Middle Fork Snoqualmie River downstream

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.