I met up with a friend for a hike in North Bend and since we had two vehicles we did a one way hike starting at the Mount Teneriffe trailhead and ending at the Little Si trailhead. Our route was: Mount Teneriffe trail to Roaring Creek to Mount Si Trail to Douglas Fir to the lower half of the Boulder Garden loop, then down to the Little Si parking lot.

Total mileage on my iPhone and my friend’s Garmin watch was more than shown on the DNR website map. We had 6.2/6.5 versus 4.2 adding together the segments on the map. Elevation gain was about 950, mostly in 2 sections (600ish from Teneriffe trailhead to Roaring Creek and 320 in the half mile segment on the Mt Si trail). Elevation loss was more since Little Si trailhead is lower.

All of the trails were in good condition, snow free, with no fallen trees or other obstacles. There were a few stream crossings on the Mt Teneriffe trail but all were rock hop-able (though a bit slippery so I was glad to have poles). Also the big bridge on the Roaring Creek trail was very slick.

Parking was available at both lots around 10:15am and the port a potties in the Teneriffe lot were open and stocked.

Aside from the Mt Si section which was busy as we expected, trail traffic was very minimal on the other trails. We only saw a few other parties and enjoyed lots of quiet. A beautiful day to be out in the forest and always fun to be able to do a one way hike.

Hiked to the Mt Si Loop via Mt Teneriffe and Roaring Creek trails.  There is no snow up to the Mt Si Haystack area.   There are some snow patches along Mt Teneriffe trail but no need of micro spikes at all.

By taking a loop trail, it is a little over 10 miles and very quiet.    

RWHG started off spring with a return to overcast skies and low hanging clouds today by hiking from Teneriffe Trailhead to a Rocky Outcropping we call Moss Vista.  4 cars were in the lot when we pulled at 9:00 AM.  The vault toilets are locked but the 2 porta potties onsite were open, clean and stocked with supplies.  It was 48 degrees with cloudy skies.  Our 7.5 mile out and back route followed Mt Teneriffe, Roaring Creek, Mt Si and Douglas Fir trails to the Boulder Garden Loop Trail. All the trails are saturated soil but well drained and evidence of recent tree blow downs being cleared. Thanks for keeping trails clear and accessible!   We took a side trail takes down to the Rocky Outcropping covered with thick moss.  Rock Climbing anchors are on the edge of the rock face.  I have only seen climbers here once a few years ago.  On a clear day you have great views of North Bend below and Mt Washington, Mt Rainier and Rattlesnake Ridge to the south.  Today clouds were so low there were no territorial views.  We stopped for a lunch / rest break and to celebrate a birthday. Wildflowers, especially Douglas violets, were in bloom on the entire route.  We also saw Indian Plum, Oregon Grape and Current blooming.  A hawk was soaring during our lunch break and we saw wrens, robins and juncos along the trail.  That was it for wildlife sightings. Trail traffic was super light today - we saw 6 other hikers in the time we were on the trails.  After we pulled out  at 1:20 only 3 cars remained at the trailhead.  Another fantastic day out in nature with friends.

Took a little loop hike to catch up with my friend on a stormy Saturday.

Pre hike notes
~ No Disco Pass station in the lot, but the Shell and the bike shop in NB sell them if you need one.
~ There are two accessible portapotties as well as the permanent privy at the TH.

Mount Teneriffe trail was in good shape, as was most of the Teneriffe Falls trail, though the last half mile past the turnoff for the connector is quite rocky and narrow with packed snow that was slippery for us in our trail runners. Poles would have been helpful here. I'd say microspikes are unneccessary.

Back on the new connector between the Teneriffe and Si systems, the trail is pretty snow free except for one section on the east end where about 1 to 2 inches of snow is still hanging around. This new trail looks great - nice and wide through open forest before reconnecting with the Mount Teneriffe trail.

The upper section of the Talus Loop trail is fine, snow free and creepy as ever; a necessary evil on this loop. There was a brief hailstorm as we crossed the titular talus field, but nothing too bad. The west end of the trail is clear and much less creepy than the other side of the talus field.

Snag Flats is holding a fair amount of snow still, but as always worth the ~0.2mile detour to visit.

Roaring Creek is also in good shape, very pretty, rolling trail. My favorite ravine is looking great, very lush and full of moss. The creeks are all crossable without getting feet wet.

Afterwards we hit up Hartwell Espresso (which was formerly Vintage Baristas, which was formerly Pioneer Coffee Co.) to do some more hike planning for the summer. The food was great and so was the coffee - a recommended snack stop after a hike in the area.

Photo 1 - At the falls
Photo 2 - Si/Teneriffe's newest bridge
Photo 3 - Some glasses we found on the Teneriffe Trail. Randy Jackson brand, looks like prescription? Let us know if you are missing them!
Photo 4 - These tall trees were a little freaky in the wind that kicked up in the last part of our hike but we made it okay.

I picked this hike primarily because I knew the trail head parking lot would be in full sun and I am so done with being cold!  Arriving at 9:30 I was indeed met by glorious warm sunshine and had my pick of all the parking spaces.  Porta-potties clean and stocked, bring your own sanitizer.

I fashioned a loop trying to stay on the sunny side of things.  Up the Mount Ten road-trail then across Roaring Creek to the Mount Si main line, up to Snag Flats then back down and around the Talus loop, then back across Roaring Creek etc etc.  Initially the trail was snow free, trail side snow showed up at the first junction up to the falls.  The first three bridges of the Mount Ten road-trail had snow and ice but the actual trail was clear all the way over to the Mount Si main line.  Snow showed up for real on the trail somewhere between the Doug Fir intersection and Snag Flats.  It was compacted but my momentum was so slow I had to put my spikes on to make the steeper grade/steps.  Snag Flats was gorgeous with full snow coverage.  Backtracking I wasn't sure what I would find on the Talus loop.  It's a rougher trail for sure so I kept my spikes on until I reached the rock overlook where the snow disappeared.  I stopped here for a snack enjoying the view and more wonderful warm sun.  Then without spikes I was fine traversing the on again off again snow patches of the descending loop.  The trail was still easy to follow, although I was startled by a couple of bigger snow/ice bombs.

I really like hiking this loop as there are lots of creeks to cross (easy+bridges) and waterfalls on the Teneriffe side of things.  Mileage was around 6 or so and elevation comes out about 1400 feet.  Very quiet trails today.  Three people on the Mount Si side and two couples on the Teneriffe, no one in the middle.