Snoqualmie Tunnel - 10 minute walk near Snoqualmie Pass

The Snoqualmie Tunnel on the Iron Horse Trail is located near Hyak off of I-90’s Snoqualmie Pass.  This is an incredibly easy and incredibly fun experience!  Although this is a quick and easy walk, the experience of walking into a pitch black tunnel is so unique this is a must-do experience!  Because it's only 5 minutes from the parking lot to the tunnel's entrance along a flat, gravel path, this adventure is easily accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.  Bicycles are allowed on this popular trail, so this could be a fun destination for adventures comfortable with off-road biking, too.

To start out, we headed west from the parking lot.  We passed a couple of informative signs on either side of the trail and used the bike path to bypass the small gate.

Here is an example of how flat the path is.  Because it was 80 degrees outside, we started out in bright, short-sleeve shirts and a glow-in-the-dark necklace because someone couldn't wait to get to the tunnel until he cracked it aglow.

As we approached the tunnel, we felt cold air slowly flow out of the tunnel.  Before entering, we put on coats.  We also got out our headlamps, flashlights, and Jake put on his vest with reflectors.  Because this tunnel is popular with bicyclists, it is important for hikers to wear bright clothing that cyclists can see easily.  It would be a great idea to hang a reflector or some kind of light on the back of backpacks or jackets, too.

After the obligatory photo, Jake bravely enters the unlit tunnel.

Jake liked checking out these nooks as we saw them in the tunnel.  I'm guessing that they were a sort of emergency shelter for anyone caught in the tunnel when a train came through.

As it darkened, our normally adventurous little guy walked closer and closer to me.  From this point on, he would not stand out of arm's reach.  I did have him wear an emergency whistle, though, just in case we got separated and all of our lights went out, although I was glad that we never needed it.

It got dark quickly!

We added the rest of the glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets and made sure that all flashlights and headlamps were on.

 He's thinking about whether he wants to go further.  I told him we can turn back at any time.  I knew ahead of time that we would not walk the entire length of the tunnel.  It's 2.2 miles long, and since we tend to hike about 2 miles per hour, that would mean 2 hours of walking out and back in the tunnel.  Instead, we planned to just go as far as he wanted.  Here, he decided to try going a little farther.

Although we did end up going father than this, we always kept the entrance within view.

 

The other end of the tunnel, about 2 miles away, is visible as a small dot of light near the upper right.  Jake pretended to have light sabre battles with his glow-stick and we both wished that I had thought to bring his light-up light sabres we picked up at Great Wolf Lodge a while ago.  I highly recommend bringing any light-up light sabres, wands, jewelry, etc.

After about 20 something minutes, Jake was ready to turn around.  In addition to being dark, it was surprisingly cold.  Although it was 80 degrees outside, both of our hands and fingers started becoming uncomfortably chilly.  It was great to see the sunshine again!  This tunnel was such an easy and fun experience I'm sure we will be back.  It remains open May 1st - October 31st every year.  It could be fun to get a group together in costumes and have a spooky Halloween tunnel walk sometime in October.

BEFORE YOU GO
1. Be aware that the tunnel is only open May 1 - October 31st every year. 
2. Plan to have a Discover Pass.  Either plan to purchase a day pass on site at the electric meter in the parking lot ($10 or $11) or else have a yellow annual pass on hand, which must be purchased ahead of time.  A list of vendors is available here: http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/31/About-the-Pass and includes any REI store.
3. Check out Washington Trails Association page with more info.  Scroll to the bottom of the page and look through trip reports for recent photos and weather conditions: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/iron-horse-tunnel
4. The inside of the tunnel gets chilly.  When we went, it was an 80 degree day.  Even though we brought light jackets, our fingers started becoming uncomfortably cold within 20 minutes.  Long sleeves, coats, and gloves are recommended even on a hot summer day.
5. It becomes pitch black in the 2 mile long tunnel, with only little pinpoints of light available at either end.  Bring a flashlight for everyone in the party. 
6. Sound travels far and the tunnel is narrow so it is unlikely that anyone would feel lost from a group.  A whistle for kids could be reassuring, although we never needed it.  My adventuresome 5 year-old never wanted to be father from me than about 4 inches.
7. Because it gets dark quickly, glow-in-the-dark sticks, light-up light sabers, light-up wands, light-up bouncy balls, etc. could be fun and help keep the mood party-like rather than scary.
8. The tunnel is popular with bicyclists, who can zip by quickly.  To help them see you, it is a great idea to have a blinking light, reflector, reflector vest, or even a white shirt tied to backpacks, or at least the backpack of the person who tends to be at the back of the party.
9. There are restrooms in the middle of the parking lot with running water. 
10.  Because this is right off of I-90, cell service can be available, although it is not guaranteed.  Download directions and a map to your phone before setting out, just in case.

 
GETTING THERE
The trailhead for the Iron Horse Tunnel is the same parking lot as the Hyak Sledding Hill in the winter.
Address: For GPS, try entering: 15 Keechelus Boat Launch Road, Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068. This may not be recognized by all GPS systems, but it may get you close.
Link to map: Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/h1com  & Bing Maps: http://binged.it/1xGDejC
Directions:
1. From Seattle/Duvall, take I-90 East and take Exit 54-Hyak.
2. At end of off-ramp, take a RIGHT.
3. In about 20 feet, take IMMEDIATE LEFT.  Look for brown "KEECHELUS TRAILHEAD" sign under a green "Dept. Of Transportation HYAK MAINT. DIV" sign.
4. In about .4 miles, turn RIGHT onto  Keechelus Boat Launch Road.  Look for the brown "IRON HORSE STATE PARK SNOQUALMIE TUNNEL" sign.
5. Take the first RIGHT into the IRON HORSE STATE PARK parking lot.
6. If you need to purchase a 1 Day Discover Pass, find the electronic meter near the restrooms in the middle of the parking lot.
7.  Along the east side of the parking lot, the Iron Horse Trail runs north-south.  Head to the west or north side of the trail, towards the stone & wooden sign and the gate visible in the distance.

With this map, follow the yellow line from Exit 54 to the parking lot.  Follow the orange path from the parking lot to the tunnel's entrance: