Little Mount Si and Mossy Bald Vista


Hike Length: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1100 feet, 1700 feet with Mossy Cliff Vista side trip
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
Map: Green Trails #206S “Mount Si”
hike overview map


Its sheer cliffs rising almost four thousand feet above the North Bend Valley, Mt Si forms a stunning gateway to the High Cascades. If the mountain were in any east coast state, it would be a national park, but here in Washington StateMount Si is taken for granted as just another nice bit of scenery in a state chock full of natural wonders. Thousands of hikers pay homage to Mount Si by trooping up to the summit on one of Washington State’s most popular trails.

Fortunately, bus riders can join the fun, too! Mt Si is the only point where Metro’s extensive bus system approaches alpine country.

This hike description covers the route to Little Si, the distinctive rocky peaklet poking up by the base of Mt. Si. Little SI is not really so little, it just looks that way in comparison to Big Si’s massive bulk. Hiking to the top will get your pulse racing as the summit trail gains over a thousand feet from the valley floor.

Nearby to Little Mount Si is Mossy Cliff Vista, a worthwhile side trip for those with extra energy and time.

Getting There

In downtown Seattle, catch the ST 554 bus at Second and Union (departs every 30 minutes), and ride the bus to the Issaquah Park and Ride bus station [GPS N 47 deg 32 min 32 sec, W 122 deg 03 min 44 sec].

Here, transfer to the M 209 minibus, departing every hour. Enjoy the long, scenic ride as the bus travels through a good chunk of KIng County, along the way passing through Issaquah, Preston, Fall City, Snoqualmie Falls, and the town of Snoqualmie. When the bus rounds a sharp corner and heads into downtown North Bend, signal the bus to stop. Disembark at the stop located on Bendigo Boulevard next to the downtown movie theater [N 47 deg 29 min 47 sec, W 121 deg 47 min 09 sec].

Saturday bus service is good to North Bend; there is no Sunday service.

The Hike:

Cross Bendigo and head east a block on 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Street to Main, then turn left (N) and walk several blocks on Main until you reach the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, a gravel-surfaced footpath. Turn right (SE) and follow the trail.

Soon, the trail crosses a major arterial, Ballarat Avenue. An interpretive sign, located just past the road, explains the interesting history of the former railroad track that the current trail is built on. From here, the trail continues on for an arrow-straight 1.2 miles to Mt. Si Road. Along the way, inspiring vistas of Mt. Si and the other high peaks surrounding the North Bend Valley enliven what would be otherwise a somewhat dull walk.

Go left(N) onto busy Mt. Si road, which soon crosses the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River. Use caution when walking over the bridge, which lacks sidewalks or any significant shoulder. Good news: the bridge is being rebuilt in 2008..this time with a sidewalk! Beyond the bridge, continue walking on Mt. SI road past a side street (434th Ave) branching left by a riverside parking lot. Soon, Mt. SI Road turns east and reaches the brand-new and well-equipped Little Si Trailhead. You’ve come a short two miles from North Bend to get here.

Walk through the parking lot and onto the trail, which climbs steeply up the rocky face of a former quarry. The trail levels out on a forested bench above the quarry, where the poorly built path becomes muddy and somewhat confusing. You’ll get through if you follow the most important looking trail, go in the direction of any signs pointing to Little Si, and ignore side trails blocked with branches or logs. However, note the location of the first (unsigned) side trail branching right (E); this important trail leads to Mossy Cliff Vista and BIg Mount Si.

Note: the 2002 Green Trails Map shows a confusing abundance of trails in this area. In reality, it’s not quite this bad: many of these trails have been closed, including the one shown descending to 434th Ave.

Once you arrive at a creek crossing, you’ve escaped the maze of trails,and the worst of the mud. A prominent unsigned trail branching right shortly before the creek is an alternative route to the Mt. Si Old Trail, and also can be used to access Mossy Cliff Vista (see description to follow).

Beyond the creek, the trail resumes climbing up a wooded hillside. In places, the path becomes a little rough and rocky. After a short ascent, the trail levels out and enters a peaceful valley enfolded by the slopes of Little and Big Si. The slopes of Big Si can be seen rising up for thousands of feet, an impressive mass of mountain especially when it is mantled with snow in winter.

The trail continues on up the valley, which grows narrower and soon becoming a gloomy, mysterious-feeling gorge. At one point, the north face of Little Si, a sheer cliff hundreds of feet high practically overhangs the trail. This spot is popular with climbers, and it is a rare day when you don’t hear the clink of carabiners and voices echoing down from the heights. Further on, the trail crosses a saddle and dips through a depressed spot in the valley, which lacks a lake or pond due to some geological drainage quirk. Instead, the valley floor is covered with a sea of sword ferns, which love the sunless, damp climate that prevails here.

Some geologist think that this odd canyon was carved by an “ice marginal river”, a huge river flowing between the Cascade Mountains and the massive ice sheet occupying the Puget Sound area 15000 years ago.

At length, the trail climbs out of the valley onto the sunnier north ridge of Little Si, and then picks a devious way up and around rock ledges to the summit of the peak, elevation 1560’. The rocky, wind-blasted summit offers stunning views in every direction, ample reward for all the effort you expended to reach it! Note the scattering of wind-twisted shore pines growing around the top of the peak, a botanical oddity taking advantage of a droughty microclimate unusual in Western Washington.

When done with Little Si, return the way you came back to North Bend.

Side trip to Mossy Cliff Vista

If you have any energy left over after climbing Little Si, be sure to visit Mossy Cliff Vista. It’s a two mile side trip from the Little Si trail, adding 600 ‘ of elevation gain. To get there, return the way you came from Little Mount Si to the creek crossing noted previously (elevation 800’). Turn left onto the trail branching left just beyond creek crossing. This unsigned path is the start of the Old Si Trail and leads to the summit of that peak. The Old SI trail wastes no time in in getting to its destination, climbing at a lung-busting pace up a vertiginous slope.. At 1400’, the trail levels a bit amongst pretty mossy cliffs and reaches an unsigned junction with a new, well-constructed trail branching right (S).

Follow this delighfull trail as it gradually descends through a forest dotted with a garden of mossy boulders. In less than a half mile, the trail reaches an old road at a saddle at 1200’. The 2002 edition of the Green Trails map does not show this trail, but future editions should include it. Hopefully some trail signage will go up as well.

To get to Mossy Cliff Vista, go left (E) and follow the gradually descending road a short distance, a hundred paces or so, then look for a narrow trail heading off into the woods to the right (S). This rude little path climbs over a forested knoll and onto the sloping rock of Mossy Cliff Vista. Moss covers the bald rock slope in a amazingly thick carpet. The south edge of the rock slope drops down to the North Bend Valley in a tremendous cliff. Watch your step and enjoy the view.

To return to North Bend, retrace your steps to the junctnion at the1200’ saddle, and follow the old road westaward as it switchbacks down a steep, forested slope. Along the way, the road passes more impressively large moss cliffs. Eventually the road takes you back to the Little Si Trail, joining it not far above the steep initial ascent from the trailhead parking lot.

Follow the Little Si Trail down to the trailhead, then retrace you steps on Mt Si Road and the Snoqualmie Valley Trail to North Bend.

Getting Back

The M 209 bus to Issaquah Park&Ride leaves hourly from Bendigo Avenue in downtown North Bend. If the bus is not coming for awhile, the King County Library on 4th and Main is a good place to spend some time. Ride the bus to the end of the line at Issaquah Park&Ride, where connections are good to downtown Seattle via the ST 554 bus.

Rev 02.12.06