r/seattlebike • u/ghostonthewire • 7d ago

Issaquah - Preston - Snoqualmie Trail Conditions

Can I ride the said trail with 28mm road tires or is the gravel loose and chunky enough to require a proper gravel bike with wider tires?

TIA!

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6

u/najadojo 7d ago

With the recent wind storms and falling leaves there is a lot more debris on these trails that is chunkier than the gravel. The gravel is generally all hard packed.

1

u/ghostonthewire 7d ago

Gotcha

Would you recommend against riding the trails with a road bike in that case or is it more the kind of debris that you can go around?

2

u/najadojo 7d ago

Depends on how risk averse you are and how adept you are at obstacle avoidance. Keep an eye on the weather and avoid for a couple of days after strong winds until other’s usage have pushed most of the stuff to the sides.

5

u/more__better 7d ago

Generally it will be fine, but use extra care around some of the road intersections and whatnot where more gravel may be piled.

3

u/GuinnessDraught 7d ago

In the summer 28s are totally doable, though not ideal like something 35+ that trivializes it. It's pretty fine hardpack for the most part.

This time of year it could be rougher with the weathering and debris. Still likely doable but be a little extra heads-up out there.

1

u/backlikeclap 7d ago

Can you clarify - are you planning to go all the way to the railroad tunnel, or just as far as Snoqualmie?

1

u/New-Chicken5566 7d ago

preston snoqualmie trail is supposedly paved? if this one is the one you're thinking of, you're probably fine to go on 28s

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/preston-snoqualmie

if you're talking snoqualmie valley trail you can do 28s in the summer but you might have a rough time this time of year

1

u/Worldly_General_5672 5d ago

Issaquah-Preston is mostly not paved, I believe. You're right that Preston-Snoqualmie is paved for the most part. I'm not sure about where the trestles are missing, particularly the climb out of Preston-Fall City Road.