Newspaper  article  by Everett Herald columnist, Sharon Wootton. Includes background information on Iron Horse State Park over Snoqualmie Pass. Article first appeared in Everett Herald, August 2, 2008. Article: Shuttle bus simplifies Cascade bike rides


Washington Trails Association web article by Andrew Engelson has commentary about the new Shuttle service on Snoqualmie Pass with forum discussion.

Washington Trails Association’s Andrew Engleson continues with a first-hand account in his blog about using the trails without needing a car. He includes some information about getting to North Bend using METRO Bus route 554 to Issaquah and METRO Route  209 to North Bend (note: doesn’t run on Sundays). 

METRO/KING COUNTY Regional Bus Trip Planner

One way to get to North Bend without a car is to take Metro bus. Plug in your origin and destination and the trip planner does the rest. Metro buses have bike racks that can carry a limitied number of bikes in the front of the bus. Bikes Metro Bus info.

Metro Route 209 is the closest bus to Iron Horse State Park. Here is a link to a schedule for the route, between Issaquah Park & Ride and North Bend.

Metro 209 Weekday schedule

Metro 209 Saturday

Metro 209 Route Map
 

Jennifer’s List of Bike Trails includes a forum about the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and Iron Horse State Park. The trail not only goes over Snoqualmie Pass, but actually extends from Cedar Falls, west of the Cascades, all the way to the Idaho State line at Tekoa, (South of Spokane). Lots of good information and trip reports.
Trails Forum:John Wayne Trail
 

Mackie Images  website has a photo series from a a bicycle trip on Iron Horse Stater Park. Professional images, including an interesting perspective from inside the long Snoqualmie Tunnel. The photos are sharp and can give you a good idea about what the trail surface is life for bicycles. 
Photo essay: Mackie Snoqualmie bicycle Trip 

Washington State Parks website has the official information on the Iron Horse State Park and the John Wayne Trail.

Washington State Parks website has PDF printable  and downloadable maps for sections of the trail.

               Iron Horse Park, Trail segment Maps

Map:    Snoqualmie Pass to Easton

Map:    Easton to Thorpe (via South Cle Elum)

Map:    Thorpe to Kittitas (via Ellensburg ) 
 
Map:    Kittitas to Columbia River (via Boylston Hill). 
 

An article by Mike McQuaid as a special to the Seattle Times. The article is old and outdated in parts .The photo links may not appear, but the it does include a good route description.  Article: Shooting the "Duke": John Wayne Pioneer Trail is summer's perfect pedal 

  McQuaid's Seattle Times article Includes a PDF map of the route between Cedar Falls and Hyak. This is a pretty good map to print and have with you if are making the trip.

Map :   Cedar Falls to Hyak

Here's a blog of a bicycle trip with photos on the Iron Horse State Park/John Wayne Trail North Bend to Ellensburg. There is a seperate link to 61 photos of the trip from North Bend all the way to Ellensburg. Link to photos.

The Mountaineers website has information about the shuttle. 
 
There is an article in Wikipedia on the Snoqualmie Tunnel, with links to internet resources.

The Milwaukee Road was formally known as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul & Pacific Railroad. The route ran over Snoqualmie Pass between 1909 and 1980. There are a number of information resources about the railroad predecessor of Iron Horse State Park. 

Milwaukee Road Historical Association (MRHA) is a historical interest group devoted to the Milwaukee Road and its affiliates. MRHA produced a colorful quarterly historical magazine, The Milwaukee Roader and hosts an annual convention. MRHA Website.

At South Cle Elum, east of Hyak and Lake Easton on the trail, there is a museum and historic site featuring the historic Milwaukee Road. The site includes a beautifully restored 1909-vintage depot, an impressive brick substation (from the railroad's electrified days), an interpretive trail through the rail yard and a authentic caboose. The Cascade Rail Foundation (CRF), is a volunteer organization, parterning with State Parks' to preserve Milwaukee Road history.  Cascade Rail Foundation website.

Milwaukee Road trainman John Crosby worked in the 1970's and took his camera along on a number of his train trips. He has a number of photos and stories of his railroad experiences on Snoqualmie Pass on his website. 

Ever wonder why the trail is called the John Wayne Trail ?  Well, credit for creating the trail goes to a horse group known as the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons & Riders. They have an annual ride in May and June that goes from Easton to Tekoa, Washington. The cross state ride is a great way to explore the trail and the route across Washington State. JWPW&R website.