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Trip Report

Palouse to Cascades Trail - Homestead Valley to Mine Creek Trestle — Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
Mine Creek trestle. Photo by Lea F.

I arrived at the trailhead at 9:45am and there were only two cars in the lot. Both left by the time I was ready to hit the trail at 10am. The outhouse is currently closed for repairs, but there is a porta-potty that is in great condition right next to it. There are also two more along the trail itself near popular climbing areas and picnic tables.

The trail is in great condition. The first 0.1 mile of uphill is a bit overgrown, but then you're on the road. I had initially thought of bringing my bike for this (it was my first time on this trail) but I'm very glad I didn't. I would have missed so many special things, including: 1 small brown frog in the middle of the road, lots of banana slugs, the changing diversity of the flora along the sides of the road and the forests and cliffs above them, a VERY TINY MOUSE that I ooched off the road with a small stick (very gently) so it wouldn't get hit by bikers (I saw a one couple ride by, but they were the only folks I saw today on the trail), and one silk worm hanging from an above tree pretending to be a stick in midair. 

Once I got to the second trestle (Hull Creek), I pondered if it was worth going all the way to the third (Mine Creek) since things started feeling boring. I pressed on and was rewarded for it. The Mine Creek trestle is the largest of the three and far below by the creek I noticed the remnants of what might've been an old trailer or camper. I don't know how it got there because there is no obvious road and no trails down, but it's directly below the trestle and I could see what looked like a ladder to the "roof." I would love to know more about the history. This would be an awesome trail for info placards.

I got back to my car around 1pm. The mileage and elevation match what WTA has on the website for this hike. The fall colors in the vine maples were stunning!

Tiny mouse!!! Photo by Lea F.
Brown Frog. Photo by Lea F.
Remnants of an old camper? Mine equipment? Under Mine Creek trestle. Photo by Lea F.
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