Middle Fork Snoqualmie River — Friday, Jun. 18, 1999

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

I spent a solitary Saturday covering the upper end of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail, from Dingford Creek eastward. I wanted to negotiate the 5-1/2 mile stretch of road to the trailhead in my new 4WD (28 mpg; not an SUV). Also, I'd previously done the downriver portion of the trail (essentially a new trail), and wanted to see what the uppermost trail looks like after years of abandonment (as the old route of the PCT) and then reclamation. The road, if anything, seems to be getting worse, although some of the stream washouts have been filled with rocks. It's still 10 mph maximum, but a lot more comforting with 8 inches of clearance. I was surprised to find no other cars at the Dingford Creek parking area, and I saw absolutely no one on the trail the whole day. Under the bridge, 0.2 miles down from the parking area, the Middle Fork was roaring at April levels. The far side of the river has some huge trees, apparently inaccessible to the last century of logging activity. One of them, unfortunately, a 5-6 feet diameter cedar, has fallen smack across the trail about 150 yards upriver from the bridge, and requires a steep, tricky uphill bypass. (The remainder of the upriver trail has maybe another half dozen downed trees, but all can be easily straddled over.) The only other obstacles along the trail are a few patches of closing-in brush, mostly thimbleberries and salmonberries, which present minimum problems. The greenery along the trail is at its absolute peak. Everything is still perfect; nothing's wilted or yellowed yet, and nothing's been chewed by bugs -- a real textbook of forest floor plants and flowers. The trail shows signs of recent attention -- lots of little red-taped sticks with trail repair instructions, though it doesn't look like any trail work has been done this year as yet. There are three stream crossings that are tricky, especially with the water as high as it is now. All can be negotiated over logs (I found my trekking poles were a real aid in creeping over them), or by getting your feet wet on submerged rocks. Not for kids or timid adults. The first big stream (Wildcat Creek) actually has some concrete footing in place but no bridge as yet. I hope this is where our trail pass dollars are going. After a couple miles, the trail joins the grade of an old logging railroad, which cuts a wide path straight across the hillside. It makes for easy going, but you realize how uniform and uninspiring the second growth is compared to the giants of the earlier part of the trail. I kept expecting to stumble upon Goldmyer Hot Springs, but instead after about 5 miles (estimated), the trail deadends at a serious creek. I assume this is Burntboot Creek, and the hot springs and the remainder of the trail are on the other side. There is no apparent way across; no downed logs and no wading route either, at least not until low water, much later in the year. There are, however, a few red ribbons leading upcreek, which I hope indicates some future trail improvements. I bushwacked for 50 yards or so, and succeeded only in having my first devil's club experience of the year. I did convincing myself that there were no cross-creek logs to traverse. All in all, an interesting and uncrowded trail. I look forward to a few more bridges.