John Wayne Pioneer Trail (Iron Horse State Park)

You can hike, bike or horse ride, but it seems that biking is the most popular thing that is being done on this trail. The trail goes from North Bend, WA to the Columbia River. It will soon stretch all the way to either Coeur d'Alene or Tekoa, ID. It allows you to start any where you have a curiosity for. You can go through rainy passes, dark forests, a military test area of extreme desert or swamps. The trail is hard gravel and nearly level, so it is suitable for even novice riders. Mountain bikes do better than road bikes though.

There are NO FEES associated with the tail, but to cross the Yakima Firing Range you need to sign in at a kiosk on each end. Most trail heads have restrooms and water available; Hyak (at the Snoqualmie Summit) even has showers.

Going through the tunnel at Snoqualmie is very thrilling, as THERE IS NO INTERIOR LIGHTING (bring a light if you plan on entering the tunnel). At 2.3 miles, it is the longest tunnel open to non-motorized travel in the US. When you first enter the tunnel, your light will be pitiful, so you must have faith that your bike will not hit a rock or a wall.

DIRECTIONS:

Take I-90 past Ellensburg to Thorp. Leave I-90 at exit 101 and turn North on Thorp Highway. Travel 1/2 mile and turn left onto Thorp Depot Road. Travel 1/4 mile to the parking area.