Location: Iron Horse State Park & Olallie State Park || Duwamish, sdukʷalbixʷ (Snoqualmie), and Puget Sound Salish land
Date: December 3rd, 2019
Activity: Winter Hike
We were originally going to do the Palouse to Cascades tunnel trail, but it’s not actually marked on any of the maps we saw at the various kiosks (there are quite a few trailheads in this area), and we didn’t have cell service, so we decided to try out the Iron Horse State Park trail. When I initially set the goal to visit as many of the Washington State Parks with the kids as possible, I had intended on leaving this state park towards the end. I assumed that with such a wide trail (and bikes…Leeloo HATES bikes), it couldn’t possibly offer a good hike. I am happy to have been proven wrong! It also gave us a chance to work on some desensitization concerning the bikes.
And here’s Banana again! She’s down to 18.2 pounds from her adoption weight of 24 pounds!
Sometimes this is how Leeloo rides.
And sometimes like this.
She had a lot of fun stomping through the dry grass at the side of the trail.
We saw a smaller service-looking trail off to the left at one point, and hiked up a small hill to check out the view of the other side. Cool view, but it looks like it wasn’t actually an official trail, so I feel badly about using it. We try to only stick to official trails as part of Leave No Trace, and for preventing erosion.
While we were up on the hill, I snapped this sweet selfie with Sieh. For some reason he really reminds me of Baby Yoda!
Even Sieh decided that he wanted to get out and hike a bit! Also, what is with this sultry look??
There were so many interesting things to see (and climb on) along the way
After a couple of miles we came upon the connection with Olallie State Park’s trail.
This trail is WONDERFUL. It’s a gentle grade with switchbacks that you almost don’t notice, and the scenery is GORGEOUS. I kept exclaiming how beautiful it was the whole way. We really are so lucky to live in such a beautiful state, and especially on the west side of the mountains where it’s so GREEN. Phew! That was a lot of capslock!
Look at this ridiculous animal.
Sieh wanted to get his walk on for a bit. Check out his saunter!
What is this pose??
So majestic~
He’s so ridiculously cute.
How is he so pure?
So many beautiful sights~
Here comes Banana again! She’s such a great little hiker!
And then back to the Iron Horse trail!
We finished our adventure by letting Sieh have a wander in the park near the parking lot. He ate some grass, and had a potty in the moss.
Then he sat in the back of Majel with me for some downtime before heading out.
Leeloo was ready to go home, so after gazing out the window for a bit she put herself in Sieh’s Sleepypod.
All tuckered out after adventuring~
Extra Photos:
Funny little owl~
I am exactly this charming in real life.
Thanks for following along with our adventure!
Camp Like Noodle 