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    Rattlesnake Ledge Trail

    4.4 (214 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Alyssa H.

    Lots of people out enjoying the great weather. Most people stopped at the lower ridge but I saw no other hikers venture up to the mid and upper ridges which had arguably better views. Lots of great spots to sit and have a snack while you take in the views. 5.72 miles, 1,460 elevation gain, 1 hr 57 minutes to complete.

    Ashley W.

    This is such a beautiful hike that is worth it! You climb 1100 feet in elevation. The viewpoint from the top is stunning. The trees with the different heights and shades of green look like a wave of trees. You see the mountain range on the left and a light emerald lake.

    Emily T.

    A gorgeous and moderate/easy hike great for kids, pups, and everyone! We love that this trail is dog friendly! Who: My husband and I decided to do our first hike together with our senior pup who we carried up in our doggie backpack and let walk some of the way down. This hike took us around 3 hours because we took our time and also ate snacks at the top. It's got a steady incline to the top with some switchbacks. There are bathrooms at the start of the trail. Lots of parking but note that it fills up (especially later in the morning around 9am/10am) We went before 7am and there was plenty of parking. If you bring your pup, make sure to pack them water, snacks, and baggies if they poop and if they do, please pick it up! We want to keep the trails nice for everyone. :) The top of the hike was very pretty. Unfortunately, we came on a smoky day but still beautiful nonetheless.

    Heather B.

    What an experience a few days ago... I don't know if it's newer hikers on trails or humans who just don't give a f**k about how they destroy nature but this visit was abominable. First of all there was graffiti, dog poop bags, food wrappers and TP on the trail. You want to create art??? Take an art class or just spray paint YOUR own home. Want to bring your dog? Make sure it's on a leash AND you bring your Poop bags WITH you as you hike- DO NOT drop them down for any reason. Hungry and need to eat? Totally understandable but take your wrappers with you! And do NOT feed the wildlife even if the chipmunks are super cute AND come right up to you. Need to use the bathroom? There are two vault toilets AND porta potties AT the trailhead! Now for the matter that really stunk... if you choose to bring your kids hiking it is YOUR responsibility to keep them on trail, respect nature is for EVERYONE, and ripping branches off off trees while deep off trail is NOT OK!!! You are not special. You do not own the land we all get to use. If your kids need to play take them to a playground or let them go buck wild in YOUR HOME! Teach your kids to respect things that are not theirs!! Did I scold kids? You betcha Did these three kids change their behavior? Nope not until I started videoing their antics. Did the parents scold them? Nope not even close....they did however state their kids weren't doing anything wrong and I was the one who was unhinged- LIE. It's no wonder nature looks more and more worn out and beaten down over the last year. When humans come with an attitude that they can do whatever they want with their privilege it makes me want to wretch. Just remember you are not special and nature is not yours to treat like a garbage dump and dismember. You want to be a selfish idiot??? Be an idiot at your own home and wreck that.

    Jessica S.

    A pristine area with luscious green trees and gorgeous lake views. This is an awesome hike fueled with switch backs and lots of climbing. Be sure to wear those hiking boots cause it can cause a bit of a workout of those feets! The real winner with this hike is making it to the top for those incredible views and photo ops. It can get packed so please be patient, take your time, and remember hiking etiquette.

    May 2024
    Carol W.

    Spring in the PNW is downright amazing (specifically May 2024). The sun sets late and you can totally do this hike in the evening (I'm convinced it's a local's secret!) We arrived at 6:00PM and were immediately drawn to the lake. After capturing a few photos, we parked in the lot (plenty of parking available) and headed for the trail. We got a bit turned around at first (thinking the trail was off the parking lot; it's not) but eventually found the trailhead (it's off the lake, duh!). I am not a pro hiker by any means. I get regular 1 mile flat walks with my dogs a couple nights a week, so that should give you a sense of my level of fitness. According to my Apple Watch, to get this beautiful view of the lake, you only need to conquer 1,300ft change in elevation and just over 2 hours of your time! We started at 6:30PM and made it to the top by 8:00PM (mind you we took our time and were passed up quite a few times by what seemed to be locals just crushing it!). It took only 45 minutes to get back down. Please keep in mind that the parking lot closes at 9PM (there are signs everywhere) but what was helpful was that starting at 8:30PM, the rangers made loudspeaker announcements reminding visitors to make sure to exit the parking lot or risk being locked in AND fined!

    Vanessa L.

    A fun easy hike but wayyy too many people and doggos. On weekends you will find yourself having to either pass people because you walk faster and people wont move out of the way or be the one to move out of the way because other people are faster than you. Dogs of all shapes and sizes are also seen here so bring your furry friend for pictutes. It is dog friendly and family friendly. Rattlesnake is an easy place to start if youre wanting to begin your journey as an avid hiker. There are inclines and flat spots but the inclines are minimal to mediocre. When you reach about 1.75 miles, you will see a sign that says to the right its the Rattlesnake Ledge and to the left you can continue 8 miles to Snoqualmie Point and about 2 miles to a higher point of Rattlesnake Trail (forgot the name of it, sorry). Most people stop at this ledge for thw pretty view and just to relax. You can definitely find yourself and others spending more than an hour here. The parking lot is always full, unless you go before 8 am or on a weekday then you have a lucky chance. Whether youre coming east or west, the minute you see the line of cars, you should start looking for side parking.

    Ridiculously cloudy...
    Kelly D.

    Coming from Hawaii, I've done a couple of gruesome hikes where I felt like I should of stayed home instead of being outside. Most of our hikes overlook the ocean; coming to Seattle I wanted a change of scenery in hiking and that's how I came across Rattlesnake Ledge! The end result would be a view that overlooks a gorgeous lake and the best part was that it was only a 40 minute drive out the city and a pretty easy-moderate hike. First things first, when you google the hike for directions, search "Rattlesnake Lake" instead to get to the right destination. It's fairly easy to find from the parking lot (just look for the trashcan and multiple signs) the hike was simple; just follow the trail and keep going up. Overall, it's about a 2 mile hike and there are trail markers on the trees (3 red circles) letting you know how far in you are. I'd say it can take about an hour or so to go up depending how many breaks you take. Now I came on a terrible day....super cloudy and rainy so unfortunately I didn't get to see the beautiful end result you see from other pictures -sob- but I definitely didn't regret doing this hike. I got to see some critters and befriend a small bird, met a super nice couple from Minnesota, and got some cool picture moments. I definitely do this hike again but maybe next time go on a clear, sunny day

    Lisa B.

    Great hike outside of Seattle. This was my first major hike, and I'm not athletic whatsoever but I survived! Lots of turnabouts and super crowded too but worth the view

    Esther Y.

    Beautiful hike! Parking can get crowded if you come later. The place is a little crowded too. It was around 4 mile round trip. Bring some food/snack to enjoy at the top :) The bathroom is not that clean :( would recommend to do it somewhere else. Other recommended activities: swim at the lake! The water isn't too cold :) many people bring their floaties and swimming suit

    Andrea W.

    Came on a weekday morning around a quarter to 8AM, parking was on the street already but not too far of a walk. Hike was fine, all in the shade, not too steep, not too many people on the way up. There's 3 ledges: lower, mid, and upper - upper is really nice, we didn't stop at the other ones. Good view, nobody was there. Saw more people on the way down but wasn't too bad. Definitely would recommend coming on a weekday and not a weekend!

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    Kathryn Y.

    Super fun hike pretty much straight up for just over two miles. Following switch backs back and fourth up to the top of Rattlesnake Peak you go up and up high above the lake. When reaching the top you are awarded with pristine views of the lake and miles beyond of green forest. I loved looking at the trees from high above rolling like an ocean of green. On this day it was extremely windy at the top and fairly crowded. One of my hiking companions who is familiar with the area said it could be busier. It is really dry right now, the driest October in WA since 1987, so there was a lot of dust. The trail is extremely gravely so watch your footing. If you are afraid of heights, like I am, the top can be fairly scary. Lots of room to sit and enjoy a lunch if you brought one, we did not. Walking around at the top did cause a bit of scare, but no worries a friendly hand helped me hop up to a safer area. Plenty of parking below and bathrooms at the bottom. Bring water, bring a friend, go hiking here. Happy Yelping.

    Brian F.

    Some notes: -They have restrooms near the lake. -No parking pass needed and no parking fee! It is only slightly uphill and there aren't any especially difficult parts. Overall it was not a difficult hike for me although some of my teammates who don't hike as often were tired. My group took a lot of breaks so it took longer for us to get to the view but I'd say it should take about an hour or so to get to the top. When you get to the top, be careful as there are some gaps between the rocks. It took about 45 minutes to go back down. As we were going up there were no mile marker signs until we got to the peak where we stopped. We came across a fork in the road where we could've continued going up for a higher view but we decided to stay where we were. We came on a Wednesday (hooray for team hike!) in January and there were very few people. It was completely quiet at some points which felt nice and calm. I'm sure it's different compared to a weekend in the summer. There was tons of parking when we went but there is also an extra parking lot for when there are lots of people. It was a pretty chill hike that ended with beautiful views of the lake and the landscape. Make sure to take it all in with some lunch!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Rattlesnake Ledge Trail

    Is parking permit required?

    No, parking is free.

    Any strollers on this hike?

    I don't believe I saw anybody with strollers. Most parents either carried small infants or the children were old enough to walk themselves. Not an ideal path to push a stroller.

    Is this trail safe to hike in the rain?

    On a normal day it was a light challenge going up but tiring going down due the downward angles and the number of stairway step-downs. In the rain, the descent would require extra care. I'd suggest taking a hiking pole.

    Is this wise to attempt mid day on a sunny Saturday like today or will be too crowded with us and our lab to enjoy the hike?

    Not mid day. Difficult to find parking and the trail will be crowded. Come earlier in the day

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Rattlesnake Ledge Trail

    At the top, which takes me about 45 min to get to, there is an incredible view of Rattlesnake Lake.

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    Melakwa Lake - Passing through Denny Creek on the way!

    Melakwa Lake

    4.7(3 reviews)
    2.0 km

    Picked this hike from the Washington Trails book, about 9.5 miles roundtrip with a 2700 elevation…read moregain. This was a tough hike, even though I chose it since the book said "moderate" and even looking up some reviews people had said the hike as relatively simple to enjoy a fantastic lake view. We were both pretty dead at the end due to the length and steep inclines. Knees were pretty banged up because of all the rocks. The trail in the beginning wasn't so bad, definitely got my heart pumping because of the elevation, but as you go higher up there were a lot of switchbacks and seemingly no end in sight. We hustled up the mountain pretty quickly though, which was why we were so tired at the end. The view is definitely worth it in the end; recommend bringing a hammock! There's also plenty of sitting area through slabs of rocks. Coming down we encountered: 1) a girl who was crying we believe because of the toughness of the trail, 2) a couple who stopped us to ask how much longer it was to the top (they unfortunately weren't even halfway) which signifies how tough this hike was. Definitely recommend bringing more than enough water or you will definitely be dehydrated (like we were). Otherwise glad we did this and would recommend (you won't regret it but your body will hate you haha).

    Pretty but tough, Melakwa Lake gets you with its length and steady elevation gain. The trailhead…read moreis located in Snoqualmie and is part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area. Be sure to pick up a Northwest Forest Pass before you head over as the closest visitor center is about a 15 min drive away at Exit 52. If you've scoped out the WTA site already, it'll say that the trailhead has a parking lot for approximately 30ish cars with additional room to park along the side of the road. As the trailhead is shared with the very popular Denny Creek, I'd recommend you head early to snag a spot and to carpool - my friends and I arrived around 9AM and the lot was completely packed. There appears to be two parts to this hike - the family-friendly portion to Denny Creek and then the rocky and long jaunt up to Melakwa Lake. We saw a lot of families on the trail headed to the creek, which makes the perfect picnic spot during low water. If you want to continue on toward Melakwa Lake, head straight over to the other side of the creek where you'll find a tiny sign labeled "Main Trail" posted on a tree. The crowd thinned out after Denny Creek/the water slide (as referred to on WTA) as the hike got a bit tougher and rockier. If you have hiking boots, wear them, as you'll encounter two, long stretches of rocky terrain. The 2,000 ft elevation gain is gradual, but definitely noticeably on the last leg. You'll head up for what feels like forever before the trail starts to dip down again, taking you to the edge of the lake. This hike feels long, so be sure to bring an ample amount of water and snacks to help power on to the end! Once you're at the lake, there's room for you to sit out on the rocks before your journey back down. We even saw a few people swimming in the water - must've been so cold! XD My friends weren't the biggest fans of this hike, mainly because of the length, but I still think it's worth a visit with the right prep. Also, don't forget to bring bug spray! Apparently Melakwa is Chinook for mosquito, haha. :)

    Photos
    Melakwa Lake - The "water slide", which is impassable during high waters. Popular picnic spot for families!

    The "water slide", which is impassable during high waters. Popular picnic spot for families!

    Melakwa Lake
    Melakwa Lake

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    Goldmyer Hot Springs

    Goldmyer Hot Springs

    4.0(22 reviews)
    42.7 kmFirst Hill

    Its's not worth the effort *for a day trip*... cant speak for camping. Coming from Tacoma for a 2…read morehr drive with 45 minutes of it being an insanely precarious road and then a 5 mile "hike" which is a walk on a dirt road, not to mention the lottery system and the instructions on how to even visit... I was expecting A LOT more! The pools were small! Thankfully one group was leaving as we arrived so there was only 3 other people hanging out with us. Otherwise, it would have been SO cramped! My husband couldn't even stretch out and hes 6 foot. If you've never experienced nature/spa or are not from WA then I guess you might enjoy this, but I wouldn't do it again. Pros: caretakers are super nice, seems like guests are all going to be friendly and respectful, area is VERY well kept and clean, pools are cool despite being small, temps are great, "hike" is boring but easy! Cons: way too much boring effort to get here (especially for a day trip), pools are very small, last part of road to get to the parking lot is VERY rugged... you NEED a high clearance vehicle and someone who can navigate huge potholes/trees/ debris, etc. "Hike" is boring but easy!

    We heard about this natural hotsprings in its super remote location in North Bend and just had to…read moretry it! It is a preserved miner's hotsprings that is on private land and is completely run by volunteers with the exception of a few individuals who are paid to make reservations and live on the grounds year-round. It is not easy to get reservations here especially with the pandemic. Once they were able to open this summer they started returning calls and we were lucky enough to be able to reserve the hotsprings for a small group of less than 5 people on a Monday. The fee was reasonable at 20 per person and they included detailed directions and instructions on getting to and using this facility. The drive in is no joke, seriously. We live in North Bend and are familiar with that area as we hike many of the trails over there frequently but we did not plan enough time for the 5 mile non paved road. Even thought it's only 5 miles it is VERY rough with lots and lots of potholes and difficult washed out patches that our Xterra made it up but might be difficult for other cars. Once we made it to the Dingford trailhead parking lot we left our car and started the 5 mile hike to the hotsprings. It's a really beautiful walk without much elevation gain through the forest and along the river but it is very rocky so your feet and toes will definitely get a beating. We kept up a good pace with around a 15 min/mile walk so we made it there in about 1.5 hours. We rang the bell and were greeted by the host who was very informative and pleasant. We signed our release forms and headed up to the springs for a beautiful and relaxing 4 hour time slot of enjoying the 3 different (but small) pools and the picnic table for lunch. It is also right at the top of a waterfall so you can sit out and enjoy the view and relax when you get tired of soaking. There is a cave where the hot water emerges that used to be open but is currently closed due to COVID concerns. The pool this hot water spills into is the hottest and really can only hold 2 people and then this pool spills into a larger one where 4 of us sat comfortably. There is also a cold one with river water which made for a great plunge. We really enjoyed our stay and had a great lunch at the picnic tables (no garbage sites so plan to pack in and pack out everything you bring). They also had non flushing porta potties you can use with one at the top by the hotsprings and a couple others at the bottom by the campground which is currently closed due to the pandemic. The campground is usually open year-round though and we are really looking forward to coming up during the fall or spring sometime. The five mile return hike is definitely tough especially with your feet being soft from soaking. I recommend you bring an extra pair of socks and maybe even consider sitting out for the last half hour or so and let your feet dry out before the return hike..my tootsies were pretty blistery when we returned!

    Photos
    Goldmyer Hot Springs
    Goldmyer Hot Springs - Finally here !!!

    Finally here !!!

    Goldmyer Hot Springs - From official website

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    From official website

    Cedar Butte Trail

    Cedar Butte Trail

    4.0(4 reviews)
    0.0 km

    Came here on Memorial Day Monday, didn't quite see the fork off of Iron Horse Trail so ended up…read moredoing Olallie and came on Cedar Butte on the way back. Got to the parking lot around 7AM, not many cars but saw many people on the way down from Cedar Butte. The view at the top of Cedar Butte was just okay, there was a small clearing between trees to see the view but otherwise can't really see anything.

    Such a hidden gem! I agree with the previous reviews, it was quite hard to find/navigate. There is…read moreabsolutely no signage for "Cedar Butte" but we were able to figure it out by asking people where they were coming from. That is the only reason for 4 stars, plus the bugs. I was surprised it was so buggy for a hot summer day in the 70's. It's in the middle of the forest though. The hike took us only 2 hours to complete, with a few stops and a small pup who hates to walk. It was very easy up until the trail leading into the forest. That was a bit more moderate, except it was easy since it was only for about 30-40 minutes of incline. The viewpoint is small, and only one group can have an optimal view with social distancing. However the trail is definitely a hidden gem and has less traffic. Overall I think it was a beautiful, easy and quick hike! I wanted to share some helpful directions to help navigate: Parking - The Rattlesnake ledge lot leading up to it is packed, but luckily this has a bit more space. Plug "47.43246, -121.76654" into your GPS and it'll take you directly to the Cedar Butte lot. When I had input "Cedar Butte Trailhead" into my GPS originally it took me elsewhere. After you park and head to the trailhead you'll see a sign for Iron horse trail. Head that way by taking that first right. You'll come to a clearing with a dirt road, look straight and you'll see a narrow path to follow. It'll bring you to another clearing of a dirty road then make a left. Walk until you see a waterfall/river and cross that bridge. Quickly after make your first right up the narrow path. Eventually you'll come to a fork, take a left. Then you'll eventually see signage for the summit. Follow that and you'll be there in the next 10 minutes!

    Photos
    Cedar Butte Trail - Little creek along the trail.

    Little creek along the trail.

    Cedar Butte Trail - Location of the parking lot. It's about a block up on the left after you pass the parking lot for Rattlesnake Ledge Trail.

    Location of the parking lot. It's about a block up on the left after you pass the parking lot for Rattlesnake Ledge Trail.

    Cedar Butte Trail - Look for this sign on the right about 200 paces after you cross Boxley Creek

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    Look for this sign on the right about 200 paces after you cross Boxley Creek

    Mailbox Peak - Mailbox

    Mailbox Peak

    4.6(97 reviews)
    0.0 km

    What a beautiful and popular hike! Parking can be a beast so go early or later in the day if you…read moredon't want to have to hike from a remote spot far away from the start of the actual hike. I took my teen with me and we conquered it in about 7 hours round trip. We used the "new" trail up and back because I didn't want to hear my kid complaining about the brutal elevation gains on the old trail. We lucked out and had a clear, beautiful, sunny view. This won't always be the case and depending on the time of year you may not see much of anything at the top so plan accordingly and be mindful of the weather. We left a sticker and a heart shaped rock we found along the way in the mailbox before we hiked back. It's a fairly challenging hike if you are t in excellent shape- but it's doable if you use the new trail. Pack plenty of water and snacks and something to leave in the mailbox.

    Mailbox is a niche hike that's pretty well known around here but not for the views. One of the…read morehardest single day hikes in Washington, it's usually foggy up there but even when it's not, the view isn't all too exciting compared to other trails, well except for the mailbox. As a moderate hiker (once a month or so) in 2018, I was able to push through in 5 hours round trip. Four years later, I tackled Mailbox with only one hike beforehand in the previous 6 months and it took about 5 hours and 40 minutes. Went through the old trail and it's steep to the point where you'll likely feel your calves burning the whole way due to the flexion of your foot. As you enter the trailhead, the first Mailbox sign will be the new trail which is longer but overall easier because it's not a full incline hike. Go further and you'll find the old trail. Once you clear the forest, you'll see tons of boulders and rocks. Hopeful it's the end, you also won't see much in yet and you've still got a chunk of rock climbing left. Completing the hike will probably net you nearly a days worth of calories so you can feast afterwards. Pack some electrolytes, they're saviors. Our party of three hiked this on a collective 4 hours of sleep and some Gatorade was super helpful alongside caffeine. My quads started cramping near the boulders and it made this hike one of the worst I've experienced, but we managed to push through. With my experience, I highly recommend electrolytes because I had some Gatorade and a banana already yet was still dying. Push through to brag to your friends.

    Photos
    Mailbox Peak
    Mailbox Peak
    Mailbox Peak - Mailbox at the top of mailbox peak.

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    Mailbox at the top of mailbox peak.

    Big Creek Falls - Taylor River Trail

    Big Creek Falls - Taylor River Trail

    4.3(3 reviews)
    0.0 km

    Great hike! 11 miles RT if you go to both the front and back sides of Otter Falls. Elevation gain…read moreis completely minimal and dogs are allowed - it says they must be on leash but all except two dogs I saw were actually on leash. The trail is so flat a wheelchair could make it except for the numerous creek crossings that were a little dicey depending on your footwear. Note that there is some washout leading up to the trailhead so unless you have a tall truck you will need to Park about a 1/2 mile away and climb over the rubble. Most of the road leading up to the trailhead has already been patched so our little car made it without issue. I wore my trainers since this hike was rated as easy. My feet were definitely sore later in the evening. Anytime you plan to walk 11 miles there will likely be some pain somewhere in your foot so don't be deterred! Had I worn my hiking boots I probably wouldn't have the soreness in my ankles but hiking boots are definitely not required for this hike. I have the kind of knees that will sometimes hurt on the way down from hikes with large elevation gains but because this one is so minimal I was able to jog from the trailhead back to the car after the entire hike. This trail was not heavily trafficked and provided a wonderful excursion for the day. We started the hike at 11:15am and arrived at Otter Falls around 1pm for lunch and relaxation. There's not much to sit on unless you want to sit where the falls are on steep granite. Again my trainers were not grippy enough to hang up there for long. Hike boots would be great for this part. We lounged around at the falls, continued on to the backside to see the view from the footbridge, and got down about 4:30pm. Note that this hike was a little buggy (annoying flies and other buzzes in your ears but I didn't need mosquito spray.)

    This is a pretty easy trail for beginning hikers or ones that want to hike, but have to give…read morecertain parts of their body time to heal and / or not be too strenuous on. Another great point about this trail is that it is dog friendly. Throughout the trail there are small inclines, but no switch backs and the inclines are no more than walking up hills in Seattle. Close to the beginning of the trail there is a choice to go towards Quartz Creek (to the left) or Snoqualmie Lake. You want to go straight ahead to Snoqualmie Lake. There are certain parts of the trail that you can stop at and turn back with still feeling that you have had a sufficient hike. The first point would be Marten Creek, which has a wooden bridge over it and a waterfall to your left. At this point, you have hiked in about 3 miles. Another couple miles up is where you will encounter Big Creek Falls. Which is amazing. The trail does continue on, but Big Creek Falls is usually where most people stop. One point, a little after Marten Creek, it looks like the trail ends. If you go to the right, you can tell that it will lead you right back to the trail. To the left is a pile of rocks. You will want to climb up (not much of a climb or hard to do) through those rocks to continue on. After you reach the top of them, you will see the trail again. Throughout the trail there are a few smaller creeks that you will have to walk over, but no more than a foot wide. Round trip is about 10 miles, if you go to Big Creek Falls, and definitely worth all the miles you walk. Elevation gain is about 700 feet. Directions: Head out I-90, to North Bend take exit 34 Edgewick Road, turn left under I-90, go past the Texaco gas station and turn right on Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Road (FR 56), drive the gravel road 12+ miles, just after crossing the Taylor River bridge there is a fork in the road stay left on the Taylor River Road (FR 5630), continue to the gate and park in the lot.

    Photos
    Big Creek Falls - Taylor River Trail
    Big Creek Falls - Taylor River Trail - Otter Falls backside (where the pools are)

    Otter Falls backside (where the pools are)

    Big Creek Falls - Taylor River Trail - Otter Falls frontside

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    Otter Falls frontside

    Rattlesnake Ledge Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

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