Snoqualmie Mountain
Jun 28, 2009
by
Janice Van Cleve
—
last modified
Dec 20, 2011 03:28 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Snoqualmie Mountain (6278')
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District
- Avg Rating: 5.00
- Be Aware Of
- Overgrown
- Water on trail
The unmarked trailhead.
Parts of the trail up Snoqualmie Mountain are reasonably graded and in relatively decent condition. Unfortunately these parts are few. Most of this trail is steep and rocky and overgrown in the lower sections. From the Alpental parking lot it gains 3100 feet in basically two miles. Yet on this warm, clear Sunday the trail attracted quite a few hikers.
The unmarked path starts about 50 feet south of the popular Snow Lake trail. It courses through a wide swath of brush before ascending steeply up through the trees to the waterfall. This stretch is very rocky with almost no soil to cushion the tread. The waterfall is beautiful, offers great views, and is easily crossed. Then the trail leaps up even more steeply to the brow of a hill overlooking a snow filled basin. From this point the trees are more sparse as the path climbs the ridge with a slightly more reasonable grade and even some brief switchbacks. For the final push the mountain presents winter's last lingering banks of slushy snow before the scramble to the summit.
Snoqualmie Mountain has three summits. Most folks stop at the first one they achieve. A few feet to the north is the highest point with the marker. The east summit is inaccessible because of a spectacular rock formation between and hte others. The views are wonderful. All of the Middle Fork and Snow Lake are visible and beyond to Red, Thompson, Box, Kendal, and even Stuart peaks. Granite, Rainier, Guye, and Silver peaks are clear as well. This trip is a challenge but also gives rewards a plenty.
The unmarked path starts about 50 feet south of the popular Snow Lake trail. It courses through a wide swath of brush before ascending steeply up through the trees to the waterfall. This stretch is very rocky with almost no soil to cushion the tread. The waterfall is beautiful, offers great views, and is easily crossed. Then the trail leaps up even more steeply to the brow of a hill overlooking a snow filled basin. From this point the trees are more sparse as the path climbs the ridge with a slightly more reasonable grade and even some brief switchbacks. For the final push the mountain presents winter's last lingering banks of slushy snow before the scramble to the summit.
Snoqualmie Mountain has three summits. Most folks stop at the first one they achieve. A few feet to the north is the highest point with the marker. The east summit is inaccessible because of a spectacular rock formation between and hte others. The views are wonderful. All of the Middle Fork and Snow Lake are visible and beyond to Red, Thompson, Box, Kendal, and even Stuart peaks. Granite, Rainier, Guye, and Silver peaks are clear as well. This trip is a challenge but also gives rewards a plenty.
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The rocky lower trail to the waterfall.
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Approach to the summit.
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Spectacular rock formation at the top.
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