally, this was the route known as “The Milwaukee Road”. The Iron Horse Trail or the John Wayne Pioneer Trail is one the best rails-to-trails type conversions in the country. Pictures below will take you on a virtual tour along the best rails-to-trails conversions.
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