Challenge Sites

Download a print-friendly version of the Greenway Challenge sites here (7-page pdf file)

Wild Horse Wind Farm Renewable Energy Center 25901 Vantage Highway Ellensburg, WA 98926 509.964.7810 Photo courtesy of Puget Sound Energy	Ellensburg The Wild Horse Wind Farm provides approximately 230 megawatts (MW) of affordable, pollution-free electricity to the Northwest. That is equal to the annual energy requirements of over 55,000 homes. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or picture of your party in front of the Renewable Energy Center. How to Get There: Eastbound I-90 exit 106. Follow the exit around and across the overpass, straight through the 4-way stop. This road becomes University Way. Travel east on University Way through town. University Way becomes Vantage Highway after passing Dairy Queen and crossing the rise. Follow Vantage Highway for 16.5 miles. Wild Horse is on the left.
Thorp Mill 11640 N Thorp Hwy Thorp, WA 98946 (509) 964-9640	Thorp The historic Thorp Mill, a grist mill from the 1880s, anchors the eastern side of the Mountains to Sound Greenway in the small town of Thorp in Central Washington. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or picture of your party in front of the mill. How to Get There: I-90 exit 101. Turn north and go 3 miles to Thorp. The mill is at the far end of town.
Coal Mines Trail Trailheads in Roslyn or Cle Elum	Cle Elum/Roslyn Follow this spectacular abandoned mining trail passing several historic mining sites making its way from Cle Elum to Roslyn. The Coal Mines Trail is an easy six mile roundtrip walk with no elevation gain. Enjoy interpretive signs along the way telling the stories of the hard-working families that lived in this area and worked in the mines. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or picture of your party at either end of the trail (either Cle Elum or Roslyn) making sure to include the trailhead sign in the photo. How to Get There: I-90 exit 84 to Cle Elum. Go into town and turn left onto Stafford Street. Trailhead is at Second Street West and Stafford Street intersection.
Gold Creek Pond Just east of Snoqualmie Pass	Snoqualmie Pass This is a paved 1-mile loop trail with exceptional views of prominent peaks. This barrier-free interpretive trail loops around the pond along goose, osprey, and beaver habitat. Look for waterfowl, ospreys, geese, great blue heron, songbirds, bull trout, and kokanee. There are ample opportunities for wildlife viewing (especially in the evenings) and beautiful views of the Gold Creek Valley. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or photo of your party in front of the interpretive sign on the paved path around Gold Creek Pond. How to Get There: I-90 exit 54. Go north to the first right paralleling I-90. Drive east across the Gold Creek bridge and take the first left on a gravel road. Follow this about .5 mile and turn left into the parking and picnic area.
Snoqualmie Tunnel	The Snoqualmie Tunnel is a 2.3-mile abandoned railroad tunnel at Snoqualmie Pass. The tunnel now serves as part of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail in Iron Horse State Park. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or photo of your party in front of the tunnel entrance. How to Get There: I-90 exit 54. Turn south at the exit, then turn left at the stop sign and follow the signs leading to Iron Horse State Park / Snoqualmie Tunnel and Keechelus trailhead, then turn right before the Highway Maintenance area, then turn another right into the trailhead parking lot.
Denny Creek Slippery Slab	The payoff is big for this family-friendly, 2 1/2 miles round trip, hike with 500 feet elevation gain. The smooth rocks are well-worn by the cool running water and will delight all who reach it on a hot summer day. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or photo of your party in front of the granite slab water slides. How to Get There: I-90 Exit 47. Turn left at the stop sign, and cross to the north (left) side of the freeway. At the "T," stay right on Road No. 58, and pass Denny Creek Campground at about three miles. A short distance past the campground, turn left onto a .2-mile road (No. 5830).
Hall Creek Trestle on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail	North Bend The John Wayne Pioneer Trail in Iron Horse State Park boasts 5 train trestles within its first 6.4 miles, starting from the Rattlesnake Lake trailhead. The Hall Creek Trestle is restored and allows hikers and bikers uninterrupted passage to Snoqualmie Pass. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party in front of the Hall Creek Trestle. How to Get There: I-90 exit 32. Go south on Cedar Falls Road for 3.5 miles. Park in the Rattlesnake Lake parking lot. Proceed on the John Wayne Pioneer trail for 6.4 miles.
Cedar River Watershed Education Center 19901 Cedar Falls Road S.E. North Bend, WA 98045 (425) 831-6780	Listen to water drops play the drums and explore the interactive exhibits to learn about Seattle’s water supply. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party in front of the rain drums. How to Get There: I-90 exit 32. Go south on Cedar Falls Road for 3.5 miles. Go past Rattlesnake lake for ¾ of a mile. The Education Center is on the right.
Little Mt. Si Hike	This moderate 5-mile round trip hike offers beautiful scenery and vistas the whole family will enjoy. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party in front of the trailhead sign. How to Get There: I-90 exit 31. Head north on Bendigo Blvd., then east on North Bend Way. Turn left on Mt. Si Road for about a half mile to the Little Si trailhead.
Meadowbrook Farm 1711 Boalch Ave North Bend, WA 98045	Snoqualmie Meadowbrook Farm offers 460 acres of scenic and historic public open space on the Snoqualmie Valley floor, located within the cities of Snoqualmie and North Bend. Today, much of Meadowbrook Farm remains open meadow and wetland forest, as it has been for centuries. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party in front of the Meadowbrook Farm interpretive sign that is adjacent to the parking area and the paved trail that goes along the edge of that field. How to Get There: I-90 exit 31. Continue through North Bend on SR 202 toward Snoqualmie. Turn right on Boalch Ave. NW. The farm begins in ¼ mile on the left. At about ½ mile beyond the interpretive center building, park in the paved pull-out on the south side of Park St/Boalch Ave. between Snoqualmie's Centennial Fields and Mt. Si Golf Course.
Snoqualmie Railroad Depot 38625 SE King Street Snoqualmie, WA	The Snoqualmie Depot was constructed in 1890 by the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway. It was used by successor companies Seattle and International Railroad, Northern Pacific Railway, and the Burlington Northern Railroad. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party in front of the depot. How to Get There: I-90 exit 27. Left at the stop sign, pass under freeway. Proceed for approximately 3/4 of a mile. Left on Meadowbrook Way. Proceed for approximately 1/2 mile, crossing over the railroad tracks. Left on Railroad Avenue (SR 202). The Snoqualmie Depot is on the left at the intersection of King Street.
Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum 320 Bendigo Blvd South North Bend, WA 98045 425-888-3200	The Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum is the oldest operating Museum in King County. The Museum grew out of commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of Washington’s statehood in 1939. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party next to the interpretive sign outside the museum. How to Get There: I-90 exit 31. North on Bendigo Blvd for half a mile. Museum on the east side of the street.
Snoqualmie Falls	At the Falls, you will find a two-acre park, hiking trail, observation deck, gift shop, and the famous 270 foot waterfall. The park and free viewing area are open from dawn until dusk. Pets are NOT allowed. The distance between the free parking lot and the viewing platform is approximately 200 feet. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party from the viewing platform in front of the falls. How to Get There: . I-90 exit 25. Left at the bottom of the ramp onto Highway 18/SE SNOQUALMIE PKWY. (3.7 miles). Left onto RAILROAD AVE SE / WA-202. Continue to follow WA-202. (0.8 miles).
Snoqualmie Point Park	Perched above the Snoqualmie Valley floor, Snoqualmie Point looks out across the scenic valley to the Cascade Range, Mount Si and Mount Baker. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or photo of your party from the scenic view point pavilion. How to Get There: I-90 eastbound exit 27. Go south for .4 miles. The road dead ends in the parking lot for the park.
Gilman Town Hall Museum 165 S.E. Andrews Street Issaquah, Washington 98027 Phone: (425) 392-3500	Issaquah The Gilman Town Hall Museum is housed in the small building which served as the original Town Hall from early 1890's, when Issaquah was still called Gilman, until 1930. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party in front of Gilman Town Hall Museum. How to Get There: I-90 exit 17. South on Front Street. East on Andrews St. (Just after Sunset Way).
Issaquah Fish Hatchery 125 West Sunset Way Issaquah, WA 98027	The Issaquah Hatchery is located within the City of Issaquah on Issaquah Creek. The facility was a WPA Project during the Depression and has been in operation since 1936 Photo Instructions: Take a photo with the bronze salmon in front of the hatchery. How to Get There: I-90 exit 17. South onto Front Street. Follow for approximately 0.6 miles. West on West Sunset Way. The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is on your left-hand side.
Mercer Slough Nature Park 2380 Bellevue Way SE Bellevue, WA 98004	Bellevue Explore over 320 acres of wildlife habitat, agriculture, and freshwater wetland ecosystems on 7+ miles of trails including a unique canoe trail. The blueberry farm sells fresh seasonal produce. Photo Instructions: Park at the Blueberry Farm and take the trail located behind the barn. At the end of the gravel path turn left and follow the boardwalk a short distance to the slough bridge. Take a self portrait or a photo of your party on the bridge, or in front of the bridge from the dock nearby. How to Get There: From I-90, take Bellevue Way exit north. The Mercer Slough Blueberry Farm is on right along Bellevue Way just after the South Bellevue Park & Ride.
Meydenbauer Marina 2 99th Ave NE Bellevue, WA 98004	The history of Bellevue's Meydenbauer Marina dates back to the late 1800s when Ferry service was provided to and from Seattle. Years later it became the winter storage site for whaling ships with the American-Pacific Whaling Co. Future plans for this site include increased public and pedestrian access to Old Bellevue, and interpretation of the area’s rich history. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party in front of the old whaling building. How to Get There: I-90 exit Bellevue Way north. West on Main Street. Meydenbauer Marina is on the left just after the intersection with 100^th Ave.
Luther Burbank Park 2040 84th Avenue Southeast Mercer Island, WA 98040	Mercer Island Luther Burbank is a large park of 77 acres with three-quarters of a mile of Lake Washington waterfront. Much of the park has been left undeveloped to foster a variety of wildlife, including 135 species of birds, 50 species of waterfowl, raccoons, beaver, muskrats, tree frogs and rabbits Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party in front of a Luther Burbank Park sign. How to Get There: I-90 eastbound to exit 7A. Immediate left on 77th Ave. SE. Right onto N. Mercer Way. Left onto 81st Ave. SE. Right on SE 24th St. Drive to the end. Park entrance is on left. Or, take I-90 westbound exit 7. Right onto SE 26th St. Left onto 84th Ave. SE, straight into the park.
Alki Point Light House On the Alki Peninsula across Elliott Bay from downtown Seattle. (206) 217-6203	Seattle Alki Point marks the southern entrance to Seattle's Elliott Bay. The Alki Point Lighthouse is one of thirteen along the shores of Puget Sound. The lighthouse and tower is open on Saturday and Sunday from June to August from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Photo Instructions: Take a self-portrait or a photo of your party in front of the light house. If the light house is closed, take your photo in front of the sign near the road. How to Get There: From Highway 99 south of Seattle, take Spokane Street west across the two bridges. Turn right onto Harbor Avenue, which after a while will become Alki Avenue, and follow it around the edge of the bay to the lighthouse.