Rattlesnake Ledge — Saturday, Jul. 26, 2014

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

The path up to Rattlesnake Ledge was well kept but also extremely busy during our mid-morning Saturday hike. The trail is barely wide enough for two-way traffic so there was a quite a bit of standing off to the side to let other hikers pass by. For those not in good shape this hike can be a challenge as it is pretty steep at some points and does result in climbing a mountain. Once at the top, the views make any pain or sweat or heavy breathing worth it. This is simply the best view of the Pacific Northwest that I've experienced so far. The gorgeous lake sparkles below and you have a sense of the amazing natural beauty this area still has to offer. It was a terrific day with no clouds and a gentle breeze. We spied a cute chipmunk living at the top of the ledge and seeing him was a bonus that brought a smile to our faces. You really can't go wrong by making this hike. Plan to spend some time at the top and really enjoy it. The hike down is much more swift, although it can be a pain due to the constant start/stopping. I can see why many people tried to jog down - it just feels more comfortable when running. It's a steep enough trail to keep your momentum going and force you to control it. Overall this was my favorite hike in Washington thus far. I haven't done a great many yet, but I suspect this will be hard to beat.