Palouse to Cascade Trail, Hyak, Snoqualmie Pass, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

Palouse to Cascade Trail, Hyak, Snoqualmie

 

The trail, now called the Palouse to Cascade, was previously called the John Wayne Trail.  Located just east of the Snoqualmie Summit, it is in the Iron Horse State Park and requires a Discover Pass or a day use fee.  The picture shows the almost empty parking lot.  We cross-country ski here often in the winter when the lot is nearly or completely full of cars.  In addition to the groomed cross-country trail there is a sledding hill and snow shoe trails.  The orange building is a replica of an old railroad depot and is a public restroom that is open all year.  It has unheard of luxuries like heat in the winter, flush toilets and sinks with running water and hot air blowers.  Two of the six unisex units also have showers. 

 

Part of the trail is used as a short cut between Tacoma Pass and Snoqualmie Pass for Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru hikers, some having spent the previous night at Tacoma Pass.  We had a nice visit with a couple from Switzerland.  Most thru hikers try to go 20 miles or more each day putting their goal of the Canadian-US border about 10 days to 2 weeks from the day we met them. 

 

 

 Most of the trail looks like this

with views of Lake Keechelus here and there.

 

Since it is an old railroad, it is mostly flat with gentle curves and very gradual or minimal elevation changes.  There are views of Lake Keechelus, mixed forest, and little streams feeding into the lake below.  This week Bob timed our hike to extend our distance a bit to approximately 5.3 miles RT. 

 

 

 

 

There are informational placards in a couple of places along the route.  This one featured information about the electric trains.  The original line was called the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific, known as the Milwaukee Road.  The passenger train was named the Olympian-Hiawatha.  This particular passenger train was one of the fastest and most luxurious transcontinental trains during the era of the Milwaukee Road, 1905-1974. 

 

 

 

 A little fall color, mostly on vine maples, a few late flowers, lots of brilliant blue sky with clouds, cool breeze, sunshine and comfortable temperature.  

 

 

 

A little fall color, vine maple

 

Daisies

 

Mullein

 

Spotted Knapweed

 

Butter & Eggs, Toadflax

 

Spotted Tussock Moth caterpillar sometimes called "woolly bear"

 

Count for the day:

30 people total, 18 mountain bikers, a few were on electric bikes, 7 were thru hikers, and 5 day hikers

No dogs

Our timed hike = 5.3 miles RT