New Year’s Day on the Gem State Loop: A Quiet Start to 2026

There’s no better way to start a new year than with dirt under your boots and the steady rhythm of a trail easing you into January. While most people were still sleeping off celebrations, I headed east toward Exit 27 for my first hike of the year—a quiet wander up the Gem State Loop.

The morning hit that sweet spot of winter gray—soft light, cool air, and just enough stillness to remind you the calendar has turned. It wasn’t a dramatic hike or a summit push; it was something better: a reset.

A Mountain Bike Trail on Foot

Calling Gem State Loop a “trail” feels slightly generous in places. It’s primarily a mountain bike route, which becomes obvious the moment the path narrows to the width of—maybe—a hiking boot. And sometimes less. One misstep and you’re half-sliding toward a stump or a patch of sword ferns waiting to soften your ego.

But this is part of the charm. The singletrack sections twist and wind with the kind of playful flow bikers love, and on foot it becomes a careful dance—placing each step with intention, feeling the lines of the terrain rather than barreling through it.

Much of the loop unfolds along a forest road, wide and easy, giving your feet a break from the tightrope walking. The contrast—narrow, then wide open—keeps the hike interesting, like flipping between chapters in a book with two different narrators.

Forest Quiet and Birdsong

What surprised me most was the quiet. Even by winter-hike standards, the forest around Exit 27 felt insulated, almost padded by the trees and damp air. The stillness was broken only by the birds, who seemed to be ringing in the new year in their own way.

• Black-capped Chickadees flitted through the understory, buzzing out their familiar chicka-dee-dee-dee.

• A Pacific Wren spilled its quick, explosive song from the brush.

• Song Sparrows chimed in with sharp notes and rustling from the brambles.

• Overhead, Golden-crowned Kinglets whispered their thin, high-pitched calls as they hunted for insects.

For a winter trail, it felt unexpectedly alive.

Peek-a-Boo Moments with Echo Lake

One of the highlights of the loop is the scattered peek-a-boo views of Echo Lake. Never a dramatic overlook—just shy glimpses between the trees: a shimmer of still water, a soft curve of shoreline, a muted winter palette.

In summer these windows vanish behind dense foliage, but in winter the forest opens just enough to let you steal glances at the lake below.

A Brief History of the Exit 27 Trails

The network of trails near Exit 27 sits within land historically used by the Snoqualmie Tribe, whose ancestral territory stretches across the entire Snoqualmie Valley and surrounding foothills. Long before forest roads or highways, these ridges and drainages served as travel routes, hunting grounds, and seasonal harvesting sites.

Modern recreational use didn’t take root until the late 20th century. The area—largely managed forest land—became popular with mountain bikers seeking flowy singletrack close to Seattle. Volunteers and local riding groups helped carve out trails like the Gem State Loop, repurposing old logging roads and adding narrow technical sections for added challenge.

Hikers have adopted the loop more recently, drawn by its quiet woods, gentle grades, and proximity to North Bend, though it still holds the unmistakable personality of a mountain bike system: narrow tread, banked turns, and playful contours that keep the legs honest.

If You Go: Gem State Loop (Exit 27, I-90)

• Location: Off I-90 at Exit 27, east of North BendDistance: ~4–5 miles depending on variations

• Elevation Gain: ~700–900 ft

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

• Trail Type: Combination of singletrack mountain bike trail and forest road

What to Expect

• Narrow tread: Several stretches are barely the width of a hiking boot—watch your footing.

• Quiet forest: Much less trafficked than nearby Rattlesnake Ledge or Mount Si.

• Peek-a-boo views of Echo Lake, especially in fall and winter.

• Mixed-use: Primarily a mountain bike system, so keep an ear out for riders on busier days.

Best Season

• Winter through spring offers the quietest experience and the best lake views.

• Summer foliage significantly limits visibility but provides deep shade.

Parking

• Parking available just off the freeway; no pass typically required.

• Arrive early if mixing with mountain bikers or trail runners.

Good for

• First hike of the year

• Training miles without heavy crowds

• Birding in winter (wrens, chickadees, sparrows, kinglets)