Trip Reports

This 4.4 mile round trip moderate hike was perfect today. We started our hike at around 12:15 and found lots of people descended, so the way up was not too crowded. Given the lack of shining sun, the cool temps made the hike even more palatable. The conditions of the trail were slightly wet with a few mucky bogs along the way. Nothing too bad, though.

Was rainy, but not too bad. First time doing this hike and am very glad we did.

Headed out from Bothell, WA around 6 AM. Drove through Seattle to I-90, stopping to grab some snacks, and arriving at Little Si around 7:15AM. Got to love that bridge coming in! It is so pretty. When we got there, there were already a few cars in the parking lot. Used the facilities and whatnot, and got on the trail around 7:30. It was a little chilly and rainy out, so we both started with hoodies on, and Emily quickly changed from a fluffy yorkie into a muddy and wet rat. The trail is rather rocky, and starts out a little steep. A short way up there is a view point, that was breath taking! You can see the valley and mountains, and there was some pretty cloud cover. We continued on, and saw a few people on the trail, several of which had friendly dogs with them.

Eventually we came to a beautiful area that felt a bit like a valley. It was thickly covered by trees and many large rocks. There were what you might call rolling ups and downs for a while. Eventually a pair of two gentlemen passed us with packs on, and a little ways down the way we saw them going up a trail that lead to a large rock face. They were rock climbers! Which made us feel relieved, because we were a bit worried that we would have to go up that trail. The ‘valley’ lasted for a while, and was extremely beautiful. It was during this time that a couple of people passed us, and we met a couple of people coming back, so we knew we weren’t too far off from the summit.

After the valley there was a dramatic increase in elevation climb, including several switch backs and some rocky areas that had me thinking, “Hm, I might be able to go UP but how am I going to get DOWN!?” This is especially interesting for me since I am deathly afraid of falling. The last few minutes were very difficult and you could tell we were going through the cloud bank because the air looked like it was thick with smoke. When we reached the summit it was worth it! We could see over the valleys and were actually over the clouds now. Big Si was right next to us, and we were able to compare how much taller it was. There was a cool breeze that helped relieve us from the humidity of the climb up, but eventually we had to put our jackets back on because it got so chilly.

At the top we relaxed by sitting on a rock and having our snacks. Emily got a few big pieces of a peanut butter sandwich, and seemed very happy. A couple of other people joined us at the top, and we ended up striking up a conversation with a young man in college, who eventually hiked back down with us. It may sound cheesy, but this made me very happy since I am always reading these ‘adventure’ books where people make friends on the trail and whatnot, so it made me very happy to have that experience!

On the way down we saw several other families. Coming down the steep rocky areas turned out to not be so bad, though I did have to take my time. I must say that I am proud of myself for not slowing too much though! Between the momentum of the sugar spike from our snack and our new friends conversation, the trip back seemed to fly! Toward the end we passed SEVERAL people, and the trail started to become really crowded. Again, I was happy we got there early. The parking lot was full when we got back to the truck.

On the way home we took the long route on 202 & 203. We stopped at Snoqualmie Falls, which was beautiful, and then stopped in Fall City for a well earned burger, fries, and soda. I would say we will definitely visit this hike again, and I hope to complete Big Si by the end of this season.

Talk about a crowded hike! The parking lot was completely full, and we had to park a ways away and walk. The trail has been well maintained, and was free of mud. It was a gorgeous day for a hike! The only problem we encountered was the people... But I guess we'll just have to go on a weekday when it's raining. Be warned that this hike takes a little bit of exertion. If you are taking kids, know that they will get tired. :)

A perfect day for a hike. We got there only around noon so the lots were full but we parked on the street. The trail itself was not extremely crowded. However the first quarter mile of the trail had a very strong potty stench. Someone failed to clear up their dog poo I would think! Not the best way to start the hike but the rest of the trail made up for it.
All in all an interesting trail with beautiful views of the valley.

Parking was not the best, because we got there after 9 am, however, got a spot. This was my first time to Little Si, and even though I am overweight, I was able to do it! I am so proud of myself! The trails were pretty dry, although there were a few spots that were wet, but not overly muddy! What a great hike!

My Mt. Rainier climbing buddy and neighbor decided on making a late arrival (3pm) in the hopes of getting a parking spot. Lucked out - got the last spot in the closest parking lot!

Trail was busy but not overly so. A dozen or so rock climbers were practicing on the big rock face on your left as you ascend, probably about 1/2 way up. Summit was fairly crowded, views outstanding! Stayed on top about 10 minutes or less.

Made the return trip back to the car, total time was 1:55.

If you haven't been there, it starts relatively steep and ends the same way at the top. My suggestion for a weekend is to start very early or go pretty late.

Hiked with my daughter and her boyfriend. Was a GREAT hike. On the trail early in the cool of the day and smoked up/down the trail w/o any issues. My knee from the Big Si hike the week before has healed well w/o issues.

PB&J at the top and GU tube and down in 35 mins.

Salmon berries and trillium in bloom. Incredible visibility.

Old Si trial in two weeks (hey, it's Mother's Day Weekend) or maybe Mount Washington.

Happy Hiking

We started out at 7PM, and saw only a couple groups coming down early in our hike. We had the entire place to ourselves. We had waning daylight through the end of the hike around 8:30PM.

It was pretty cold, and muddy. With the recent snow/rain fall that happened the day before it was to be expected. The hike is mostly uneventful, lots of flat areas. But the steep rocky bits catch you by surprise. You go from non-exertion sloping incline to basically climbing rock stairs.

The view was great, we hit it just before sunset.

Revisited Little Si and the Boulder Garden trail as part of a Mountaineers conditioning program. The trail was in good shape considering the rain and high volume of hiker traffic. Expect to find muddy conditions at several points along the way but, nothing to cause difficulty. It's more messy than boot topping even at it's worst.

We set off early, around 8:30 and well before peak "rush hour." We had both rain and sun alternately all morning and got plenty of practice donning and stowing rain gear! Saw an increasing volume of traffic throughout the morning including many well behaved dogs both on and off leash.

The Boulder loop is a good add on to the usual trip up to the top of Little Si adding an additional 1.5 miles plus a steady 400 ft climb for those of us needing some additional cardio work. Including our clothing adjustments,lunch break and other various stops along the way, we still made it back to the trailhead before 1:00. About 1,600 ft total net gain and just about 6 miles including the extra distance to the overflow parking.

Great morning spent in the woods! Thanks to the leaders/organizers for a fun and productive time!

Trail conditions: Wet, muddy, and cold, with few sun breaks.

I decided to hike to Little Si via Boulder Garden Loop in an effort to add some spice to this trip. In contrast to Little Si trail proper, the Garden Loop had very little traffic as I only saw a total of 4 people on this trail. I did not mind this at all. The last half of this trail was steep going down before reconnecting to Little Si trail. Boy did I have something to look forward to on the way back!

The rest of the hike was uneventful. The summit of Little Si was overcast, with clouds covering the peaks of Big Si. I hiked back up the Boulder Garden loop on the return trip, which was a good workout. Have a nice day!
 

 

Perfect conditions for a perfect hike. Everything was accessible and not muddy. It was a very nice and comfortable hike with a beautiful view at the top. Me and my two girls (ages 5 & 7) enjoyed it very much!

Easy to moderate hike depending on your endurance level. Lots of people hiking. Parking can be tight depending on the climate. I would say if you want an easy workout, Little Si is a good option.

Got to the trail head at 8:40 on a clear, soon to be warm Saturday. parking was full and overflow was filling up quickly.

Trail was not too difficult...our GPS tracked it as 4.5 miles RT, it felt like interval training with a good incline at the beginning and then a nice stretch of little to no incline before you reach the final steeper ascent to the summit.

The trail didn't seem too crowded with an early start but it was pretty crowded at the summit...there are several nice rock ledges just below it to sit and picnic or soak up some sun if you don't want to crowd in with everyone else at the top.

On the way back down the crowds had arrived for sure! Lots of kids, dogs and families heading out for a day hike. Good hike, we'll be back.

Today was a great hike! Got a late start- started up around noon, and surprisingly, there was barely anybody on the trail! There was a lot of mud, and some of the rocks were slippery, but I wore some beaten-up sneakers and I was fine. There were a few places throughout the trail that were pretty steep, but majority of it was fairly easy. The views from the top were incredible, and the bright sun was very relaxing and warm. This was my first time up Little Si, and I definitely plan on going again!

Trail was in great shape. No snow or major puddles, just a few muddy patches. We ran most of it (walked the slippery or rocky bits) and were fine in running shoes and shorts and t-shirts, but would have been cold (i.e. better off in pants and jackets) if we stopped and walked for too long. There are some mosquitoes but not too bad-- if you are stopping at the top for a picnic, they might bug you but otherwise won't be an issue. Good views.

First hike of the year was a good indication of how much the winter laziness has effected my fitness. Made it to the top but with more effort than easier hikes from last year. Time to get back in shape!

This is a relatively easy to moderate hike. The distance isn't that long and there are a lot of flat areas with a few steeper climbs. We didn't do the Boulder Garden. Definitely wasn't up for that!

Some mud on the trail but all water crossings are funneled under the trail. Get there early because even today, a grey and rainy day, the lot at the trailhead was full by 9am.

Parked in the overflow lot, which was maybe 1/3 full and raced up to the top after getting a late (didn't leave Seattle until around 1pm) start and made it in the fairly fast time of 44 minutes from parking lot to top. Passed numerous groups with kids on the way up.

Trail was muddy at places but nothing too bad, otherwise was in good shape, no snow on the trail as usual.

Wasn't that windy at the top but not exactly sunbathing weather either so we had some fruit and raced back down.

Made it back to Ballard at 4pm, so about 3 hours door to top back to door! Record time!

This is a pretty hike at places but also pretty dull at other times. Still, a good workout hike that is easily accessible year round.

Today marked the 5th straight weekend my primary hiking buddy and I have made it out. We are looking forward to the possible warmer weather next week for something maybe a bit more adventurous!

Pretty standard day on Little Si. Gray and rainy, but a great day for a hike! This is a really popular hike, so we had to park in the overflow lot. Started hiking around 10am and finished Little Si and Boulder Garden Loop by noon.

A full trip review can be found at: http://urban-trailseeker.bl[…]port-little-si-boulder.html

We left work "early" and arrived at the Little Si parking area around 10:45. It was a typical gray Seattle day..... A good day for a short hike. There were several cars in the lot already. We passed a number of hikers, several with dogs including an adorable "woodle". Trail is in good shape with a few muddy spots. When we arrived at the top it hailed briefly. As we headed down the trail the sun filtered thru the trees and when we were back to our car it began to rain so we lucked out on our timing. Back to Seattle by 2:30.

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Happy Valentine's Day! Middle of the day, not very busy (even with LWSD on mid-winter break). My son had some challenges with the initial rocky section ~0.3 mi) but made it through ok. A few slightly muddy patches, but not bad. A few dogs off leash so head's up if you're not dog friendly. We will definitely be back to try the summit trail, and again on a clear day to take in what we expect will be even more amazing views!

Neat little hike. Started out late in the day, around 2 p.m. It only took our group of 3.5 a little over 2 hours round-trip, including a rest and snack at the top. Our dog did well, even over the rocky parts, and he's 13 years old (but pretty spry). No scrambling needed. No trail issues outside of a few muddy places. View at the top was pretty and clear, with a nice view of the west face and snow line on big Si. Would definitely recommend this to others looking for a short but fulfilling day hike on the Eastside.

What a beautiful day for a hike! I hiked with a friend and my 25-lb dog and the trail was in good shape. No snow and only a little mud. We passed a lot of other hikers and their furry companions. Busy but not overly crowded considering that it was a surprise beautiful Saturday in February. Absolutely beautiful views at the top above the cloud cover, very etherial. Overall it's a pretty easy hike accessible to all ages and abilities without compromising on beauty.

A great first outing in January. It was very cold, but we soon warmed up due to the hills we encountered. There were no issues with the trail, it's so well travelled! We ran into lots of people on the way up and at the top. The way down was quick, especially with poles. The view from the top was pretty spectacular.

Saw lots of families here and there was plenty of parking.

We got off to a late start today from Kitsap County. My boyfriend I think was a little hesitant to go hiking because it was so foggy out. I told him, you can't let the fog here stop us from our hike, never know we mght rise above the fog or it could even be sunny where we are going. So we got on the road a little after 11 am.

As we were driving up Tiger Summit, I could see the sun trying to make it's way through the fog and I could see some blue sky off in the distance. I started to feel pretty lucky. We made it to North Bend by about 1230 and hit the trailhead by about 1:00 pm. There were quite a few cars in the parking lot but there was a fe open spaces. Oh and did I mention nothing but blue sky and the sun shining.

Todays hike consisted of my 14 year old son, my boyfriend and his 12 year old daughter. The trail was in great shape. Well traveled. It was just beautiful. The sun was shining through the trees and rays of light shine down on the forest floor. There was just a light dusting in snow in some locations, but nothing that amounted to much. It was cool and frosty in several places. Waatch your step especially on the down hill in the areas with frost. I busted my butt even with good hiking boots, it was slick. Thankfully, picked myself up and carried on. On our return I watched a young man run along a downed tree and he busted his butt and good. Thankfully he was ok.

We pushed ahead and just enjoyed ourselves maybe did a little huffing and puffing towards the last uphill push over the rocks and roots. When we reached the top it was just gorgeous. There wasn't a sole up there but us. With the sun beating down on us it felt like a nice Spring day. We sat at the top for a while taking a break on the rocks to take in the scenery and have abite to eat and rehydrate ourselves. We spent about 30 minutes up top before heading back down.

By the time we made it back down, the fog had rolled in and the sun seemed to be setting already and that was at 3:30 or so. We decided to take a side trip on the way home and we stopped at the Snoqualmie Falls. I wanted to show my boyfriend becuase he had never been there before. When we got there the fog was like pea soup (Thick). The trees were covered in ice. Most of the walkways were closed due to slippery and hazerdous conditions. Tree branches were so heavy with ice they were hanging over the walkway. We didn't get to see the falls we could only hear them.

Overall it was a great day!

Based on prior reports and the weather advice of Cliff Mass, we headed out in search of a good hike and some sun. We got both, plenty of it in fact!

Though fog carpeted the low lands, it didn't take long before we were in sunlight. The trailhead parking lot was reasonably full, we parked in the overflow.

The lower parts of the hike were a bit slippery, but nothing a sturdy pair of shoes couldn't handle. The upper elevations were just beautiful, a bit cold on the north side but lovely and warm at the summit! We ate lunch up there, admiring the view, and moon that had peeked out, before heading back down.

All in all, it was a great day spent on the trail.

Did an early morning hike up Little Si, hit the trail at 7:20 with clear skies and 23 degrees. No cars in the parking lot. The trail was frosty but no real areas of ice – traction devices not needed. Only met one other hiker on the trail today. On the way back down, I made a side trip via the Boulder Garden loop. This trail is more steep than the regular Little Si trail but again only frost in places. Some nice icicles can be seen on a few of the rock faces. Back down to the car at 9:50 and only one other car in the lot. The temperature had warmed up to a “tropical” 29 degrees. Round trip approximately 5.7 miles with 1700 feet of gain. A little smoky air in the valley above North Bend because of the stagnant air. Did not spot any wildlife today, but my last few trips I have seen elk and some deer – have not seen any mountain goats for some time now, used to see them quite often in the past. All in all a fun trip. Stay warm out there and enjoy these rain-free days!

There was sporadic ice in shadowy spot on the trail for most of its distance. This became more exacerbated towards the tail end of the trail, traction aids were not necessary however. There was a light dusting of snow on trees and underbrush at the higher elevations.

We hiked Little Si with our kids aged 8 and 10. We saw many other families with lots of kids on the trail, they all looked happy. There was no trace of snow on the trail. Although the parking lot was icy when we arrived.

The trail was clear of snow. A little muddy in places, but nothing extreme. It was lightly snowing at the summit, but the snow wasn't sticking to the trail. The low visibility at the top limited the scenic vistas, but it was pretty to look up at snowy Mt. Si over lunch.

We took the well-marked Boulder Garden Loop on the descent from Little Si to extend the hike. The entire hike took around 3.5 hours, including some time spent eating lunch at the summit.

Trail was in good shape, clear of snow.

This was a perfect little day hike. Snow covers the trail when it is exposed but doesn't hide it. Perhaps two inches at the top, just enough to speckle the valley. Extend the trip by taking the Boulder Garden Loop as well.

With the snow level down around 1,000 feet we were wondering how the trail would be for a short hike up Little Si this morning. A little muddy in places but, really no snow until you break out of the trees near the top. (That could certainly change with tonight's weather!)

Even with a late start at about 9:30 there were few cars in the lot as we started out. We made good time to the top but, didn't linger as the snow flurries were starting to pick up a bit. A few inches of slushy snow at the top only. We met a few groups coming up on our return and found the parking lot full a little over an hour later. A good hike made better by beating the approaching wind and rain!

Trail was in good condition except at about 1 mile, there are a couple mudholes and at around the last half mile there was water on the trail.

Pretty trail, nice forest, great views at the summit. ^_^

Little Si is a short, easy 4.4 mile roundtrip hike just outside of North Bend and a popular destination during the winter months when snow prevents hiking in the high country. The trail offers some small altitude gain, some clambering over rocks, and a nice rocky crown with a low altitude view. There are no obstacles but the trail is not as "finished" as the main trail up big Mt. Si.

There is a 1.5 mile loop branching off of the Little Si trail that goes through a Boulder Garden. While not that impressive, there is an unmarked junction on this loop that is the old trail up big Mt. Si.

Lots of dogs on the trail today without leashes and leaving poop right in the middle of the tread.

The day started out mostly cloudy, and at 9:30 am there were just a few cars in the parking lot. The trail was a little bit slippery from previous rain, but otherwise in good condition. After helping build a turnpike yesterday, I had a newfound appreciation for the turnpikes and other trailwork that kept the path relatively dry and in good shape. There was some company along the way, but more people had arrived as we finished the hike at 12:30 pm. Fall leaves covered the trail in the first mile. The day became sunnier as the early afternoon arrived, accentuating the beautiful fall colors. At the top, we could see the fresh snowfall at the top of Mount Si.

This trail is usually lush and green, like an enchanted forest, but right now it's very dry and dusty. Note to self: come back after the rain returns.

Got there around 8:45am. About 10 cars in the parking lot.
Parking appears to be very limited. Even the overflow parking doesn't hold much so get there early.
Trail was clear and dry.
Trail was not crowded at all. May be 6 people passed us on their way down and when we got to the top, only 4 people were up there.
Took about 1hr 15 minutes to get to the top with plenty of stops to take pictures and one water break.
Trail can easily be done in 2 hours round trip if you don't stop and don't stay at the top to long.
When we got back to the parking lot, it was full and plenty of loud youngsters on their way up.
Very easy hike. I've done Cedar Butte & Rattlesnake Ridge/Ledge and this is the easiest out of the 3 in the area.
The incline of the hike only last for a brief period then the trail goes flat for a while then incline, repeat.
Only thing I find annoying are the people who let their dogs off leash and they coming bouncing around the trail and when you're at the top, they wondering around you while you are trying to sit an enjoy the view. This appears to be the norm on all trails in this area even though signs are posted to leash you dog.
Overall, this is an easy hike for all ages.

Beautiful hike, and great conditions. Trails were dry, it was fairly busy, but not overly so. Didn't go a minute without seeing another group of people (many with kids) on the trail. Lots of dogs on the trail, and I brought mine too. Definitely not an easy hike for a beginner, but still doable- and its worth the view! Bring enough water and a snack. Definitely a beautiful day hike that I would repeat. Recommended!

Expected this trail to be busy and even on a rainy day, it was. Trail is well-maintained and well-marked. There were lots of dogs and a few kids on the trail. Only one muddy area, but the mud wasn't deep (and isn't that what hiking boots/shoes are for?). The views at the top weren't great due to low clouds and fog but at least it wasn't raining. Good stop for a snack or lunch but be prepared to share the sitting area with others.

Nice hike! Nice trail, well-maintained and wide, except for the steep, rocky parts. Still wide enough to step aside for the many other hikers out today.

We took about three hours round trip ... we're not in good summer shape yet. Lots of dogs and kids on the trail, though the kids all seemed tired and weepy.

Very popular indeed, but I knew that going in. We found trailhead parking when we arrived at 4pm.

3pm start with brief rain, trail was in good condition. Lots of hikers, families and dogs on the trail.

Weather was partially sunny with slight rain on and off, perfect for hiking. Had a great time with the Tacoma Mountaineers learning basic scrambles skills. Off-trail some areas with loose rock and slippery. Not too technical, very fun!

May have left an iPhone with purple case in parking lot - please comment if found.

The sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds in Seattle today. Finally decided to head out to Little Si and on the way was greeted with some rain on the I-90.

But by the time, we reached the trail head, the rain stopped and it was cold and chilly.
Started the hike at about 12:30 PM. Worth noting is that the trail is pretty slushy and muddy with all the rain from the past couple of days. Took us just less than an hour to reach the top.

There weren't too many people on the top. Thank the chilly weather for that. Spent sometime sitting on the rocks at the top and watching the valley from there. Mt. Si was covered with clouds and so were the other mountains. But the sun was peeking out of the clouds and it was a good time to be on top.

Started back down and reached the trail head by 2:30. Good workout overall.

We started around 1.50. The trailhead parking lot gets full quickly even on a slightly clear day. There is limited parking for little Si. The first incline was dry but rest of the hike was extremely muddy and there was water on trail. There were a lot of families hiking with kids and dogs when we were coming down. A very good warm up hike for the hiking season coming up.

It is the first warm up hike in the year. The weather is cloudy, some sunshine but luckily no rain. We get to the parking around 9:45 am and started to go uphill. Just realized the Mountains to Sound Greenway did the trail work on April 7, 14. No wonder the trail was absolutely in good shape, no trashes at all along the path. There are lots of small rocks but easy to follow. We only saw 5 people on the way. It was quite and nice to go up without any difficulties. We didn't use any poles and device except some parts of the road was quite muddy. But we were able to manage this. It took us about an hour and 15 minutes to the summit. We get to sit down and enjoy the view by ourselves. We could see the Mt. Si ahead of us. On the way down, there are many people just started their day hikes. We finished our hike around 12:30. I really recommend this for the family with small children. It is not too steep about 2.2 miles one way and the it is so close in town.

Little Si is a great spring warm-up hike, or short day hike. We got to the trailhead around 1 pm and had no problems parking in the main lot. Although, it was crowded and the second lot was almost full too. The trail is dry the entire length, and in excellent condition. Weather was amazing (almost too warm) and quite windy at the summit.

Wildflowers: At the rocky, beginning part of the trail, the flowering red currant is just about at peak. As the trail flattens out, there are salmonberries and Indian plum starting to bloom. Along the side of the trail at the base of the climbing walls, there are some excellent patches of white trillium.

Also, please remember to practice proper trail etiquette - yield to uphill hikers, and do not cut-off the switch-backs. Thanks!

Decided to get out of the house and get a little early morning exercise, having been housebound due to endless days of rain and gloom. Little Si, a great winter go-to hike, seemed like a good choice.

Strangely, there were no other cars in the parking lot, very unusual for this popular hike. I should have suspected something wasn't right!

Imagine my shock, then surprise, then incredulity, and finally horror when, surmounting the final steps to the summit, I turned to see a shocking spectacle at the top of Mt. Si. To the east was a huge flying saucer in flames after an apparent crash. To the right of the saucer were two enormous monsters! And they didn't look happy! As they seemed to be heading my way, probably smelling my pepperoni pizza, I decided it was a good time to head back to the trailhead. The horror!

Other than that it was an uneventful hike.

Even though it was a very stormy wet day with very high avalanche danger, we wanted to get some elevation gain and a good workout. Party of 3 headed out from the Little Si trailhead around 10:45am, just a couple cars there.

We took the Little Si Trail to the Boulder Garden Loop- first turn to the right and wound up the hill past the lovely mossy boulders. It was a storm, so it wasn’t unexpected to find the trail quite wet, with some very large puddles covering the trail in places. About a mile up, at a junction not-so-helpfully marked as the “Boulder Garden Loop”, we turned right and headed up to summit Mt Si via the old trail. From the end of the Boulder Garden Loop we took, this is the *second* such sign along the trail.

The Old Si Trail is in good condition, as usual. With the stormy weather there were considerable puddles and water along the trail, but again, this was to be expected. This is a steeper trail than some, so it was a bit slippery in places with the mud/water/detritus, but I found it manageable with sturdy boots. Past the intersection of the “Northwest Passage” unmaintained trail that leads back to the main Mt Si Trail, the rain started to turn gradually more slushy as we ascended, but we didn’t reach true snow until perhaps 3,000 feet of elevation. (no altimeter, just a guess).

Once in the snow, traction devices were necessary for safe travel. 2 in our party had microspikes, which were excellent for conditions, the 3rd had snowshoes- which worked well enough when necessary. I’d pick spikes over snowshoes because there were intermittent bare areas between areas with deeper snow. The snow was packed hard enough to not posthole into it, but I could see evidence of past postholing in sections. It wasn’t hard to follow the trail, although experience with the trail was helpful towards the junction with the Old Si trail. Close to the junction and beyond was wet fresh snow, which was rather slippery at times.

Reached the top of the trail but chose not to try for the area below the Haystack as the snowshoes as traction devices didn’t seem appropriate there with all the exposed rock. No nosy birds after our snacks this time! I was very glad to have the traction devices and poles for the slippery way down the snowy section of the trail. We didn’t see anyone from trailhead in the morning, to trailhead return around 3pm. I’d highly recommend coming prepared for snow and cold if you want to take this trail. I learned that my softshell definitely doesn't perform in a downpour like this one- it was worth it to have proper raingear in the pack. :)

Hiked Little Si this afternoon. It was 63 degrees and sunny so there were lots of climbers, lots of hikers, and lots of dogs out on the trail even though it was late in the afternoon. The trail was completely clear except for a few muddy spots. Easy hike with great views at the top.

Today the morning weather seemed promising and a good day to visit Little Si. At the trailhead at 10:30 a.m., the temperature was still cool at 38 degrees and only four other cars were in the parking lot. It was a nice, quiet hike to the top. Many might enjoy the hike to the top as the trail is not a constant increase in elevation for the entire hike but rather has several areas that level-out and allow one to enjoy the surroundings.

At the top of Little Si, there was no snow or ice, the sun was shining and there was only a slight breeze. The views of Mount Si and adjacent peaks were outstanding. To the south and east, the views were just as nice however clouds had been forming and the next front was imminent. By noon, the clouds had started to overtake the blue skies above Mount Si.

This hike is relatively short so including the Boulder Garden Loop trail for an additional 1.5 miles is a nice option. Two signs mark both ends of the loop trail which tie into the Little Si trail. On your return trip from the top of Little Si, a left at the first sign takes you clockwise around the loop. This access route becomes a quick, steady steep climb on a rocky, wet trail taking approximately twenty minutes until things level out. Now you are rewarded with the first sightings of the huge boulders on the loop trail.

The loop trail is now in a denser forest area so everything is green and much is covered in moss - the rocks, boulders and trees. Ferns, lichen, greenery and more is flourishing. For more adventuring, follow the sign that directs rock climbers to the massive rock walls. Or take a side path off of the trail to check out the huge boulders. This must be a favorite hang out in the summer as evidenced by the foot traffic high up on the boulders. The second half of the loop trail widens to allow two to walk side-by-side and is a more gradual descent back to the main Little Si trial.

The Boulder Garden Loop trail certainly gives you the feel of being in nature's "garden" and provides a quiet solitude from the majority of hikers who choose to stay on the Little Si trail.
 

This is our 7th Sunday in a row to hike and we finally got to hike Little Si. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it after climbing Big Si 8 weeks in a row last summer to train for Mt. Hood. The book says it is 5 RT but the signs on the trail say 4.4 RT. We took the side trail, Boulder Garden Loop Trail, offered fairly early on the trail and added 1.5 miles to our hike today. It was beautiful and glad we did. It was up an up hill climb then down so taking the loop on the way back would be opposite.
The entire trail bottom to top was pretty mucky and the dogs (2 Dachshunds) got pretty wet and muddy but made it no problem. It finally started to snow after arriving to the top and due to the fog, we were not able to enjoy the views but will be back soon to check it out. It is a single person trail some of the way but widens rather large in others. There are bathrooms at the beginning but NO map but luckily we had our maps from REI so we knew about the extra loop option. Disappointment on lack of trailhead map since this is a heavily used trail. Other than that, loved it!

Trail still closed.

Recreation alert posted by DNR: Little Si and Mount Si Trailheads closed for airplane crash investigation

DNR has closed access to both the Little Si and Mount Si Trailheads near North Bend because of an accident investigation from an early morning airplane crash in the Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA), which is managed by DNR. Mount Si Road is also closed to everyone but residents in the area.

Once the King County Sheriff’s office has completed its part of the accident investigation, which involved fatalities, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will need to come in to conduct their own investigations.

The area is closed until further notice—several days—while the investigation continues. We will let you know when the area reopens.

Check the status of the area.

Little Si is an easily accessible off-season hike that gives some elevation gain. In the ten days since we last did this hike, the trail has become dry and mud- and snow-free, and all fallen branches and trees have been cleared. The day was beautiful, clear, and sunny, with blue sky, 50°F, but very windy, particularly strong at the summit. We didn't see or hear any birds or other animals. There were about two dozen people on the trail but lots of parking spaces.

Our Discover Pass arrived on Thursday, just in time for a sunny day on Friday, so we were able to go to Little Si, which is on state DNR lands. The day was beautiful, chilly, calm, and clear. The parking lot was only about half full, and we encountered only about a dozen and a half people and a few dogs on the trail.

The trail was passable even though there were many fallen branches and a few small blown-down trees. As we hiked, I tried to remember to check for loose branches overhead that were ready to fall, but, at least when I looked, there weren't any. There were water, mud, and some patchy snow on the trail.

The lower trail rises gently after the initial climb up from the trailhead and later begins to ascend more steeply and curves back toward the summit. A nice little switchback replaces the brief hand-over-hand scramble that used to greet hikers at the beginning of the ascent. There are a few rocky, slippery, high-stepped spots on the way up. At the top there was good visibility to the valley, hills, and Rattlesnake Mountain to the south, including I-5 and lots of "civilization," to which we turned our backs to sit facing Mt. Si looming above us, snowy haystack and all.

Hiked to the summit of Mt Si in the early afternoon with dog and two children (5 and 10 yrs). They found the trail interesting and diverse with lots of fun climbs and rocky clambers. The trail was fairly busy with many dog walkers and a few trail runners. The weather was still, clear and cool with good views from all the lookouts.

Trail was well signed and maintained with evidence of a few tree-falls that had been recently cleared. One log remains over path which the kids enjoyed jumping over. There were a few areas of mud and some patches of ice beneath leaves. A few fungi were still in evidence.

The trail is at times rocky and it is worth watching your footing due to scree on the path.

The trail is in good shape. There is no snow and very little mud. It was windy at the top but not very cold. Love this hike!

Just a typical Northwest December 2nd. Blue skies, with puffy clouds, 45 degrees at 1:00pm, mostly dry trail with a few soft spots. Encountered a few climbers. A restful afternoon in the woods.

Gorgeous day for a hike! Sunshine, no rain. Some mud on the trail but very passable. No snow or ice.

The weather was partly cloudy and cool, perfect for a fall colors hike to Little Si. Our group ranged from age 5 upwards. The parking lot was not full when we got there. The trail was not wet. It was in good condition, and we made it to the top in a little over an hour. There was company on the trail, but it was not crowded on the trail or at the top. Fall colors were starting to show themselves. We were able to take nice photos of the haystack and the chasm between Si and Little Si, as well as two beautiful slugs on the trail. An easy outing, with great photography.

My wife and I took a day hike up Little Si today (along with our dogs) and thoroughly enjoyed it! The trail was wet, muddy, with exposed rocks, and roots the entire way. Didn’t really see any bugs, and I didn’t really notice the wild flowers much (probably because I was too busy watching where my feet were going). The first half of the trail was pretty level (relatively), but the second half got steep quick, again with lots of exposed rocks and roots. The view from the summit was nice and we had a little bite to eat while stopped up there. Our dogs did a great job, and they even had backpacks on too! The only thing that I had a problem with, was all the people who brought their dogs along for the trip, 80 percent of them were off leash. You’re supposed to leash your dog at all times on this trail and it became a bit of an annoyance each time, when the owners had to tackle their dogs before they ran up on ours. Just leash your dogs, folks! They also say it’s a good one for kids too. I don’t know about that. We saw little kids out there, but it was steep and very uneven terrain. I don’t know how they did it. I hiked up to Ingalls Lake last weekend and thought it was an easier hike, albeit a much longer one, with much heavier packs on. Other than that, it was nice. I’d recommend some good hiking shoes for this trail because of the uneven terrain.

Re-routed trail to Little Si goes more south on the final ascent. It is easier than before with fewer roots to scramble up. Overall the trail is in good condition, with a very few muddy spots- not a problem in my hiking boots. I took the Boulder Garden loop on the way back starting about .5 mail from the si trailhead and then looping back about .3 mile from the trailhead-- this 1.5 trail is in stellar shape and so lovely! I hadn't been on this trail before and was surprised by the elevation gain/loss-- not sure how much, but enough to get warm on the uphill stretch! The boulders are gorgeous. I think I found where the trail meets up with the old Si trail too-- a big junction with the signage just for the Boulder loop. There are bugs along the loop if you stay still too long. Didn't see anyone on the Boulder Garden loop but passed plenty of people on the Little Si trail.

It was crowded at the trailhead mid morning on Monday- but I still enjoyed lots of solitude by taking the Boulder Garden Loop trail on the way up. The side trip also added some elevation gain and 1.5 miles to the total trip.

Although it's a shaded trail, there were some beautiful wildflowers along the way, including some stunning wild tiger lilies.

Lots of fun! Hiked with four kids - ages 9, 8, 8 and 5. No complaints at all. A bit steep and rocky for them at times on the way up, but it was still do-able. Beautiful views at the top.

There were a LOT of people on the trail today. We had to step to the side at least a dozen times on the way up and down to let people pass us.

The challange this Spring and Summer has been to deal with the rain and low snow levels. That was also the subject of a front page article in the Seattle Times this morning-at least the snow pack issue. Even with just a bit of drizzle and the threat of rain we went to Little Si and were rewarded with a clear view of the valley and lots of green along the trail. One section of the trail is quite mucky through some sticky clay like material, but it looks like it may be a work in progress waiting for some gravel to be layered on later.

Very enjoyable hike. Popular today, but not overrun. The forest in the middle section before all the switchbacks is really beautiful. The sheer rock wall is very impressive. A bit of mud but nothing horrible. The last few switchbacks before the ridge require some large steps up which give your legs a nice workout.
The first ledge you get to is nice but the second one gives you a much better view. The summit is rocky and open. The ledges below the summit on the far side give wide open views towards Cedar Butte and Rattlesnake Ledge. There was an unfortunate amount of food waste near the summit; pistachio shells, orange and banana peels. Even though these are organic, it doesn't really break down quickly. Please pack out your trash.
About 2h15m up, 1h15m down.

I love this hike through lush forest with moss and fern covered boulders. There is mud in a lot of places but with boots on it is not an issue. There were a lot of people there today. When we left about 1 the main parking lot was full and the extra lot was about 75% full. It was neat to see quite a few climbers on the rock wall too.

Be aware of car break-ins and license plates being stolen at the Little Si parking lots. Make sure valuables are out of sight and check for your license plate when returning back from the hike, as it isn't something you think about until its gone. The dryer warmer weather has been great in drying up the mud holes on this trail.

A car was broken into in this parking lot today morning. So please be careful and dont leave anything visible. Hike today was a lot of fun with weird weather. Started cloudy, got rainy, then we saw Blue skies on the Mt Si lookout which quickly turned to snow coming down hard, back to rain and then to clouds.

Nice day for a hike. Still cool and overcast. Lots of people on the trail in the afternoon. Trail was passable. Alot of different areas with mud and "pudding" mud as we call it. If you have hiking shoes, wear them as you will get mud on them. Lots of walking on roots and sharp rocks near the top. Awesome view as usual. Just waiting on some sun to make it better. Lots of trillium blooming along the trail. Lots of people with dogs and dogs off leash which I didnt really appreciate. If you are reading this and plan to take your dog, please leash them for the courtesy of other hikers and for the potential wildlife. Had to park in the overflow parking lot at 10:30am.

A great walk with some elevation gain, modest views and a non-rain window to enjoy. I picked up Dorr at 8:30, then Loren in Issaquah meeting Jeff @ 10:30 at the trail head. Got started about 10:50 - 11:00 and made the top around 12:00. After photos and a lunch break back down arriving at the car about 1:30 (just as it started to rain). The trail is a bit muddy in places but not bad considering the Monsoon Weather pattern we have been in.

Lots of folks out on this Thursday with dogs enjoying the mostly dry window. To the folks who missed the window, I bet you got soaked based on the rain coming down on I-90.

No snow on the trail and the route is much improved since my last time up in 2002. Would like to do the 'Bolder Garden' trail some time but Dorr needed to catch a ferry so some other time for this trail.

Some spring bush flowers were out, looks like another 2 weeks and everything will be in bloom - maybe we will have a Spring.

Wanting a little more quiet than the Regular Mt. Si trail, we opted to go up the Old Trail to Mt. Si. Parked in the Little Si trail parking lot, and headed .3 miles up the Little Si trail to the Boulder Garden Loop Junction. Followed the Boulder Garden Loop to 1400' elevation and then took the stone steps up onto the Old Mt. Si trail.

Trail was easy to follow and after the first 1/4 mile of rock, followed by 1/4 of mushy mud, followed by a short steep root and dirt scramble, finally became a pretty descent trail. It is steeper in section than the newer Si trail, and has a lot of very short switchbacks which gain elevation quite quickly. In fact at one one point we were gaining 2400' per hour. It actually took us 2 1/2 hours to reach the summit, where the regular trail gets us there in 1 1/2 hours. It passes right next to the regular Mt. Si trail at 3200' (so close you see the traffic and think it is in your lane), then heads steeply up a ridge and finally rejoins the main Si trail at 3750 before the final push to the top. All in all about 3576' of elevation, and a total of 8.58 miles if on return to the Boulder Garden loop you continue on and complete the loop.

Snow began at 3000'. Got icy and slick from 3100' on and traction was needed along with poles. Windy and cold on top of course, but had some views off and on.

More pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/

We wanted a snow free hike that would be short but have some elevation to make us happy. Little Si seemed a good choice. We arrived at the parking area at 9:30AM. The main parking lot was already full, but there were spots in the overflow. It took us only 2 hours to get up and down. For more info with pictures check out our blog....plenty of other hikes on there for you to check out as well! http://triplehhikers.blogspot.com/[…]/little-si-north-bend-wa.html

Our plan was to go up to Teneriffe Falls but the parking was overfull, so we went to Little Si, where parking was loaded up with search and rescue vehicles (training sessions). In light rain, fog, mist, snow, graupel, and sunshine, we went up Little Si, returning to the trailhead--after lunch on the summit--via the Old Si/Boulder Garden Trails, for some extra elevation gain. None of us had ever seen the trails so sodden and, in many places, running with water--like hiking in a stream. Photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/[…]/

Instead of staying with the crowds I decided to venture on the boulder loop trail. I have never been and thought it would be adventurous. I was right. Im not in the best of shape but Im above average and I have to tell you I thought this little side trip was doosey. For someone who has never been, I highly suggest taking the first cutoff for the loop, its def a steady climb and not as bad as if you were to take the second cutoff and come back down. But if your a glutan for punishment take the second cutoff. I encountered only a hand full of people , and I actually enjoyed the different scenery as on the little si trail. I would def do this hike again ! I was very happy I met a gentleman who showed me where the cutoff was to the bi si trail. The trail has lots of mud and soupy areas. If you want a great hike and less crowds , do this as a sidetrip. I did the whole trip in a little over a hour. Happy Trails

The trail is in great shape. Absolutely no snow on the trail. Only a few muddy patches along the way.

After a long few months, when the kids brought home every germ known to mankind, DestinationUp returned to the trail! The Wonder Pup and I hit the Little Si trailhead at 10:30, and headed, well, up.

The great news...no snow to be found! It apparently has just melted off, leaving lots of muddy spots and flatferns (a plant found only in the springtime, where the snow used to be). The snow line on Si looked to be a few hundred feet higher than the summit of Little Si.

The trail is in fine shape, and the little wooden bridge has been repaired. Thank you trail angels!

The Wonder Pup had a rollicking time at the top, with Malka and Scout, his two new best puppy friends. He's pretty happy to be back, and so am I. See you on the trail!

Good amount of mud on the trail, but other than that pretty great. A way more delightful trail than I thought it would be. Took a 4 year old corgi and a 3 month old German shepherd, they were trying hard but they both did it. Have fun, stay safe!

Along with the sun setting over the Olympics, crocuses popping up through the grass late winter, whales breaching in Puget Sound, and the first plum and cherry blossoms of the year, the brilliant sun shining through snow-blanketed conifers is one of the most majestic sights in the Pacific Northwest.

This was a quick lunchtime foray up Little Si to break up the work day and get psyched for a more substantial hike this weekend, and although the hike time about equalled the roundtrip driving time, it was well worth the trip for the peaceful walk and fresh air.

There was about 6" of snow on the ground, but it was packed down pretty well on the trail. You'd be fine hiking this in just boots, but I appreciated the extra traction of YakTrax since that meant less attention to sure footing and more attention to arboreal-crystalline splendor.

I hadn't walked up Little Si in years, but it was truly a beautiful, if modest, venture into the woods.

What a wonderful day for UP!!! The sun was out, the air was brisk, I was hiking with friends from Boy Scout Troop 594 and we were headed up to Boulder Garden, Little Si, and then Big Si via the old Si trail. This was my first time up Little Si and to Boulder Garden and I really enjoyed it. The lush forest and green cascading moss made for a picturesque landscape.

The view from Little Si was spectacular as visibility was nearly unlimited. We rested for approximately 20 minutes, had a small snack and headed down to the Old Si trailhead. The trail is under dense cover and without much air exchange, one finds it to be cold and humid. Cold enough for gloves and hat despite the strenuous hiking conditions. The trail starts its climb with an immediate ascent and continues to get steeper and steeper (we estimated 30 – 40 degrees at one point) until it joins with the new Si trail just below the top. The trail was icy and narrow and with ample opportunities to take a tumble down steep banks, I put on my Microspikes.

While we encountered only a small number of hikers on the old Si trail, the new Si trail was loaded with hikers. The base are around the haystack was fairly crowded and covered with just enough snow/ice to make climbing to the bench area challenging. Like Little Si, the view was spectacular. There was little wind and with the sun out it made for enjoyable resting/lunch break.

The trip down was uneventful, less my missing the old Si cut off by 20 yards. By the time we made it down, my legs were spent. We hiked the other have of Boulder Garden to the trailhead. It was very nice to sit on my car seat and put the bum-warmer on for the drive home. I had my gps in track-mode and have charted out our hike for future reference.

With the Sunday weather forecast set to be sunny again, I convinced my daughter and wife to hike with me I took them to Boulder Garden / Little Si. While I had just hiked this the day prior, I wanted my family to enjoy this special area and with them being new to day hiking this was the perfect venue. They both loved the Boulder Garden area and the hike up Little Si.

Happy Trails!!!

I was worried there would be ice on the trail, but there was none. The trail was in great shape, a little muddy in places, and the climb was invigorating. A clear day and beautiful views, although hundreds of people swarmed the summit the minute I got there. Solitude is hard to find, but at least the sun was out and the birds were singing.

What a Beautiful morning to take in the views of the Snoqualmie Valley. I arrived at the trailhead about 930 am and there was no one in the parking lot! Complete solitude all the way up to the top! There was a dusting of snow that never got any deeper athan inch till you get to the last scramble to the top where it goes from a inch to about 10 inches at the summit. no traction devices needed. take a extra pullover for the top it was really windy! overall a great hike. no slick spots and no ice. i used poles and they seem to be the best investment ive ever made! I passed a dozen people on my way down, and a few more getting ready to leave when i returned to my vehicle. BEWARE, I TOOK MY FIANCE' WITH ME AND HE STAYED IN THE CAR WHILE I HIKED AND SAID THERE WAS A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE THAT LOOKED TO BE CASING THE PARKING , TIL THEY SAW HIM IN THE CAR! JUST A HEADS UP . HAPPY TRAILS

I hiked in a group of 4 adults, starting from the trail head at 10.30 AM on Saturday, 01/08/2011. The forecast was 27 F maximum with 80% POP (Rain), and the previous weekend's trip report mentioned snow on the trail. However, the actual weather was hovering around 35 to 40 F, no rain whatsoever. It was cloudy/foggy all the way to the top (took 1 hour 10 minutes, with one 5 minute break). When we started, there were about 10-12 cars in the parking lot, and we met at least 3 groups exiting ... (presumably, they started their hikes at around 7 or 8 AM?).

The trail itself was pretty pleasant and not very spectacular. There's an incline for 1/3 of the way, then a flat stretch for the next 1/3 and the last 1/3 is a steepish scramble to the top. The summit was snowy/windy and cold, but the trail was okay. We were over-dressed (needed it for the summit), but we did see people hike with simple sneakers. I'd still get some reasonable hiking boots at least. Layer up for the cold - one layer of fleece with an outer soft shell should suffice, but if you hate the cold or take many breaks (i.e. not stay in constant movement), you'd want one more layer (say, down). The sun started breaking out and the clouds clearing up just as we reached the summit (about 11.40 AM).We were back down by 12.30 PM.

Most groups had a dog on a leash. It was a fun hike with great views from the top. Recommended.

Trail conditions were slick on the summit trail - especially once you begin the final ascent to the summit after hiking to the north end. However it was beautiful at the summit. There was also a tree down across the trail on a slick spot in the valley between Little Si and Mount Si - it was maybe a quarter mile past the bench dedicated to the guy who went missing on Everest (Doug Hansen i think the name on the bench was?).

Two very popular trails. Hundreds of feet have compacted the little dusting of snow which, along with thaw and freeze, have made very slippery conditions. Trax make hiking these two trails so much easier and safer, although we had to take them off for several dirt sections.

The Boulder Garden Loop branches off the Little Si trail. The east branch follows an abandoned road easily up to two junctions. The first junction is a spur that goes downhill. The second junction connects to old Mt. Si trail. After the high point the Loop trail descends steeply and slippery back down to the Little Si trail.

The ascent up Little Si is slippery and there is ice on the rocks at the summit. The trail is easy and clear except for one large annoying blowdown just where the climb begins. Lots of people and dogs on the trail today, and two babies in baby carriers.

The parking lot at the main trailhead was pretty much full at 1pm, but the adjacent lot (just across from the bridge) was mostly empty.

The trail was clear of snow and dry to the top, just one blowdown. The trail was well protected from the wind, which I barely noticed until reaching the top.

Encountered a dozen or so parties on the trail.

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/eric.jain/LittleSiDecember2010
Tracklog: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/60159263

Several inches of slowly melting snow cover the full length of the trail, making for slippery, slushy conditions. Recommend traction devices (yak trax or what have you) as folks without them were turning back by halfway.

So how often do we get clear days in the 60's and 70's, in November, in Seattle? Not very often, at least in my memory. I managed to carve out a few hours to go hiking today...couldn't miss this chance!

It was just the Wonder Pup and I today, and we only met a few dozen other folks, plus assorted dogs. There were cars in both lots, but neither was full.

The trail is great, with just a couple of muddy patches left over from the weekend rain.

Hope you all got a chance to enjoy this week. Undoubtedly my next trip report will involve copious amounts of Gore-tex... :-)

Wanted to hike Mt Si from the Little Si trailhead, but husband missed the turnoff. Continued on to the top of Little Si instead of turning back. Not much of a workout (less than 1 hr to the top), but it was a nice day. Could see some peaks, North Bend, etc. Some peaks had a scattering of snow on them.

Saw broken glass in the parking lot in 2 spots. Car thieves must have been out recently. That's sad.

It was a cloudy morning with threats of rain and some sun. The trail is in good shape with just a few spots of mud. The views at the top are great but a little cloudy today. On the way down we did the Boulder Garden Loop. It goes steeply up but is so worth the effort!The boulders covered in moss and ferns are beautiful! We will do this hike again!

My first time to do this hike---I had always wondered about it as I passed the trailhead on the way to Mount Si. Hot day in the low 80s. Headed up the trail about 11:00 am. Given how many cars were down below, I expected more people up on the summit, but when I arrived there were only eight. I found a side rock outcrop where I could be all by myself. The top and the view were similar to Rattlesnake Ledge, but with more room to spread out. As I headed back down the well-worn trail, I was excited to see an alligator lizard in the middle of the trail eating an insect of some kind. Good photo!

This hike is really enjoyable for folks worried about elevation -- nice balance of flat/steep sections. Warm day but largely shaded path.

A late start for me and the Hike-A-Thon, but better late than never (as is the case with this TR as well)! Hit the trail just after 5:00 p.m. Wednesday after work. Outside temp was 80° and humidity was HIGH. It got worse up in the boulder garden and while traveling along the east side of Little Si, but the climb up the spine was cooler and the summit had a nice breeze. I’d been out here just a couple months ago and there’s been a bit of work on the trail since then creating some drainage for problem areas and building new rock trail over a previous mud bath. There’s also a few more blowdowns than I’d seen two months ago and I was trying to think about what weather had transpired to bring them down but couldn’t recall. I made a split second decision at the second junction with the Boulder Garden Loop to take it, effectively adding 2 miles (the signage says 1.5, the map says 2.0) and 600′ to my trip. Hey, it’s all for a good cause, right? Near the top (of Little Si), there are a couple of places where the switchbacks have been cut repeatedly and this is causing serious erosion problems. In fact, I stood and watched as four college-aged kids jumped off the trail and ran down one of the cuts, blindly adding to the damage. I really wanted to say something but had a feeling it would fall on deaf ears, so I just plodded on my merry way up the mountain (okay, hill). I promised I would take pics of the erosion on the way back and post it here where maybe it might be of some use. Bottom line is, DON’T CUT THE SWITCHBACKS! They are there for a reason folks. Okay, rant over. Surprise of all surprises, I had the summit all to myself (whoda thunk?) as the evening light began to wane. A quick snack and a couple of pics and I was back on my merry way to reach the car (well) before dark.

When we left Bellevue above Lake Sammamish around 10:45 a.m., it was pretty foggy and we couldn't see Mt. Si or the nearby peaks at all. We trusted it would be clearer once we got there, and that proved to be true. There was a little white cloud about halfway up one side of Mt. Si, but Little Si was completely in the clear.

We got a parking space in the little annex parking area (the first one you come to after the red bridge) and walked the .1 mile or so to the main parking lot, which turned out to be full.

The hike itself was pleasant; at about the place where we were starting to get tired of the rocks and roots, we got the views at the top. We met a number of dogs, especially small ones, which seemed to be doing reasonably well on the hike (according to their owners' reports), although one was definitely looking for shade at the top and not finding it. We probably met several dozen people of all ages on this Friday hike with temperatures in the 70's. There was also a Mountains to Sound Greenway work party doing some restoration work about halfway up the trail.

I've checked the box that says wildflowers are blooming; these are mostly near the bottom, and may be escaped garden plants like sweet peas and buddleias, but attractive nonetheless.

The trail is groomed nicely and very few spots of mud. Because its so accessible, its a busy trail. Lots of families were hiking in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. This was a good hike to break in new hiking boots.

Make sure you get to the trailhead early to find a parking spot. Even on a Wednesday morning this nice 4.2 mile hike packs the parking lot. I got to the trailhead at 9am with only a few cars.

The first 0.5 of the hike is uphill. After that the next l.0 miles or so is flat or a little elevation gain. Once you past the "rock climbing" walls you get to the backside of Little Si. From this point the elevation increases as you step up many rocks and roots. There are a few switchback, but mostly just hiking up 'makeshift" steps.

Only one person on the top today at 10am. The wind was blowing but the sun was out. On my way back down I must have pasted 15 people. By the time I got back to the parking lot, the main lot was full.

This is a nice warm up hike if you are looking for a short two hour hike waiting on the snow to melt in the mountains.

-4.2 Miles
-1,250 Elevation gain
-Bring Water
-Look outs on top
-Dog friendly

At 10:00, the parking lot was only half full. My Rhodesian Ridgeback and I took off just as the rain was beginning to fall. Trail was in great shape, although predictably muddy. The rain let up just in time for us to enjoy a short lunch at the summit. Not much in the way of view...everything was rather socked in. But that's Northwest beautiful. Hit the rain halfway through our descent, and man, was it pouring. The trail turned into a stream, and the mossy rocks were as slick as mossy rocks should be. Probably the toughest part of the day was getting the hundred-pound dog into the bath!