In the December 2011 edition of RV Life magazine is the article entitled “A Gem Under The Freeway” http://www.rvlife.com/Travel/a-gem-under-the-freeway.html The article outlines exploring Franklin Falls and the nearby waterslide on Denny Creek while camping at the Denny Creek Campground.
If you want to skip the campground with the associated fees, fellow campers, check in / out restrictions, etc. head “down the road” and make it a boondocking weekend on Tinkham Road.
In addition to providing an alternative base camp to explore the two water attractions mentioned above, Tinkham Road also serves as a great location for biking or hiking the John Wayne Trail (aka Iron Horse Trail) that runs along the mountain side above the road and your campsite. Best of all is that the 2.3 mile long Snoqualmie Tunnel has reopened to foot and bike traffic after being closed by the State of Washington due to safety concerns. Read about the reopening and the safety improvements at: http://washington.state-parks.co/snoqualmie-tunnel-reopens-on-john-wayne-trail/
A Bike Rider Finds a Geocache at the East Portal
To read a previous blog entry on the John Wayne Trail click on: http://www.rvlife.com/67-dave/1582-high-places-and-small-seats.html
The West Tunnel Portal
Exploring Franklin Falls, the Waterslides and the John Wayne Trail will take up the majority of a weekend just leaving you enough time to sit around the campfire for a few hours. If it is a long weekend or you are not prone to sitting around the fire you can always take a (7.5 mile round trip) “stroll” up to Lake Annette: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/annette-lake Access via the east end of Tinkham Road.
The best part of this adventure is that it is a inexpensive get-a-way for those that live in the Seattle area. It is less than 50 miles to your free campsite and the attractions are free too!
To reach Tinkham Road from Seattle, travel east on I-90 to exit 42. Turn right on Tinkham Road and head east selecting one of the many boondocking sites along the road.
Tinkham Road rejoins I-90 again at exit 47 giving you an “out” if you don’t find a campsite that meets your criteria.
Go early Friday to beat other weekend campers to the best spots or take lots of leveling blocks! http://www.rvlife.com/67-dave/1581-more-blocks-please.html
A fee free weekend of adventure, that’s my kind of adventure in RVing!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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