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Garfield Ledges, Middle Fork Connector Trail, Middle Fork Snoqualmie River — May. 12, 2024

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
4 photos
Oldwhiner
WTA Member
100
Beware of: trail conditions
  • Wildflowers blooming

5 people found this report helpful

 

On a weirdly sunny and hot Mother's Day we decided to find shade on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie trails. We parked at the Middle Fork trailhead and walked the connector trail to the Garfield Ledges TH. There was plenty of room at 8:15. The connector has had a lot of recent work done. It's a smooth, gravel trail. We enjoyed the bleeding heart flowers, the river overlook and nice trees. We kept an eye out for traffic on the bridge. Drivers were polite. The lower part of Garfield Ledges is well maintained including the steep stairs. Above the stairs the trail is occasionally rocky and rooty like lots of trails. The view at the top is great! Stegosaurus Butte, the snowy tops of South Bessemer and Bessemer Mtn and the glacial valley of the Middle Fork were a nice view. Met some folks who thought we were seeing Rattlesnake Mtn and Cedar Butte over the CCC plateau. Could be. Got back to the car at 10am after 3.5 miles. It was packed! Moms and kids everywhere. Fun! Grabbed a fresh water bottle and went out the Middle Fork. About 1 mile out there's a large, hip-high down log. A quick foot path goes around the base and quickly back to the main trail. The creek crossings were easy and pleasantly cool. We found a log off the trail with a foot path to it. Lunch in the sun dappled forest. So about 8 miles and 1100 gain. Lots of pleasant people and leashed, happy dogs. Flowers included trillium, Oregon grape, bunch berry, mountain ash and twin flower.

Garfield Ledges — May. 9, 2024

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
1 photo
Rika Rak
 

It was a quick hike to the ledge with my husband. This trail was very well maintained and the view from the top was breathtaking. We really enjoyed our lunch with this gorgeous view. We saw only three people on this trail. The bathroom at the trail head was very clean and the parking was empty.

Garfield Ledges, Middle Fork Snoqualmie River — May. 4, 2024

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
3 photos
Redshirt
WTA Member
50
Beware of: trail conditions

10 people found this report helpful

 
In spite of the weather forecast, we decided to brave it and fortunately did not have a drop of rain! 

We first started on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie river. Initially the trail hugs the river, but after half a mile drifts far enough away that you can no longer see or hear it. The trail was a little muddy in places, but in pretty good shape overall. There is one major blow down at about 0.5 miles, but there is an easy trail around it.  The one steep area just past Stegosaurus Butte had good footing. Stream crossings were easily crossed on stepping stones without getting wet feet. There were peek-a-boo views of the Garfield Mountain peaks across the river and the mountains on our side of the river. Our turnaround point was 2.8 miles from the trailhead at a rocky wide stream crossing with a break in the trees for great views. We returned to the trailhead, then onward to part 2 of the hike. 
From the parking lot, we took the "Connector Trail" (parallel to the road) to the Garfield Ledges trailhead. This was quite a nice, flat stretch along the Taylor river with good picnic spots, for future reference. Just before the Garfield Ledges parking lot, there is a bridge across the river that is shared with cars. Car traffic was sparse enough that we were able to avoid them, but the bridge was wide enough that we could have shared the space. The Garfield Ledges hike definitely makes you work for wonderful views. There are stairs at the steepest part and recent blowdowns have been cleared (though there is one new one that's not too bad to step over). The gain is 800 ft over 1.1 miles. The trail is completely forested with just a couple brief views until the Ledges. Thanks to the forecast, but nonexistent, rain, we had the viewpoint all to ourselves. What an expansive view over the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River valley to the southwest and the mountains to the south. 
The pit toilets were open at the Middle Fork Snoqualmie trailhead and the Garfield Ledges trailheads. Bugs were a little bit of a bother in the parking lot, but not on the trail. They are starting to get active though! 

Garfield Ledges — Apr. 16, 2024

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
2 photos
Alpine Art
WTA Member
300

3 people found this report helpful

 

Three of us went on a day hike to Garfield Ledges, an area on the Middle Fork which I had not hiked previously.

The weather varied from drizzle to partly cloudy but was cool for the hike.  The trail starts at a parking lot just after the end of the paved road on the Middle Fork, the short stretch of gravel road was heavily pot holed which might cause problems for low clearance vehicles.

The trail itself is in excellent condition; a smooth tread and not steep except for a short section of stairs.  We had great views from the top even with the clouds.

This is a fairly easy hike, with nice views, and within easy driving distance of the Seattle area.

Garfield Ledges — Apr. 14, 2024

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
2 photos
maclaren4l
WTA Member

3 people found this report helpful

 

A short little hike to get a great view of the valley. We came early to avoid the crowd on a beautiful day like today! We were rewarded with almost no none else and calm peaceful hike!

Met other hikers at the ledge (top), very friendly! I recommend this for kids!