Mount Si

Mountain in North Bend, Washington, United States

About

What It Is

Mount Si is a state-owned mountain on the western edge of the Cascade Range, east of Seattle, Washington, rising above the town of North Bend ^[1]. The land carries a Natural Resources Conservation Area designation and draws between 80,000 and 100,000 hikers each year ^[1]. The mountain holds cultural significance for the Snoqualmie people, who regard it as the fallen body of Moon, their paramount deity, and its rocks near the summit are said to bear Moon's face ^[1]. It gained broader national recognition in the early 1990s through its appearance in the opening credits of the television series Twin Peaks ^[1].

Activities & Experiences

Hiking is the primary activity, with two trail options leading to the summit ridge ^[1]. The main Mount Si Trail covers four miles and gains 3,500 feet of elevation, while the Old Mount Si Trail is 0.6 miles shorter but 270 feet steeper and tends to be less crowded ^[1]. The summit block, called the Haystack, requires a class 3 scramble on exposed terrain along its north side ^[1]. In unusually favorable conditions, skiing from the summit is possible, though the mountain typically holds little snow in winter due to its relatively low elevation ^[1].

Practical Access

Mount Si is approximately a 45-minute drive from Seattle, making it accessible for day trips from the metropolitan area ^[1]. The main Mount Si Trail is reached from the Mount Si parking lot, while the Old Mount Si Trail begins at the Little Si parking lot, which also connects to the Boulder Garden Loop ^[1]. No hours, fees, or reservation details are stated in the sources.

Restrictions

No specific restrictions noted in the sources.

What Makes It Distinctive

Mount Si combines a substantial elevation gain of 3,500 feet within a four-mile trail, offering a genuinely demanding workout within easy reach of a major metropolitan area ^[1]. Its dual-trail system gives hikers a choice between a busier main route and a quieter, steeper alternative ^[1]. The mountain carries layered significance: it is a site of Snoqualmie cosmological tradition, a geologically unusual remnant of an oceanic plate volcano with Jurassic-Cretaceous metamorphic rocks, and a recognizable cultural landmark from American television ^[1].

Sources

1. Mount Si

• Typical duration: 8h

Access & fees

• not stated in sources

Things to do

• hiking — main trail (distance: 4 mi one-way · elevation gain: 3,500 ft)
• hiking — old mount si trail (distance: 3.4 mi one-way · elevation gain: 3,770 ft approx) — less crowded
• summit scrambling (difficulty: Class 3)

Features

• haystack summit block (class: Class 3 scramble · aspect: north side)
• natural resources conservation area (designation: Washington State NRCA)
• oceanic plate volcano remnant (age: Jurassic–Cretaceous · rock type: metagabbro mélange)

Nearby

• little si (relationship: neighboring mountain)
• north bend, wa (relationship: town below peak)
• seattle, wa (drive time: ~45 minutes)

Good to know

• 80,000–100,000 annual visitors
• drones are strictly prohibited
• mountaineering training — Often used by climbers getting ready for a Mt Rainier summit come here with weighted packs

Catalog identifier: AVIA-9VNF-YMA9P