Howdy Y'all!

We had a great time hiking the Garfield Ledges Trail today, a short but pretty steep 1.6 mi roundtrip with excellent views into the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley once you reach the top. Our group hiked an additional 0.5 mi each way on the Middle Fork Connector Trail since we decided to park at the Middle Fork Trailhead instead of the Garfield Ledges Trailhead since the paved portion of the Middle Fork road ends just past the Middle Fork Trailhead. There were two blowdowns that we had to cross, but they were easily passable. The trail was a bit muddy at parts but the maintenance done on this trail by WTA and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is stellar! Nice box steps near the last stretch as you go up and good signage at the trailhead! :)

A late new year hike from the middle fork parking lot to Garfield Ledges via the lovely connector trail. Today was chill and cloudy, snow lines on mountains were beautiful, and there were low clouds floating around the valleys which was so cool to watch. Some part of the Garfield Ledges trail was actually in the clouds but fortunately the ledge was clear.

Both trails were in good condition with refreshing lush moss grounds. One big tree down in the connector trail in a flat and wide section so easy to cross. There were a few places to get to the river as well.

Many mushrooms showed up, some on logs some on the moss, not those funny looking ones but we had fun identifying them (candy caps, yellow foot, coral…). At the final view point, there are a few clusters of a tiny plant growing on rock surfaces, which was pretty and special.

Did this as a late morning hike today, something very different for us! Lots of families with the children and pups out. 

Getting to the trailhead isn't terrible, but there are quite a few potholes after the middle fork bridge that would be a little spicy to maneuver around in a low clearance car. 

This is a pretty easy trail, only 1 mile to the summit. The views came in and out today because we were socked in a cloud. I love hiking in this area because the moss is so vibrantly green! 

The weather held up and there was no rain. It took us less than hour round trip. We spent about half an hour at the summit waiting for the cloud to break. 

Road with lots of potholes for the last about 2/10 of a mile, after the middle fork trailhead. Beautiful day.

It POURED rain the entire hike. I wanted to check out the Connector Trail, having worked to build it back on June 1. We parked in the Middle Fork Lot. Maybe 4 other cars in that HUGE beautiful lot. The bathroom was in decent shape.

The trail is in great condition. There is one big blow down that you have to climb over. Great views out to Garfield Ledges. We saw 3 mountain goats out on that sheer cliff face, somehow making their way down it, in the pouring rain. We were the only ones on this trail.

The river was churning white, very high. Lots of mist on the mountains.

We continued on, over the river and started to head up Garfield Ledges Trail. We turned around with .3 to go. Just so. darn. wet. and very uncomfortable.

It was very quiet out on the trails. We had 2 people pass us on the Garfield Ledges Trail. One van parked in that lot.

3 miles in total. Even though our jackets are still wet today, it was worth it to be out in it.