Palouse to Cascades Trail — Homestead Valley to Mine Creek Trestle

This section of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail follows the old Milwaukee Road grade east from the Homestead Valley trailhead toward the Mine Creek Trestle. The surface is wide, even, and nearly flat, climbing just 350 feet over 2.75 miles, which makes it well suited to families, trail runners, and gravel bikes.

The draw is the trestles. Change Creek, Hall Creek, and Mine Creek each cut deep slots below the grade, and the bridges carry hikers across at canopy height with open views down the creeks and out across I-90 to Mailbox Peak. Old-growth cedar and moss frame much of the corridor; short gaps in the canopy reveal the surrounding summits.

Parking is at a large gravel lot with a vault toilet, gated from 6:30 a.m. to dusk in summer and 8 a.m. to dusk in winter. The access road is potholed. Storm damage has closed adjoining sections of the corridor: the segment between Olallie Trail and Homestead Valley and the stretch from Carter Creek to the west side of the Snoqualmie Tunnel both remain shut until further notice. Hikers can still reach Mine Creek Trestle from Homestead Valley.