Six weeks ago, my wife and I hiked up the new Olallie Bike trail to the second view point, which is where the snow started. I did a write up on that hike. With the snow receding up the mountain, we planned a loop using the Iron Horse (John Wayne Pioneer Trail), the new Olallie Trail and the Mt Washington trail. We did not hike up to the top of Mt Washington, but we did hike down the first 2.8 miles of the trail.

We parked at the Homestead parking lot (Mt Washington trail head) and hiked 3 ¼ miles down the John Wayne Pioneer Trail to the start of the Olallie Trail. The John Wayne is easy to walk and has several interesting points of interest, like bridges to cross, water falls, and, of course, the old train support stop of Ragnar.

The map at the beginning of the Olallie trail (see attached photo) states it is 9.2 miles to Change mountain, that is, the end of the new trail. We hiked the first 6 miles of the new trail to the Washington Trail junction, which is at the pond and 2.8 miles from the car (see photo). There are 6 main view points along the new route, most of which have benches to sit and take in the view. (See attached picture for viewpoint #4, with the middle fork, Mailbox, Bessemer). We hit snow when we got to the 5^th viewpoint, which was at the top of a set of 14 switchbacks and at an elevation of 3200 feet. From this view point to the Washington Trail junction we walked on the snow most of the way and sometimes post-holed into it.

The view points gave us views from Rattlesnake ledge all the way around to the middle fork of the Snoqualmie River and Mailbox Peak. This new trail is really nice, as the climb is not difficult nor very rocky, but, of course, you must be aware of the mountain bikers.

When reaching the Mt Washington Trail, we made the left turn and headed down the trail. (From this junction the Olallie trail continues along the Mt Washington trail for another 100 yards and then takes a left, going around Change Mountain and meeting the Great Wall trail.) As we walked down the Mt Washington trail, the snow pretty much stopped after a few hundred yards.

Total hike was 12.4 miles with 3320 feet altitude gain.

We heard the new Olallie Trail opened last fall; hence, we decided to hike part of it today. Since the trail had bikers in mind, we figured it would not be too steep for us hikers. Looking at trail maps by GAIA, we decided to hike to the second viewpoint if the snow did not get too bad.

We parked at the Cedar Butte Trail-head, by Rattlesnake lake, and hike 1.9 miles up the John Wayne Trail (Iron Horse) to the trail-head for Olallie Trail. The trail heads to Change Mountain and a junction with Mt Washington trail, and has several view points marked on the map at the trail head (see picture).

The trail is in great shape and is bound to have a lot of bikers.  We encountered 4 bikers and 1 runner. The bikers turned around at the first view point.

The first viewpoint was 4.6 miles from our car (2.7 miles up the trail from the John Wayne). A mile (5.75 miles from car) beyond the first view point we reached a saddle at 2800 foot elevation. The trail began to drop a couple hundred feet as it switched from the south to the north side of the mountain, and hence we were now in some snow. We walked on hard snow and foot prints for the last 1/2 mile to view point 2, which was 6.25 miles from our car (4.35 miles on the trail). The post holes were 4 to 8 inches deep, so they were not bad. We did see some snow shoe tracks as well as boot tracks.

There were a couple small trees across the trail near viewpoint 2.

We're not usually mountain bikers, but avalanche danger kept us low. I took my 10 year old son for a ride up the new Olallie Trail. It starts about 2.5 miles from the western terminus of the John Wayne Trail near Rattlesnake Lake.

The trail is billed as a multi-use trail including hiking, but we saw predominantly bikers. I don't know that I'd want to be hiking up the trail with the prospect of bikers coming down fast. (The trail is pretty mellow, but at least one rider we saw was truly flying.)

Best save this for a day when there's either snow from the John Wayne Trail to discourage the non-hikers or when you're on a bike yourself.

This was a FIVE TRAIL LOOP around CEDAR BUTTE. Our group of senior hikers in their '60's, '70's and '80's began our hike from the Cedar Falls Trailhead in the Iron Horse State Park on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. We hiked up the JWPT on the former Milwaukee Road railroad grade for 2 miles to the start of the new Olallie Trail. This new trail was opened on July 29th this past summer and goes up the west ridge of Mt. Washington to Change Creek for 9.2 miles. The trail was built over two years by State Parks at a cost of $1.16 million along with help from the Evergreen Mtn. Bike Alliance and Mountains-to-Sound Greenway. We hiked up a few switchbacks on the lower section of the trail. Part way up we had a view through the trees out to Little Si. When we got up to the West Ridge of Mt. WA. we arrived at the unsigned/unmarked junction with the old West Ridge Trail. This was the way up Mt. WA. prior to the trail off I-90 at Exit 38. At the junction we headed down hill on the WRT, crossed an old logging railroad grade from the days when the North Bend Lumber Co. logged this area from 1905 to 1923. Their sawmill was down at present day Rattlesnake Lake. When we got to a flat section the WRT meets the Southside Trail (it is on the south side of Cedar Butte) we took this trail as it makes its way along some small ponds. Past the ponds the trail makes a sharp left turn and goes up a steep hill for about 50 yards, then continues going up and down on its way to Saddle Jct. and the Cedar Butte Trail.

When we got to Saddle Jct. it was about lunch time so we used some of the fallen trees for benches while eating. After lunch we headed up the Cedar Butte trail to the summit at 1,860' where we had some nice views up the Middle Fork Snoq. River Valley on this sunny day. Mailbox Peak is just north of I-90. We took some photos then headed back to Saddle Jct. From the junction our group took the Boxley Blowout Loop Trail on the way back down the Cedar Butte Trail to the JWPT and a one mile hike to the parking lot.

The West Ridge and Southside Trails are not for the casual hiker, as some people could get lost. Route finding skills are good for these trails. There were a few trees down over these trails and the lower portion of the Boxley Blowout Loop needs to be brushed out. We only saw two other hikers all day, at Saddle Jct., so no crowds on our hike. This loop hike, plus going to the summit of the butte is 6.5 miles with about 1,000' gain. Note that the old West Ridge and Southside Trails are not shown on hiking maps or in guide books. Hikers could use the new Olallie Trail to get up Mt. WA. but it is 16 miles round trip. This trail is open to hikers, mtn.. bikers and horse riders. Our group had a nice time hiking some new/old trails, as only two of us had done this loop hike in the past. At the trailhead kiosk check out the history information on the Milwaukee Road Railroad, the silk trains and the Boxley Blowout.

Reached the Mt Washington trailhead off exit 38 just after 11am.  Close to 30 cars in the parking lot, but there was still plenty of space.

Headed up the Mt Washington Trail. Snow started above about 3,000 ft, but the trail was packed down all the way to the summit. Stream crossings were all easy to hop across. Encountered 20 or so parties, most near the top, and some overly aggressive gray jays.

Followed the new Olallie Trail on the way down. Had to break trail for a mile, but fortunately the snow was smooth and less than knee deep. Clear below 3,000 ft. One small blowdown. Encountered 4 bikers.

Completed the loop via the John Wayne Trail.