This Washington Mountain Town Offers Prime Hiking, Thundering Waterfall & Cherry Pie Worth Driving Hours For

North Bend, Washington

North Bend is this cool little town tucked in the Cascade foothills, just 30 miles east of Seattle. About 7,500 people call it home, and they live in the shadow of Mount Si, which dominates the skyline.

Back in 1909, it started as a logging and farming town, but now it’s mostly a place where people live while working in Seattle or Bellevue, with tourism becoming a bigger part of the local economy. It’s got that perfect mix of small-town feel with amazing outdoor stuff to do, plus some serious TV history that brings in folks from all over.

The Town Named After a River Bend

The Snoqualmie Tribe lived here for thousands of years before settlers showed up. After the government passed the Homestead Act in 1862, a guy named Matts Peterson claimed the land in 1865. Later, Will Taylor mapped out the town in 1889 and called it ‘Snoqualmie Prairie.’

That got mixed up with nearby ‘Snoqualmie Falls,’ so they tried calling it ‘Mountain View.’ But another Washington town already had that name, so they finally landed on ‘North Bend’ because of how the Snoqualmie River curves around the area.

The town made money from logging and farming for a long time, but these days, it’s more about visitors coming to hike, bike, and check out filming locations.

Where Twin Peaks Was Actually Filmed

North Bend got super famous in 1990 when David Lynch and Mark Frost picked it as the setting for ‘Twin Peaks.’ The show became a massive cult hit and changed TV forever.

After being off the air for 25 years, the show came back in 2017, and they filmed in North Bend again, using lots of the same spots.

You can visit Twede’s Cafe, which was the Double R Diner in the show, and order the same cherry pie and coffee that Agent Cooper loved.

The town even hosts a ‘Real Twin Peaks’ event every February with tours and talks about the show.

Mount Si Stands 4,167 Feet Tall

Mount Si (pronounced ‘sigh’) is the massive mountain that towers over North Bend at 4,167 feet tall. It’s named after a local settler, Josiah ‘Uncle Si’ Merritt, and became nationally known when Twin Peaks featured it.

The Mount Si Trail is supposedly the most popular hiking trail in all of Washington. It’s an 8-mile round trip that climbs 3,700 feet and gives you views all the way to Puget Sound when you reach the top.

As you climb those 4,000 feet, you’ll pass through several different types of forests and environments. If you’re really adventurous, you can scramble up the rocky ‘Haystack’ at the very top.

Snoqualmie Falls Drops 268 Feet

Just five minutes from downtown is Snoqualmie Falls, one of the most visited natural spots in Washington. The falls drop 268 feet, and beyond being gorgeous, they’ve got a cool history with early hydroelectric power development.

You can see them from the main viewing area, or take a short 1.4-mile hike down to the lower level where a boardwalk puts you closer to the powerful cascade.

It won’t cost you anything to visit, and spring is when the falls are at their most impressive as snowmelt increases the flow.

Rattlesnake Lake Has No Actual Snakes

For something more relaxed, head to Rattlesnake Lake. It’s just 10 minutes from town, completely free, and you don’t have to hike anywhere to enjoy it.

There’s a nice trail around the lake and a visitor center that tells you about the plants and animals that live there. Bring a picnic, go for a swim, or paddle around in the strikingly blue-green water.

A 31 Mile Trail On Old Train Tracks

This trail used to be a railroad but now stretches 31.5 miles from Duvall through Carnation, Fall City, Snoqualmie, and North Bend, ending at Rattlesnake Lake. It connects to the Palouse to Cascades Trail (which goes all the way across Washington to Idaho) and links up with Snoqualmie’s local trails.

You can walk, bike, or ride horses on it, and since it follows an old railway, the grade is never too steep. There are several places in North Bend where you can hop on the trail without committing to the whole thing.

Keep an eye out for old railroad trestles and other historical leftovers. The trail is great any time, but summer and early fall usually have the best weather.

Eat Cherry Pie at the Real Double R Diner

Right downtown at the corner of Bendigo and North Bend Way sits Twede’s Cafe, better known to Twin Peaks fans as the Double R Diner. This is where Agent Cooper would order cherry pie and what he called a ‘damn fine cup of coffee.’

When they brought Twin Peaks back in 2017, they painted the cafe baby blue again to match how it looked in the original show. Inside, you’ll find Twin Peaks memorabilia on the walls. Even if you’ve never seen the show, it’s a classic small-town diner with huge portions and that genuine retro vibe.

The show also made the cafe’s cherry pie famous, and yes, you can still order it today.

Day Trips Within 30 Minutes of Town

The area around North Bend has tons more to check out. In Snoqualmie, there’s the Northwest Railway Museum where you can learn about train history and even ride on vintage trains. The Snoqualmie Casino has gambling, restaurants, and live shows. If you like shopping, hit the North Bend Premium Outlets.

For something totally different, there’s a medieval village/restaurant about 14 miles away where they pretend it’s always the year 1376.

Twin Peaks fans also like to see the Centennial Log at Railroad Community Park in Snoqualmie, which was in the show’s opening credits and makes for a good photo op. With Seattle just 30 miles away, you can easily mix some city time into your trip.

Visiting North Bend

North Bend is 30 miles east of Seattle on Interstate 90, so it’s an easy drive. If you don’t have a car, you can take King County Metro Route 208, which connects to the Issaquah Transit Center where you can catch buses to other places.

Some outdoor spots require a Washington State Discover Pass ($10 for a day or $30 for the year).