Taylor River - Otter Falls — Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

NICE FALL HIKE FOR DOGS & THEIR PEOPLE. On this spotless autumn day, Shepherd and I wanted to take Chandler, my newest seeing-eye puppy-in-training, out for his very first hike. We needed something not too strenuous, but still with some decent mileage, good watering holes, beautiful scenery, and no hunters. Shepherd found the perfect hike, "Big Creek Falls (Taylor River)," in the guide book "Best Hike With Dogs: Western Washington" but the directions to get there could've been clearer. We spent an hour driving all over the place trying to find the roads they referenced. Below are much better directions. The hike feels pancake flat, but in reality, gains about 700 ft over 5 miles. The path is straightforward, marching through dense old forests on a well-maintained trail (that was once an abandoned road project), with the sound of the river rushing beside you much of the way. When the river sounds fade, the crash of waterfalls is heard. The fall sunshine was brilliant as it backlit mossy trees and sparkled like diamonds off the dew clinging to perfectly spun spider webs. The path is wide enough for conversing humans and dogs to roam side-by-side for much of the way. Plenty of rivulets cross your path, along with several plunge pools at the bases of the falls, so no extra water needed, just a filter. It's shaded almost all the way. At 3 miles, you'll cross Marten Creek, a pretty little falls. In less than another 2 miles, you'll come to a pile of rocks on your left, helpfully marked "Cairns." Just above this, you'll see a sign that reads "Otter Falls." *This is a wonderful side-trip, not to be missed!* In fact, it was the highlight of our hike, as you scurry a few hundred yards up a modest hillside and climb up on the lip of a gorgeous little pond (Lipsy Lake) where Otter Falls comes tumbling and spraying down a sheer granite face. The leaves were on fire around the little lake, brilliantly dressed in red and orange and ochre. The dogs spent an enjoyable half hour paddling around the lake, retrieving sticks, and soaking up the sun, while Shepherd took 200+ photos of the leaves, the lake, the waterfall, the dogs, etc. A perfect lunch spot. If you go back down to the main trail and continue on to 5 miles, you'll come to Big Creek Bridge, our turn-around spot. It's a concrete bridge that looks commpletely out of place, "a remnant of the old road and a developer's dream." The falls slide over huge granite rock faces like a giant spillway. If you decide to continue on down the trail, you'll eventually hit Snoqaulmie and Dorothy Lakes. Although the trail is open to mountain-bikes and dogs, it is seldom-used. We passed only 6 other hikers and 3 trail maintenance crew, who've done a nice job getting blow-downs cut and out of the way. While we looked for them, We never did see any "springboard notches" in the tree stumps mentioned in the guide book. Now after reading all this, you may think this hike sounds boring. While it's no sweat-buster and there aren't any grand sweeping vistas, if you're looking for a nice stroll through autumn leaves on a little-used but well-maintained trail, safe from hunters and great for dogs, pleasant waterfalls and pools to play in, and beautiful fall foliage,this is the hike to take this week. DIRECTIONS TO SNOQUALMIE LAKE TRAILHEAD: I-90 East to exit 34 (469 Ave SE). Turn LEFT onto 469 Ave SE. *BTW: the world's best BBQ is at the 76 gas station on your right, at Rhoadie's Restaurant* Go approx. 0.3 miles on 469 Ave SE and turn RIGHT onto SE Middle Fork Rd. In a little bit, you'll come to a fork in the road. We followed the dismal directions in "Best Hikes With Dogs" and turned LEFT to stay on SE Middle Fork. (However, if you go straight, it's Lake Dorothy Rd., which meets up with SE Middle Fork again...see below) Drive about 2 miles in and you'll come to Valley Camp Ministries. Turn LEFT onto Lake Dorothy Rd. Drive 10 more miles, passing a road on your right to Dingford Creek Trail. *Warning: miles 2-8 are incredibly pot-holed, so don't be tempted to speed down this road* Another 0.5 miles brings you to the end of the road, at Snoqualmie Lake Trailhead. Parking available TIME IN: 1:45 TIME OUT: 1:45 ELEVATION: feels pancake flat but in reality, is about 700 ft DISTANCE: 10 miles PASSES: NW Forest Pass needed to park at the trailhead.