In Twin Peaks Part 14 on Showtime, the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department goes on a hike to Jack Rabbit’s Palace. The hiking scenes through the woods are a fascinating thing to dissect, mostly because they were all shot around the same spot in Olallie State Park outside of North Bend, Washington. For this Twin Peaks film location article, I explore the first three parts of the trail that the deputies’ hike prior to arriving at Jack Rabbit’s Palace.
WHERE IS THE TRAIL TO JACK RABBIT’S PALACE IN TWIN PEAKS LOCATED?
The scenes were shot along Weeks Falls Trail in Olallie State Park, located at 51350 S.E. Homestead Valley Road in North Bend, Washington. This park is a wonderland of Twin Peaks film locations but you’ll need an affordable Discover Pass in order to visit.
In the previous scene, the deputies arrive at the trail entrance to Jack Rabbit’s Palace, and disappear into the woods.
The map above shows there the trail entrance scene is located and where the first scene inside the woods was shot.
TRAIL TO JACK RABBIT’S PALACE PART 1: INTO THE WOODS
The first woods scene is located at 47° 26′ 9.342″ N 121° 39′ 9.78″ W. The easiest way to locate it is to look for the moss covered tree stump on the right side of the image above.
The deputies cross the frame and head into the woods. There is nothing back there but moss, brush and fallen trees.
I attempted to capture an image of me walking where the deputies walked. I think you get the idea.
The scene cuts to the trees above and slowly pans the canopy. I took some images of the tree canopy but I don’t believe I captured these exact trees (just means I need to go back). They should be in the same vicinity where the scene was shot.
PART 2 – UP FROM THE RIVER
The scene part of their hike is found at the following coordinates – 47° 26′ 8.682″ N 121° 39′ 9.702″ W. As you can see from the map, the location is pretty much adjacent to where the first scene was shot.
They are seen climbing up the side of a hill from the Snoqualmie River (aka “Wind River” from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me).
Deputy Andy is the last to climb up from the river.
This is a wide angle shot taken with my 11-16mm lens. Easiest way to spot this location now is the fallen tree on the right side of the screen.
More images of the tree canopy are shown before cutting to the final part in their hike to Jack Rabbit’s Palace.
PART 3 – THE ROAD TO JACK RABBIT’S PALACE
As the Twin Peaks deputies walk along the road, Bobby explains their surroundings.
BOBBY
This used to be the road, where we’re walking. My dad’s listening post station was right through there. Nothing left of it now. They took everything away.
The coordinates for this location are approximately 47° 26′ 10.332″ N 121° 39′ 11.208″ W. Look for the giant fallen root ball on the right side of the trail and the tree stump on the left.
The dialog continued.
ANDY
And what all did your father do up there, Bobby?
BOBBY
I don’t know. It was all top secret. Took me inside a couple of times when I was little, but all I remember is lots and lots of machines. He would take me here, though.
This part ends with Bobby finally seeing Jack Rabbit’s Palace as seen in this film location article.
LISTENING POST ALPHA
This is the view that the Sheriff’s Deputies saw as they walked toward Jack Rabbit’s Palace. If you continue down this path in this direction, you’ll end up in the parking lot.
In the episode, however, Bobby mentioned that Major Briggs’ listening post station was in this direction.
The listening post station was “Listening Post Alpha” as described in Mark Frost’s “The Secret History of Twin Peaks” (page 343).
I love the mention of the listening post in Part 14 as it’s a nice connection to Mark’s book and to Episode 2002 from Season 2.
When Major Briggs visits Special Agent Dale Cooper in Episode 2002, he delivers an important message (thanks to the encouragement from The Log Lady).
In the episode, Briggs explains part of his duties, “Well, I may reveal this much: among my many tasks is the maintenance of deep space monitors aimed at galaxies beyond our own. We routinely receive various communications, space garbage, to decode and examine.”
Then he shows Cooper the messages he received – “The Owls are not what they seem” and “Cooper, Cooper, Cooper.”
The same note reappears in Part 9 from Season 3. I share for no other reason than I thought it was cool when things are connected. Below is about 3m 30s video featuring these three parts from the trail to Jack Rabbit’s Palace. Hopefully you feel as relaxed as I did when I was there.
Special thank you again to Bookhouse Gal Jill Watson for being an excellent tour guide during our visit on September 16, 2019.
