I think it’s safe to say that most Seattlites would say Steamboat Rock is too far for a day hike. Not me!  If you can embrace the road trip, you’re in for a wonderful day. 

I did a big loop, starting at 6am with a drive over Snoqualmie Pass. The roads were clean and dry. I drove in and out of fog. The trees in the Cle Elum to Kititas area were covered in frosted ice. Very pretty. I headed north at Ephrata. Heavy fog cleared when I got to Soap Lake and the Coulee Coridor. Many massive frozen waterfalls clinging to the bassalt cliffs by Banks Lake. 

After 3.5 hours of driving I made it to the park. My friend from Spokane timed it just right and arrived shortly after. It only took her 2 hours. 

The 3 cabins were occupied and a couple RVs in the campground.  Restrooms were open and showers available if you have quarters.

My friend and I headed up the trail carrying micro spikes and yak tracks, not knowing what to expect.  The snow at the base of steamboat was about 6-8 inches.  It felt crunchy and dry.  Easy to walk in someone else’s old boot prints.  I don’t know when they had the last snow but it didn’t look like they get a lot of foot traffic. 

The rockiest part of the ascent was actually snow-free.  We slipped a little as the rocks settled, but no more than usual here. As we continued up, we just took it easy and kicked into the snow and made it to the top with no issues. Snow got deeper at the top 12+ inches. You could do this in snow boots and gators.  Snow shoes at the top if you don’t like sinking 6-12 inches.

Lots of critter footprints in the snow. Deer, rabbit, birds, little canine or feline prints that would occasionally pounce in the deep snow.

We had a hot lunch and celebrated my friend’s birthday. Don’t forget sunscreen and shades. The hike down was surprisingly easy.  We pictured accidental glissading but that crunchy snow was just right for getting traction.

I took Hiway 2 home. Those rolling hills west of Coulee city are absolutely beautiful, frosted like a cake in a 3 foot layer of marshmallow cream. Burger at the drive in in Leavenworth and sunset as I rolled into the driveway at home. 

Perfect day!

It was a true bluebird day atop Steamboat Rock,  and we had the whole park to ourselves! There was a good 6-8 inches of fluffy snow on top  of the rock, so we winged it cross country.

Snowshoes would have been helpful, but we were optimistic and left them in the car. Trail crampons were helpful on the rocky ascent and descent.

The photos don't do justice to the magnitude of the landscape and incredible history of the area. But the snow emphasized the texture of the basalt beautifully! 

Only walked the approach trail(s) due to our arriving late and not having enough daylight available to complete, and ENJOY, the hike and the views. Plus, we had already done a little exploring earlier in the day with our dog along a rocky/uneven terrain trail and didn't want to blow our her paws! We will come back though and complete the full hike! This is a beautiful area!

The approach trails are well maintained and offer spectacular views on their own! There is a decent elevation gain right off the bat but nothing too strenuous. The trail leading to the top is steep and rocky but appears short and very manageable (I'll update this info once we complete the full hike).

At the time we were there (late November) we encountered no bugs, no snakes, very few other visitors, and a good number of deer grazing on the well maintained lawns in the public areas. In my opinion, this is a great time of year for this particular trail. It's not hot, there is little chance of encountering pests (bugs/ticks/snakes), no crowds, and, you can stop and take in the beauty and peacefulness of the surrounding landscape ... REALLY!

Each year we start the family camping season with a a trip to Steamboat Rock State Park and I gather all the kids in our party who can walk and drag them (plus a willing parent or two) up the steamboat rock. This year there was no whining and no crying! I am sure in a few years they will be the ones waiting at the top for the geriatrics like me. Maybe next year we try the Northrup Canyon again - we tried the hike a couple of years a go and the mosquitoes ate us alive despite our applying repeated layers of repellent, so we turned back disappointed.