Rattlesnake Ledge

Summer is officially here, which means that this trail will be fairly busy most days. Two pieces of advice if you want to get the most out of this experience: A) go on a weekday and get there before 10am, and B) continue up the trail and hang out on the upper ledge (maybe 3/4 of a mile above the "actual" ledge)to enjoy better views and quieter surroundings. As you make your way down, be alert for trendy young Seattleites with poor trail etiquette. I had a near-collision with one who had stopped in the middle of the trail to send a text. Another nearly tripped over me because she was too busy looking disapprovingly at my footwear to pay attention to the trail. In spite of the many annoyances, this hike is always worth it. The views are amazing, and it's a great early-season conditioning hike. Some wildflowers were just starting to bloom along the exposed parts of the trail.