Washington Trails
Association
Trails for everyone, forever
Washington Trails
AssociationTrails for everyone, forever
Just outside the park, Snoquera offers great hiking, biking and more. WTA is leading the way to an even brighter future for this special area | By Cassidy Giampetro
Turning off Highway 410, Mount Rainier slides in and out of sight as my car crawls up the wild Forest Service road. The mountain feels like my companion as I climb above the sprawling valleys beneath us. When I reach the trailhead, I seem above it all. I enjoy the quiet creaks of trees recovering from fire, a lively bed of lupine stretching farther than I can see and an energizing howl of wind.
Lupine and recovering burn area in Snoquera. Photo by Audray Reed.
I am at the tucked-away clearing at Corral Pass. From here, I can step onto trails to the east, west or north of me. I start my hike in search of the towering mountain again, knowing I’ll get another peek.
I’m near the northeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park, in a forested landscape along Highway 410 between Enumclaw and Chinook Pass. The trails in this area offer stunning views of Mount Rainier, gorgeous waterfalls and rich patches of huckleberries. It’s an important habitat for fish and wildlife, as well as an area with rich history and importance to Native people for food sources and cultural practice.
The area is known as Snoquera, and it’s only an hour’s drive from the Greater Puget Sound region, the largest metropolitan area in Washington state. It hosts a variety of outdoor activities for all experience levels, including camping, biking and horseback riding. Motorized and human-powered recreationists alike find space on Snoquera’s multi-use trails. When I approach trailheads, I can see trailers and bike racks keeping company with me, hinting at the diversity of use on these shared trails.
Adventure awaits at Noble Knob, a trail within Snoquera. Photo by ??
On another day, I stand at the Greenwater Lakes trailhead with other members from the Snoquera Trails Coalition, a passionate group that WTA is convening to help build a stronger future for recreation in this area. I pause to observe the parking lot, which is scattered with people excited to reach this trail’s dreamy namesake lakes. We stop to chat with a pair of friends gearing up for their first backpacking trip. Looking into theforest, we see a family with kids exiting the shadowed trail, encircled on all sides by the deep green of trees that characterize the immersive Snoquera backcountry.
Trails are the main recreation experience in the area, with more than 185 miles of designated Forest Service trails. Hikers can enjoy multiday backpacking trips, riverfront campgrounds, family-friendly fire lookouts or solitude with quiet views of Mount Rainier.
Snoquera Trails Coalition gather together on trail. Photo by ?
With trails accessible right off the main highway as well as down winding Forest Service roads, you can build an itinerary for any mood, whether you’re looking for a casual stroll through the forest or a heart-pumping adventure.
The city of Enumclaw — the gateway to Snoquera — welcomes your thirst and empty stomach to bookend a day of adventure, with a charming downtown, restaurants and breweries. And, even closer to Snoquera, the town of Greenwater is nestled in the trees. Its famous ice cream cones call to visitors.
I’ve been lucky to visit the area frequently as WTA and the Snoquera Trails Coalition continue our work on improving the area’s recreation system. With trails nestled throughout the surrounding wild lands, there is always more to explore, loop together and visit through the seasons. I’m excited to visit again in the coming year and to continue working with our partners toward a bright future for Snoquera.
While Snoquera offers many excellent outdoor experiences, trails across the system are being lost due to fires, landslides and a lack of trail and road maintenance. But with thoughtful planning, the area can effectively support both recreation and conservation priorities. Washington Trails Association is leading work to keep Snoquera trails on the map.
WTA is overseeing a multiyear effort to develop recommendations for access to well-built and maintained trails, including improvements to trails and roads that will reduce impacts on the land and create better visitor experiences.
WTA crews on trail at Noble Knob. Photo by WTA staff.
Last year, WTA brought together passionate volunteers and local experts to create the Snoquera Trails Coalition. Throughout 2025, the coalition researched trail use and conditions in the area and talked with people who recreate in Snoquera.
The community-informed recommendations developed through the Snoquera Trails Assessment will help the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and other land managers make efficient decisions about where and how to invest their limited capacity and resources.
Map by Lisa Holmes
Snoquera boasts trails that vary in length, challenge, type of habitat and more. Before putting these hikes on your weekend itinerary, be sure to check WTA trip reports or seek information on their conditions. Write a trip report when you return to help other hikers.
So many different areas and lanscapes to explore in Snoquera. Photo by Allison Rose.
If you need fueling up before your Snoquera jaunt, visit Charlie’s Cafe in Enumclaw for a classic diner experience — and then loop back into town late for some BBQ at Yella Beak Saloon, an local sports bar. Don’t forget an early dessert of huckleberry ice cream at Wapiti Outdoors in Greenwater, or pick up some coffee and beer at the Greenwater Collective.
Camping is an excellent way to enjoy the Snoquera area. Snoquera’s sprawling road network offers many dispersed camping opportunities. For developed camping, take a look at the Dalles, Ranger Creek or Silver Springs campgrounds, off Highway 410 along the White River.
