Bottom Line:
Snoqualmie Middle Fork valley is always a treat! Beautiful, with mossy trees, snow-covered peaks and emerald waters. Tried the Oxbow trail for the first time - the surrounding forest is especially beautiful and horseshoe-shaped Oxbow Lake is very intriguing - I will return to explore at lake level with my pack-raft (not certain I can get through in some of the shallower spots)! Snow starts at road level just before the Middle Fork trail, with some slippery sections of trail. The road is clear (for now... storm coming).
Stats:
- Distance: ~4-1/2 miles
- Duration: ~2 hours
- Weather: Mostly cloudy with sprinkles, and periods of sleet/hail; 30Fs; no wind; low cloud ceiling with some fog, but that only enhanced the ethereal nature of the trail; some sunshine peeking through late in the afternoon
- Road/Parking: The road is clear despite recent windstorms; always advisable to bring a saw in case a tree comes down so you are not locked in the valley, as there is no cell service; quiet day, so lots of parking at the Oxbow and Middle Fork lots, as well as the periodic pullouts to enjoy the mountain and river views; Discovery Pass required at parking spots; restrooms opened, but notice about no maintenance
- Trail: The trails are in pretty good shape, but quite muddy and slushy in spots as to be expected; the Oxbow Loop trail was new to me, and I was surprised by its beauty - thick moss coating all the trees at though they had on puffy winter parkas; for some trees, all I could see was moss! There are many huge trees on this trail as well. The trail has beach access on the river (nice talking to the fly fisherwoman) and circumnavigates Oxbow Lake. With all the beard lichen hanging on the trees overhanging and fallen in Oxbow's looping channel, the waterway really looked like a southern swamp near Savannah Georgia, except for the background of snowy peaks! Saw some of the largest Big Leaf maples I think I have ever seen today. Afterwards, we did some of the Middle Fork trail, which had some snow and slippery sections.
- Takeaway: A real temperate rain forest on the edge of Puget Sound with stunning contrasts, from snowy mountains to granite faces, emerald rivers and creeks, and fantastical forests of large trees, moss and hanging lichens. Even in the winter - BEAUTIFUL!
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