Originally Posted: November 2023
Updated: May 2025

Recommended Trail Hikes, Summit Scrambles, Ski Tours & Snowshoe Treks along Interstate-90: Issaquah to Cle Elum

For the benefit of the thousands of mountain recreation enthusiasts living in the Puget Sound metropolitan area—and in the numerous smaller communities to the east—I have compiled a long list of recommended destinations along the Interstate-90 corridor between Issaquah and Cle Elum. The purpose is to provide trip ideas and options that do not require a long drive; everything is located within 80 miles of downtown Seattle.

My lists are divided into three categories: (1) summertime trail hikes and summit scrambles; (2) wintertime cross-country and backcountry ski tours; and (3) wintertime snowshoe treks. I have focused on trips that are appropriate for people with at least an intermediate level of fitness and experience, but there also many easy trips that can be accomplished by novices. These lists constitute a work in progress, so check back periodically for new ideas.

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Hikes & Scrambles

Trail Hikes & Summit Scrambles along I-90
(under construction…coming soon)

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Ski Tours

Easy to Intermediate XC & BC Ski Tours along I-90

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Snowshoe Treks

Easy to Intermediate Snowshoe Treks along I-90

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Ski Touring across Chair Peak Lake below Melakwa Pass

Thorp Lake seen from Thorp Mtn Summit Trail

A snowshoer walks along a broad snow ridge toward Dungeon Peak — Snowshoeing along Dungeon Ridge toward Dungeon Peak

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Hikes + Scrambles + Ski Tours + Snowshoe Treks in the I-90 / Snoqualmie Pass Corridor

Recommended Trail Hikes, Summit Scrambles, Ski Tours & Snowshoe Treks along Interstate-90: Issaquah to Cle Elum

Hikes & Scrambles

Ski Tours

Snowshoe Treks

Chuckwalla–Pyrite Loop via Turnbuckle Trail—Chuckwalla Trail—Pyrite Trail + Pyrite Summit (White Tank Mountains, AZ)

Goat–Willow Loop via Goat Camp—Ford Canyon—Willow Canyon—Mesquite Canyon Trails (White Tank Mountains, AZ)

Marckworth Forest Bike Rides: Stickerbush Loop + Cherrybush Loop + Cedarbush Loop (Taylor-Tolt Mountains, WA)

Charleston Peak Summit Traverse: Mummy Pass to Griffith Junction (Spring Mountains, NV)

Griffith Peak via South Loop Trail—Echo Overlook—Griffith Junction (Spring Mountains, NV)

Raintree Trail Traverse: Deer Creek Road to Echo Road via Mummy Pass (Spring Mountains, NV)

McAlester Pass Wishbone: Dee Dee Lakes + McAlester Mtn Att + Rainbow Peak (North Stehekin Mountains, WA)

Mujib Canyon Exploration to High Waterfall (Dead Sea Basin, Jordan)

Burdah/Bardeh Mtn Natural Bridge Scramble via North Cleft (Wadi Rum, Jordan)

Petra Madhbah High Place Hiking Loop via Al Madras Trail—Wadi Farasah Trail (Sharah Mountains, Jordan)

Jordan Trail Traverse: Jhair to Petra via the Back Door (Sharah Mountains, Jordan)

Nason Ridge Trail Traverse: Round Mtn to Rainy Pass + Alpine LO + Rock Mtn (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Pyramid Creek Bike Loop + Pyramid Peak Lookout + Colquhoun Peak Lookout (Greenwater Mountains, WA)

Bath Lakes Traverse: Miners Pass to Sulphur Pass + Bannock Mtn (Ptarmigan Mountains, WA)

Olallie Knob + Hall Point + Easter Island + Songbird Peak + Greenway Mtn (Iron Horse Mountains, WA)

Painted Traverse: Red/Painted Mtn to Portal Peak + Black Mtn (East Sauk Mountains, WA)

Mt Constance: Outer Peak Att via Lake Constance—South Chute (Olympic Mountains, WA)

Spouse Wall Sport-Climb via Fusarium Route + Aspergillus Route (Miller-Foss Mountains, WA)

Sharkfin Tower Att via Boston Basin—Quien Sabe Glacier—Southwest Gully (Thunder Mountains, WA)

Eiger Trail Traverses: Alpiglen + Kleine Scheidegg + Eigergletscher (Bernese Alps, Switzerland)