Another visit to the Oxbow/Pratt combo hikes today, this time with Mrs. B.

Oxbow is always lovely, scenic with moss covered maples, the Middle Fork running by and near, the overlooks of Oxbow Lake. Nice privys there too which always seem to be open and clean. Today we saw several families with children and I can't help but think what a great trail Oxbow is to bring kids on. Its not too long, its pretty and its flat. Seems like a great place to get a start with children on hiking.

After an hour or so at Oxbow, we headed up the road about two miles to the pull out on the left for the trek up to Pratt. Pratt must not be a secret anymore as we saw several groups of people on the trail and were joined at the Balcony by two small groups of hikers during our lunch break there. Its snow free now of course, a bit of a workout to get up there but the view is always lovely, if just a bit busier than my last two or three visits.

Incidentally in the parking lot at Oxbow a chat with two other hikers clued me into a hidden, secret bench up very near Pratt. It faces the other way, overlooking the Garfield Ledges (see pic), and worth a checkout. If you can find it! Secret... I'm not telling. Shout out to the two hikers in the red Tacoma if you read this!

Took us about 45 minutes to get back to the car from Pratt and off we went.

The Oxbow Loop off the Middle Fork Road is especially beautiful during these days of a low sun (when it shines...). The soft, warm light brings out the fabulous moss and lichen cover of the trees.

I suggest parking at the restroom building and walking from there such as not to miss a nice view across the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River to the mountains.

The trail is well built and fairly wide, almost accessible as is. It would be great if DNR made it truly wheelchair-accessible.

What a beautiful Friday for a short hike! We arrived to the trailhead a little after 1:00 to find a few spaces left in the small roadside lot. The pit toilets were open with toilet paper, and the right was more disgusting than the left. 

We saw one other dog on leash, and a handful of other hikers of varying ages. There are several benches around the lake to rest or enjoy the scenery.  The lake was breathtaking as were the trees and mountain views. We hiked with a 10, 8, and 5 year old, and all had energy to spare when we finished. 

Johnny, Karen, Riley, and Viv

We were intending to go to the Pratt Connector/Pratt River Trail as we have done a few times in recent years, but despite it being a sunny day we discovered that of course that trail was in complete shade and pretty cold. We realized we could just follow the sun and find a close-by hike that would be a little warmer. The Oxbow Loop Trail was everything we could have hoped for. Great views and plenty of sun. Probably a bit easier than we might have otherwise done, but our party of four was fine with that. We'll be back, perhaps in time for next year's foliage.

This is the perfect trail to take someone who doesn't or can't hike much, and a wonderful trail for photography. The grandmas took my hub, soaringeagle here so he could get a mental refresh after more health challenges. The trail is almost flat, wide and easy hiking gravel tread. If you have someone with you that maybe can't do the whole thing, take the right hand trail (counterclockwise), the views are better. We saw what we think were beavers hanging around the logs in the river, too far away to get a good look.  The river below and surrounded by mountains, we felt really out in the woods, even tho we were a short distance from North Bend and I90, and we had the trail to ourselves. This is a nice relaxing walk that could easily be tacked on the end of a longer hike from any of the trails nearby. There are 2 parking lots, the 2nd one has a loo, open and stocked, at least today.