Hiking Crowded Rattlesnake Ridge and Ledges

Rattlesnake Mountain 

One of the most convenient hikes with a big vista requiring only a moderate degree of conditioning and effort has to be Rattlesnake Ridge.  After two miles of hiking, and 1160 feet of elevation gain, you'll find yourself at the edge of an airy mountain ledge, with an eagle's view of the valley below, and the company of hundreds of other hikers, especially if you go up on a spring or summer weekend. Let's face it:  the trailhead is easy to get to.  Drive straight out of Seattle for 45 miles, take Exit 32, turn right, and in four miles you are at the trailhead.  The trail is relatively easy which means you will not find solitude hiking the Ridge, but if you enjoy meeting people from all over the world, this is the place to do it.

Rattlesnake Lake, south east of North Bend was once anarchist beach on the weekends of the late 1960s and 70s. Not that the sons and daughters of Weyerhaeuser millworkers and loggers cared about political philosophy, but they certainly liked to party.  In those days, the beach was rocky and littered with broken bottles.  Led Zeppelin broke the speakers on boomboxes and Frisbees flew through the air.  On the lake, inner-tubes and air-mattresses floated above cold mountain water adorned with youthful physicality.  Looking down from above were only a few scramblers who made their way to the ledges above the valley following the trails of deer and bear.

Times have changed.  The lake is now the assembly point for a horde of rich international refugees on recess from their 70 hour weeks at the various high tech firms exploiting H-1B visas.  The nice trail up the edge of Rattlesnake is like a caravan of humanity from all over the world.  The crowds probably feel like home to many of the new hikers.

Rattlesnake Lake Today

In a recent visit, I found cars lining the roadside by 8 AM.  Luckily, a drive through the parking lot, just like at the supermarket, revealed someone pulling out, letting me avoid the road walk where locals in pickups and cityfolk in Suburus, oblivious to danger, race down Cedar Falls freeway.

Glacial Erratic (note the hiker dwarfed by the boulder)

Interestingly enough, no pass is required for the parking lot.  Consequently, the place seems to get short shrift.  Litter and over-full Sani-Cans are the norm.  A nominal fee of $5 a carload might reduce the impact on trail and its amenities.

The trail starts on the northwest corner of the lake, and begins climbing up through alders, maples and salmonberry.    Large boulders, called glacial erratics,  create islands of obsidian among the bushes.  The climb is steady, and before long, the bigleaf maples give way to second-growth hemlock and fir.

View of Mt. Si

People unaccustomed to physical activity will definitely break a sweat climbing up the switchbacks to the junction, in just under an hour of work (1.9 miles).  Don't feel bad if a trail runner sprints by you.  The important thing is you are getting some fresh air and exercise.  If you leave your speaker off, and your headphones out, you might find out why the mountain is called Rattlesnake.  The answer is botanical, not reptilian.

View of the Lower Ledges from the highest

At the unsigned junction, turn right.   In a few hundred yards, the forest opens up to cliffs.  This is the most popular, and largest of the three sets of ledges where it seems all of humanity has paused to appreciate nature and enjoy a picnic lunch.  The ledges are exposed, and I hold my breath as toddlers and small children explore beyond the reach of their parents.  In fact, I am so bothered by the laissez-faire attitude of most parents, that I always head up to the higher ridge with less space and fewer people about a half mile up.  The trail continues for miles beyond that, gaining enough elevation to finally find a snow field, even in late spring.

The Reason the Hike is So Popular

On the day we went up, the journey down took nearly as long as going up, due to the sheer number of hikers on the trail.  Remember:  the downhill hiker yields to the uphill climber.  Seriously, the trail looked like a line at Disneyland.  Of course, the crowds are drawn by a beautiful, easy hike, close to Seattle.  Obviously, hike Rattlesnake Ridge early in the morning, or on a weekday.