Middle Fork Out-and-Back

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Features River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

The Middle Fork Out-and-Back is an enjoyable hike that tours along the beautiful Middle Fork Snoqualmie River before turning around near the Dutch Miller Gap / Dingford Creek Trail.

This trail gets a grand start in the form of a cable-hung bridge that crosses the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River at the confluence of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Taylor Rivers. After crossing the bridge, proceed left at the intersection and head upstream to enjoy hiking between the river and a set of overhanging cliffs that ornament the trail.

You can follow the Middle Fork Trail #1003 for miles on a mix of singletrack and abandoned 1930s-era railroad beds. Along the trail, enjoy traveling through mature second-growth forests peppered with occasional remnants of old-growth and intermittent views of Garfield Mountain and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River.

At 0.75 miles, the trail turns away from the river and passes beneath a prominent knob known by locals as Stegosaurus Butte. Further along, the trail follows an old railroad grade later used by the North Bend Timber Company. Around the three-mile mark, the trail descends back to the riverbank. Continue along the trail as it pleasantly follows the contours of the river until you reach the access bridge at milepost 5.8 that connects to the Dutch Miller Gap / Dingford Creek Trail.

Although the trail continues for several miles, this is a popular spot for day-hikers to turn around and head back to the parking area.

Old-and-second-growth forests command the canopy in this area, while ferns, and plenty of moss, occupy the understory.