Rattlesnake Mountain, East Peak — Friday, May. 26, 2006

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

On Saturday a friend and I had the pleasure of hiking the Rattlesnake Mountain Trail from Snoqualmie Point to Grand Prospect at the 3,100 foot level of Rattlesnake Mountain. Directions: Going eastbound on Interstate 90, take exit 27 to the right. Turn right off the exit and travel 0.2 miles to a gated logging road on the right. This is the trailhead, marked by a wooden sign entitled ""West Trailhead Rattlesnake Mountain Trail."" Park alongside the road. The Hike: Round the gate at the trailhead and follow the roadbed for about a quarter of a mile to the signed continuation of the trail to the right and the first hiker only gate you will encounter. The trail here is wide and smooth and not steep at all. You will be climbing in mostly second-growth forest (what I guessed it to be) periodically passing large tree stumps now serving as nursing logs. Soon a creek will become audible and before long you will arrive at an unmarked junction near the creek at 0.8 mile. The trail to the right drops down to the creek. Stay straight uphill. The path will then break out onto a recently clear-cut slope and wind its way up hill crossing numerous logging roads as it does so. At almost every road crossing there will be another hiker only gate to discourage other trail users (abusers). You will eventually cross underneath some high voltage power lines crackling with all the electricity flowing through them. At 2.4 miles the trail crosses an abandoned logging road and forks. A sign marks the continuation of the trail heading off straight ahead. A path to the left will lead approximately 100 yards to Stan's Overlook at an elevation of 2,100 feet where you will find a couple of benches and a picnic table. Evidentally there is quite a view from here but the day was foggy and overcast so we weren't able to see it. The Rattlesnake Mountain Trail then makes its way up another clear-cut hillside and reenters forest in the Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area. The path is easy to follow and contours along the mountainside, drops to cross a creek on a small bridge, and climbs to Grand Prospect at 4.9 miles with an elevation of 3,100 feet. Two benches and an interpretive sign putting names to the numerous viewable peaks are located here. From here, return the same way you came. Notes: There were three cars at the trailhead upon arrival and we passed four hikers and a dog while we were going up. On the return trip we spotted about three hikers resting at Stan's Overlook. Upon departure there was only one other car at the trailhead. The weather was overcast and foggy with occasional drizzle and light rain. I was able to complete the hike wearing gore-tex pants, a t-shirt and the occasional application of a sweatshirt and gore-text jacket. The trail conditions were good with a few blowdowns.