Trip Reports

Well this one proved a little too hidden for us. We made it close, but not quite far enough.

The washout on the Middle Fork is repaired and nearly all the potholes up to that point are filled. Beyond the washout there are some humungus holes to dodge though.

We parked at the Middle Fork trailhead and started down river towards Rainy Creek. A quick climb and we were walking over the log crossing and on our way into the woods. The trail was easy to follow for the next few miles, paralleling Rainy Creek. There were a few blowdowns and downed branches to negotiate.

Further up the trail leaves Rainy Creek and heads upslope. Around here we started to encounter snow. Fortunatley there were also a few helpful flags to follow. Another half mile and we encountered the unmarked creek. We knew we had to cross it sooner or later, but were unable to find any flags to guide us. So we crossed low and headed towards Rainy Creek hoping to follow it up to the lake.

The snow got the better of us and we settled for the ridge near the lake. Route finding on this one is very difficult with the snow. Most likely we crossed the creek too low. We'll be back once the snow is gone to try again.

Sunday, We decided to end our hiking vacation by completing the Rainy lake trail. We had scouted it out several years ago but were unable to finish it due to losing the tread. What a difference a few years makes! The trail now has tread visible all the way. No flagging-Yeah. The traill to the creek crossing and across it is very evident. It still is a boot beaten path full of roots and very steep in places. Rainy Lake is beautiful, lots of solitude but interesting enough a brass plaque exists on a rock on the west side of the lake in memory of a high lake fisherman. The trail is longer than stated in ""Hidden HIkes"" I figure somewhere around 7-8 miles round trip-roughly and very steep, making for sore muscles. I can now add this trip to the completed list and well worth it but not for the inexperienced.

Sadie was ready. She had read up on this hike, but it sounded a bit dicey trying to find the lake. So, she picked up Bernadette and then, in North Bend, Julie and Zoe (her 4-legged friend). Off we went to the Ken's Truck Stop exit and north past the gas stations to the Middle Fork Road. Sadie was a little nervous that we might be heading up to Mailbox Peak - although a favorite hike, there isn't any water But, no, we passed that trailhead and about another 11 miles down the road, we arrived at the designated trailhead. Once across the river on the Gateway Bridge (nice bridge) you take a right turn, rather than the standard left turn up the CCC trail. From there, you go West about 1/2 mile until you get to what looks like a dry creek bed (and when you see the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River) and head South and you will see the trail turn to the left (East) take it - the trail actually is pretty obvious - but the description Karen (Sykes) gives in her ""Hidden Hikes"" book is a little confusing. The trail doesn't stay very ""obvious"" as you go towards the creek crossing, but follow your feet and stick with what looks like a trail and a log crossing - it really looks fairly obvious. Once you cross the log, go left and you will find the trail. Unfortunately, however, the rest of the route to Rainy Lake isn't so clear. We tried to follow Karen's directions, but we never did find the creek crossing she mentions (not Rainy Creek) - we kept going a couple of miles, before we decided we weren't going to get there from here! So, we over-shot the route to Rainy Lake by a good 2 miles - but it was a lovely hike none-the-less. I have no idea where we were going, but we went! We finally turned around, came back the same way we had gone and wound back up at the Snoqualmie River for a nice dip/swim. Sadie was happy. There was plenty of water and access to the creek, so dogs should be fine on this route. We will go back another time and see if we can find that elusive creek crossing - I'm sure we just blew it - but it sure isn't obvious!!! In all, about a 10-11 mile hike through beautiful forests. Never a bad day on the trail. Weather was perfect. As with other trips this year - bugs are hungry. Be prepared. We ran into a hornets' nest and B and Sadie got stung - but we avoided a potentially worse run-in!

We stumbled on this trail last year, but only made it half way to the lake (not knowing there was a lake but suspecting). We came back on the almost longest day of the year to bag it on our usual Wednesday night hike. We crossed the gateway bridge at 5:00pm and were engaged in a world of drizzle, mud, rocks, blowdowns and fog until Midnight.

We were going to turn around at 8:00 but we went past that and at 8:15 there was only 300' of altitude left. Well, that last 300' included an extra 200' to the top of the bowl the lake is buried in. We made it to the lake at 9:00. Very pretty, but foggy so we didn't see much of the surroundings. We went down by flashlight made it out safe but exhausted. Several blowdowns on the trail. One had been cut most of the way through. Ran out of gas??

The Rainy Creek Trail is a little known route in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie valley. The lower portion of the trail traverses a hidden valley featuring a lush second growth forest and a lovely cascading creek. The trail then steepens into a rough scramble route, eventually reaching Rainy Lake.

To get there, park at the main Middle Fork Trailhead. Cross the foot bridge over the river, then turn right (west) at the far bank onto a rough path. This trail is actually a surviving remnant of the old Middle Fork trail that once went all the way to North Bend. Some spots are still in good shape and even feature old cedar planking, sad remnants of the trail's former glory.

The sporadically maintained trail travels west along the river bank through thick forest, then drops down onto a large gravel bar, a fine destination in itself on a sunny day. The tread resumes at the far end of the gravel bar. Shortly beyond the bar, a waterside cliff forces the trail to make a brief scramble up the hillside. Then the trail again descends a bit before reaching Rainy Creek.

Just beyond the creek, the trail turns sharply and heads up the valley. Despite the lack of official maintainance, the route is in fair shape and easy to follow, with only a few fallen logs and steep sections. In spots there are peekaboo views up to the cliffs of Stegasaurus Butte. The valley is a cool, peaceful place to linger.

After about a mile, the trail reaches the end of the valley and becomes much steeper and rougher. I had to turn back at this point due to lack of time.

The fisherman's trail to Rainy Lake starts as soon as you cross the bridge from the Middle Fork trailhead first turn right as soon as you leave the bridge and continue downstream toward Rainy Creek. Once you hit the sandbar the trail starts to climb and traverse towards the creek, cross the creek and start climbing. The trail for the most part is easy to follow and the first half is fairly easy grade. At approx. 3200ft cross the creek resume climbing. Here the pitch steepens and is much more sustained. The trail crosses the 3900 ft mark before descending to the lake. There is some snow ringing the lake, but is ice free. The bugs weren't too bad, all and all a great day!

Crossing log over Rainy Creek just above confluence of Middle Fk. Sno. River is intact. Faint trail up right side of Rainy Creek disappears under snow after about two miles. Route thereafter marked by small old grid ribbons and pruned saplings. Lake is snow covered. Time from trailhead at Middle Fk. Sno. River road approx. four hours.