Hiking the Oxbow Loop on the Snoqualmie River, Washington

Looking for beautiful view hikes near North Bend and beyond?
Check out Cedar Butte in the Issaquah Alps or Lake Easton on the east side of Snoqualmie Pass.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Bring your Discover Pass. The Oxbow Loop trailhead is on DNR land and a pass is required to park here. Passes are not available on site, so purchase one online ahead of time.
• The Oxbow Loop Trail has two small parking areas. I recommend driving past the first one to the main parking area next to the vault toilets. An easily visible sign identifies it as the “Oxbow Loop Trailhead”. A short spur trail leads from here to the loop trail, where you’ll find the other parking area. The spur trail is beautiful and includes a great viewpoint, so I recommend including it regardless of where you park.
• Vault toilets are available at the main parking area. Garbage bins are located inside the stalls.
• Bring water. There is no potable water at the trailhead.
• Bring bug spray. In summer, there will be mosquitos. Bug spray is a must if you plan to spend time by the Snoqualmie River.
• Pets on leash are allowed.
• The Snoqualmie River is a fun place to play on a hot day. Bring water shoes or sandals, as the shore is very rocky, and stay safe. River currents can be unexpectedly swift.
• The Oxbow Loop Trail is open year-round. Check conditions ahead of time in the winter, but this trail is often snow-free when higher elevation trails are blanketed in white.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Oxbow Loop Trail is perfect for when you want an easy, short hike near Seattle that delivers real mountain views. It may not be as impressive as the more strenuous hikes nearby, such as Mailbox Peak, but that doesn’t deter from its beauty. Simply walking through the moss-draped forest is a joy. Plus, this hike is doable for a wide range of abilities and often crowd-free.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The Oxbow Loop Trail is fun and easy, two things that often appeal to young hikers. Be on the lookout for wooden benches carved into logs alongside the trail; they’re great for a photo op or snack stop. The Snoqualmie River is a magical spot, with a rocky beach to explore. The water level is typically low in summer, but as always, take care around rushing rivers.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

The Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley is chock full of trails. Looking for something strenuous? Try Mailbox Peak or Granite Lakes. Want something short and sweet where you can spend most of your time on the river? Head to Camp Brown or Champion Beach. It’s a lovely place to linger, with shady forest paths, mountain views, and, of course, the Snoqualmie River.

If you’er hungry after all this hiking, Hammer Lane BBQ is just down the road near the I-90 freeway entrance. We haven’t tried it yet, but it’s on the list for next time.

Sometimes you need a little escape to the mountains, even if you don’t have the time to go very far. And after dealing with with exceptionally bad traffic through Seattle, we needed it more than ever. Even before we reached the Oxbow Loop trailhead, the drive through the sun-dappled forest along Middle Fork Road put my mind at ease.

Our friends were already at the trailhead when we arrived, having taken a better route that bypassed the worst traffic. After a quick pit stop and sunscreen application, we were on our way down the gravel trail.

Built in 2019, the Oxbow Loop Trail is fairly new. Perhaps this is one reason why it sees comparatively little foot traffic considering how close it is to Seattle. Or perhaps most hikers are interested in the more challenging hikes in this area, like the infamous Mailbox Peak Trail with its 4000 feet of elevation gain. In contrast, the Oxbow Loop Trail is modest, with a mere 60 feet of elevation gain. A speedy hiker could finish the hike in half an hour. But why hurry? Especially when there are views like these to enjoy:

After a short hike from the parking lot, we came to the junction with the loop trail. Turning right, we followed the path in a counterclockwise direction. One trip report I read on the WTA website indicated this direction provides the best views. As the trail wound through the moss-drenched forest, we caught glimpses of Oxbow Lake in the valley below. There is no easy way to access this small lake from the trail, but it provides a beautiful backdrop to this section of the hike.

Another fun discovery was the multitude of wooden benches along the trail, all carved from local logs. They’re perfect for a quick break, and encouraged us to slow our pace.

Further along, a bridge crosses the outlet of Oxbow Lake, where we encountered the only stairs on the entire hike. This is also sign that you’re near the river trail. Not far past the bridge, a sign pointed toward the river. From here, it’s only a few minute’s walk to the banks of the Snoqualmie, and well worth the short detour.

We ambled down to the river, where we slathered on bug spray before pulling out our snacks. Yes, there were mosquitos aplenty. Fortunately, the bug spray was effective, enabling us to enjoy our time by the water without feeling that we were under attack.

With the sun low in the sky, the riverbank was shady and cool. As usual, 6-year-old T couldn’t resist the chance to get his feet wet, while the reset of us stayed on shore and enjoyed the stunning mountain view.

Leaving the river behind, we rejoined the loop trail, continuing through graceful stands of alder and maple. The Oxbow Loop Trail is well maintained and easy to follow, but the forest surrounding it is very much alive and growing. In a few places, this growth encroaches onto the trail, as leafy green shoots and stems stretch toward the sun. A little overgrowth is unavoidable in the summer season, and fortunately it never completely blocked the trail. Ultimately, I was highly impressed by how clean and clear the trail was.

A gentle uphill section of the trail took us to the end of the loop, where we turned to head back to the main parking lot. A few final glorious views greeted us along the way.

Too soon, we were back at the parking lot. Wonderful as it was to be out, I couldn’t help wishing our trip was a little longer. But for a quick afternoon escape from the city, the Oxbow Loop Trail is hard to beat. Leave after lunch, be home before dinner, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the trail.