MtnDog wanted to explore a route to Preacher Mountain via Rainy Lake. So we set out from the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trailhead, crossed the Gateway bridge, then immediately turned right on the unmarked trail. The path paralled the river on rock and sand for a short while, then started climbing up the hill. We had to rock-hop Rainy Creek, but that was easy.

The trail is reportedly unmaintained, and most of the evidence supported that. Yet someone had marked the trail with ribbon where blowdowns and slides have made it harder to follow. The only difficulty in following the trail to the lake is knowing to cross a small stream on your left about 500 feet below the lake. The obvious trail to the right is blocked by a stack of small branches, but they are easy to overlook. The trail continues steeply up and over a ridge, then drops sharply to Rainy Lake. You don’t see it until you are almost there.

We arrived at the lake to a welcoming committee of black flies (but no mosquitos). We got water at the lake outlet, then stepped across on a crude path. We left the crude trail and bushwhacked our way up the narrow ridgeline another 600 feet until we were hot, and tired of getting scratched up. Looking at the time, we decided to give up on Preacher Mountain and head back down. We got cliffed out on the descent, but learned that the crude trail had probably afforded a better approach. Back home, we discovered that we just needed to research it better before we got there. We had been off-route.

The trail to Rainy Lake has a few ups and downs and several very steep portions. Despite minor maintenance, there are still numerous branches that threaten to poke you in the eye. Do not expect to make good time on it. It took us 3:10 going up to the lake and 2:50 coming down. That’s how unpleasantly steep it is. There are more pleasant and scenic places to hike. But if you like solitude and are willing to pay the price, go for it.

If you desire solitude, adventure and beauty, this hike is for you!

A couple weeks ago, while examining Green Trails maps during the tedious ride on Road 56 to the Dingford Creek trailhead for a mountain bike ride, I noticed an abandoned trail up to Rainy Lake. I resolved to try to find and hike that trail.

I headed out Sunday morning after traversing Road 56. My Subaru seems to tolerate the potholes and washboards pretty well if I keep the speed down to 20 to 25 miles an hour and dart between the worst of the holes.

After parking in the Middle Fork parking lot with only three other cars and crossing the Gateway Bridge, I turned right. A sign on the far side of the bridge points left toward the main trail. Going right instead, I passed yellow Caution tape hanging down by the edge of the trail. Then a collection of downed trees partially blocked the trail. Turning back toward the bridge, the spires of Garfield Mountain loomed out of the mist.

After slipping through the downed trees, one passes through a section of beautiful forest. The river is singing over the rocks. The trail wends through moss bedraggled trees and under brush. Almost every surface is spread with green.
 
After the moss garden, the trail comes out of the forest to the river bank. At this point, one can make a sharp left, pass through a small pile of underbrush and follow the gravelly wash. Or one can travel 20 feet or so on the river bank to a break in the brush and follow the gravelly wash. The trails converge and travel perhaps a 1/4 mile to a rocky wall next to the river. Here, the trail goes left up the first of many steep root stair cases.

After another short distance, the trail forks shortly before Rainy Creek. One way to describe it is to say “Go straight.” Or, one can say, stay with the left fork. Then travel through a short gravel wash to the bank of the Creek. Hop the rocks to ford the creek and join up with the Rainy Lake trail traveling along the creek. If you travel right instead you will find two additional trails leading across Rainy Creek, one of which uses log bridges to get across the creek. Take your time in this area as it is very confusing.

To summarize, there are three trails across Rainy Creek. The two trails closest to the Middle Fork River converge again on the trail following the Middle Fork River which terminates at the Pratt River Trail. The trail to Rainy Lake is the trail farthest from the River. Use of the word far in this context may be misleading as all these options are very close to each other. Perhaps when the leaves on the vine maple and other underbrush in the area fall, these alternatives will be more visible. There are no signs.

After one wades across Rainy Creek, the trail to Rainy Lake initially hugs the creek. Then the trail climbs relentlessly. There are dozens of root staircases, several major rock scrambles, innumerable small stream crossings and continuous downed trees to climb over, under and around. There is one large section where pink tape leads around stacks of downed trees. This is a trail that has not heard of switchbacks. There are numerous areas where one slip could lead to falling hundreds of feet.

For the first few miles, the forest is very appealing second growth. Then all of a sudden the trees are much older. All the way, Rainy Creek is making a mad racket rushing over rocks and around downed trees. Nearby mountain peaks can be glimpsed between the trees. Mushrooms of every kind poke up everywhere.

Just when I was ready to give up, Rainy Lake glistened below. The trail drops abruptly to the rocky cirque. There is much to explore around this lovely lake. It is well worth the trip to see it. It is a good idea to leave early enough so that you have plenty of time to investigate.

Even though this trail is not maintained by the Forest Service, it is pretty easy to follow. Also, someone is keeping the brushy areas trimmed. Wish they would bring their chain saw with them to cut out some of the tree fall. It took me five hours to get up to the lake and three and a half hours to get back down. One of the best parts of this trail is that I did not see one other person the whole day!

Another tip: If you miss the first connection with the Rainy Lake Trail and continue with the trail following the Middle Fork, after passing some small caves in the cliff facing the river, you will notice some pink tape luring you to the left up a steep hillside. Some of the tape is labeled 5/18/08. This tape will lead you back to the Rainy Lake Trail. However, this route is a real bushwack. There are lots of sneaky holes in the forest floor trying to swallow your feet and scratchy branches to tangle up in. Don’t follow this route. The other way will save time, energy, ankles and knees.

Since there are no official signs on this hike, no official maintenance, lots of tree fall, regular flooding and lush undergrowth especially in the first section of the trail, conditions in this area change from month to month. What I experienced, may not be what the next traveler finds. However, Rainy Lake is lovely, lovely and the journey to get there is great fun! I highly recommend this adventure.