We arrived at the trailhead by 9 am on New Year's Eve Day. The road has been plowed and is packed-snow-covered but did not feel icy; my AWD HR-V handled the conditions with aplomb without chains. The trail was broken for us by previous snowshoers. We went just under three miles in and then turned around to return to the trailhead at noon. The trail goes through beautiful snow-covered forest with just a few peaks at the river below. We encountered a few snowmobiles on the road to the trail but there were none once you go into the woods. It was very quiet and we met under ten other people on the trail.
As others have noted, you have to go down to the trailhead itself (there are several small buildings and the privy was open), turn around, and park along the road facing the direction that you came. The signs marking the limits of the parking areas were covered in plow-flung snow but we were given directions by a kind snowmobiler to make sure that we didn't get a ticket. Sno-park pass required.
We left Seattle at 6:30 am and returned by 3:30 pm. My friend introduced me to Stella's in Cle Elum, where we got a delicious lunch and I treated myself to a chai. YUM.
Comments