Circling for Parking Spots

New Bus Route to Rattlesnake Lake

It’s a hot summer day, and you are dying to get to the lake for some needed rest, relaxation, and relief from the heat. You get in the car and head towards Rattlesnake Lake. You leave the freeway, head up the hill, and find yourself in a long line of cars…

It’s a familiar scene. Many of our local trailheads are experiencing a boom in visitation, often exceeding parking lot capacity. The Greenway Trust and our coalition partners are working hard to find creative solutions to address this challenge.

At Rattlesnake Lake, our partners at Snoqualmie Valley Transportation (SVT) are piloting a new solution to the parking shortage: transit access to the lake. SVT just launched a restructured bus route – the Cedar Falls Loop – that travels from downtown North Bend to the scenic and recreational Rattlesnake Lake Trailhead, to be offered during the busy spring and summer recreation seasons.

Now residents and visitors alike can relax by Rattlesnake Lake, hike the Rattlesnake Ledges Trail, and visit the Cedar River Watershed Education Center without having to worry about parking.

The North Bend Cedar Falls Loop starts at the Mt. Si Senior Center and takes about twenty minutes to get to the trailhead. Fare is just $1 each way. Most buses will be equipped with bike racks, if you want to visit the John Wayne Pioneer Trail or bike back down the Snoqualmie Valley Trail after your lake visit. Currently the route runs Monday-Friday, but we’re advocating to expand service to the weekends as well

SVT is a local transit service which offers access throughout the Valley, from Duvall to North Bend and allows riders to visit many Snoqualmie Valley destinations, including three great farmers markets, parks, family entertainment, as well as destinations like Remilinger Farms, nearly any point on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, Snoqualmie Falls and, now through September, Rattlesnake Lake.

For more information, schedule and route maps visit SVT’s new website: SVTBus.org or call the SVT office at 425.888.7001