Day Hike - Snoqualmie Tunnel

Meet at 10 AM at the Annette Lake trailhead, reached by taking Exit 47 from I-90, turning right at the end of the exit ramp, left at the T junction and continuing to the end of the road, where the Annette Lake trailhead parking lot is on your right.    

We will leave half our cars at the Annette Lake trailhead parking lot and drive in the other cars to the Hyak parking lot at the east end of the tunnel.  Then we will hike through the tunnel and have lunch at a picnic table at the west end of the tunnel.  After lunch we will hike west on the John Wayne trail to the Annette Lake trail, where we hike down to the trailhead.  Then we get into the cars parked there to drive back to the Hyak parking lot, where everyone gets into the car they arrived in.  Each car parked at the Annette Lake trailhead will need to display the Northwest Forest Pass or the equivalent.  Each car parked at the Hyak parking lot will need to display the Discover Pass.  To be on the safe side, drivers should bring both passes if they have them.  There are restrooms at the Annette Lake trailhead parking lot, the Hyak parking lot and the lunch spot.  Bathroom breaks can be taken during the hike down the Annette Lake trail, which will be almost entirely through a forest.

There are no lights in the tunnel and it is always cold inside, no matter what the outside air temperature is, so a strong light is needed,  reflective gear must be worn so that bicyclists can see you and warm clothes are always needed, which would include a warm shirt or sweater, stocking hat and warm gloves.   Reflective gear could be reflective tape on your clothes or a reflective vest, like construction workers wear.

After the hike we will have an optional refreshment stop at historic Twede's Restaurant in North Bend.

Two unusual aspects of this hike are  1.  There is elevation loss and no gain.  2.  We will hike under the Pacific Crest Trail and never see it during the hike.