Rattlesnake Ledge

PICK UP YOUR TRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First hike for midwesterners visiting the area. We had ages 8 to 46 and found it challenging and very rewarding. 70 minutes up and 50 to get down. A tad crowded but that's okay. Views were amazing at the top!!!

We LOVED this hike, the view at the top is one of the best in the area...well worth all the foot traffic. Careful with kids, easy for them as well.  You CAN take your kids to the top, but do not let them wander, it is not fenced in or secured at the top.

This hike is perfect for out-of-towners--and out-of-shapers. We were happy i with the 2.5 mile hike up to the first lookout (a nearly 300-degree view) so opted out of the other destinations. I'm a little acrophobic so I didn't venture down the rocks where others were perched, but got some nice panoramic shots and enjoyed a picnic lunch in the shade. Saw one garter snake, which helped boost the heart rate. Next time I'd bring a  bathing suit and wading sandals for a picnic at Rattlesnake Lake at the end.

This is the perfect little hike if you don't have much time, one that I have gone on countless times.  The view at the ledge is breathtaking.  If you want to push yourself harder the trail keeps going!  You can go to the next peak (2 more miles up) or park a second car at the Snoqualmie winery and hike the 12 miles there.

A rare thing these days to find a nice place in nature where all are invited. How nice to be able to bring along your friend and family member on a nice day hike where we can all get along as long as there are certain rules followed.

Such a nice hike and the view is spectacular.

My husband and I hiked to Rattlesnake Ledge on a sunny Sunday at 2:30pm.  Now we both are a bit out of shape...well extremely out of shape and this hike was just right for us.  Going up was definately harder for me but the view was worth it and there were plenty of people coming down that were very encouraging.  Most people kept their dogs close by but the same cannot be said for some of the parents with their kids.  Oh well...we came for the exercise and we definately achieved that.  We took our time coming back down because the trail had become desolate and temperature was just right and it became even more enjoyable.  Good hike for a Sunday afternoon!

Definitely a popular trail, but well worth it on such a rare nice day in the area.  People were nice, dogs were well behaved and kids were troopers.  I would totally recommend it.

My sister and I hiked Rattlesnake Ledge for the first time today for my birthday. We had an amazing experience although it was pouring rain for most of the hike! We'd concider ourselves "in shape" and moving at a good pace you'll sure get your heart rate up! The trail is very nicely marked and well maintained.  There weren't any views today because of the clouds, but on a nice day I'm sure it's amazing!

The hike was short and easy. it was a bit hard at the top as it was all icy with lots of snow. but i suppose in summers with all dry trail its pretty simple.

Lovely views from the top of the ledge. it very very crowded lots of people and pets

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashishaleti/3420634446/

Ashish

When I need a quick hike, this is my favorite one to go on. The scenery is beautiful and depending on when you go you can either find yourself in solitude or swarming with people and dogs. If you are going on a weekend, my recommendation is to get there early, start your hike around 7 or 8am. You won't regret it. By 9-10am the trail is swarming with people and dogs.

Best idea during the summer is to get there early, set up a blanket and some picnic supplies, do the hike, come down the mountain and just jump into the lake then reward yourself with an afternoon of relaxation. Ah... does it really get much better than that?

Nice winter hike. Tried to reach East Peak about 5 miles from trailhead and hit consistent snow about 3 miles up. The signs pointing to East Peak from the Ledge say 2.5 miles (about 4.5 from head), we walk well over that and there is no East Peak sign or peak to speak of. Well worth the extra few miles to see the terrain and snow changes and it's only about 10 miles from the trailhead to a Snoqualmie winery...make a day trip and park one car at the winery while hiking from Rattlesnake ledge so you can through hike to wine taste and have the car at the winery.

I would call this the most rewarding of the easier hikes around.  It is short, sweet, and has a great view at the top.  We hiked a cooler Saturday afternoon in early February and there was still a bit of a crowd, but I'm sure its nothing like on a warm summer day.  If you bring a heavy pack and walk at a good pace, its a good rewarding training hike, but its also a great place for a 'stroll' with newbie hikers.  This is where I bring my out-of-state guests for their first real hike because its easy and has great views!  I don't think I would bring my own younger children because the top is plain scary, but all ages can do it!

This was great for getting in shape. It was short, and hard at some parts, but the view is amazing. Also leads into some longer hikes if you want to keep going.

We love this hike and the view at the summit is awesome! Highly recommend!

The kids loved this hike.  My youngest at 4 years has never climbed yet so this was her first and she is now hooked.  The terrain changes enough to keep them interested for awhile.  Sing songs and play guessing games and it will a perfect first hike for most kids.

This is a great hike if you want something short but with great views. I found it in the "best hikes for kids" book on trails.com, but I'm not sure I would take a kid on this hike.  The ledge where everyone stops is always busy and last time we were there some guy stood ten feet away from us gabbing on his cell phone for 30 minutes while we ate lunch!  So, we packed up our toys and went further up the trail only to find BETTER views and not a soul anywhere to be found.  The secret to this trail is going just a little further and reap the rewards.

By the way, I may be an elitest, but please, please, PLEASE people, don't go out into nature and talk on your cell phone forever at the top of a scenic ledge!!!

We did this hike in July  as our first family hike of the summer. The views of Rattlesnake lake and the Cedar River Watershed reservoir from the top are quite good. There are some steep slopes along the trail so be careful with kids.

My wife and I wanted to hike Little Si today, but inexplicably the trail was closed, so we ended up at Rattlesnake Ledge.  It was a quite nice hike, but despite the fact that it was a Friday morning and it was cool and misty and there was absolutely no view whatsoever from the top, it was still a little crowded.  I can't even imagine what that place would be like on a sunny weekend day...

Great way to knock the dust off of your slightly larger body following a lazy winter.  We went up on 7/6/08 and I don't think I've seen a busier trail.  It's not bad as folks will happily step aside - don't be upset if people don't say "hi"; it's a little hard to address everyone on the weekends.  I loved the lake area too.  I could see doing the quick hike and coming down to have a picnic and relax...there are many fewer people than the close to 80 people or more that we saw at the top - I felt like I was late to some sort of meeting.  The views of the surrounding trees, peaks and valleys are very nice, though.  If you want solitude, you'll probably need to go during the week, or find another trip altogether.  If you don't mind brushing by fellow enthusiasts, Rattlesnake Ledge provides decent inclines in parts, but also mellow enough grades for those not quite ready to call themselves hardcore.  Oh, and no motors on the lake means nice kayaking, rafting or canoeing.  If you want to fish after your hike, you'll need barbless hooks, fyi.

Hiking to Rattlesnake Ledge pretty much says, " I want a quick hike with nice views and I don't mind people." If any of these aren't true or you're looking for something else, you should find another hike.

My wife and I will be doing this hike later in the summer with friends. I'm in OK shape, she's not, so we're doing this most weekends until then, just so she gets to know the trail. On most outings it's too busy with people but on 5/13 it was a rainy Tuesday evening so I decided to head up it after work as quickly as I could.

At the bottom I met two people coming off but on the 33 minute hike up, I encountered no one. And while I was alone on the summit with rain and shrouded views, the quiet was disturbed by barking dogs and car noisy. Very close the perfect, though. I tromped down in about the same time but met 6 guys marching up under full packs. Looked arduous.

Normal hiking time is just about an hour. You can kill a lot of time on top enjoyng the views but it will always be crowded. Unless, of course, you don't mind walking in the rain.

Hiked this yesterday, May 16, 2008. Started up at about 10:15 and encountered fewer crowds than I expected (much more on the way down). It was a Friday, but I was expecting a lot more people to do as I did and take the day off to enjoy the return of the sun to Seattle. This is about the longest hike I can take my 9-month old on and she wasn't the youngest one I encountered on the trail. The journey to the top is pretty uneventful, through the woods, no waterfalls or major streams or anything, but the view from the top is nice. I am totally out of shape to start this spring/summer hiking season off, and this was a good warm-up.

If you are looking for a casual climb that is easy with a great reward.  This is it.  Great view at the top.  Lots of room on the summit.  Bring a lunch and eat up there.  This is what we did and I even packed up my 8 month old daughter.  The 5 in the group had a great time.

The bad...Way to many people.  When you see loads of 4 to 8 year old kids climbing you know its not going to be to difficult.  You'll be stepping aside a lot to let people come down the mountain, and if you are a faster hiker you will be requesting from people to let you pass quite often.

I'd do it again with some friends for just a casual fun hike and lunch at the top, but I'd never do it if I wanted to do a training hike or a hike to push myself.

My friend and I both hiked this trail on Feb. 14, 2008 and were not disappointed.  I am an avid hiker but haven't hiked this trail too many  times.   I think this hike would be a lot busier in the warmer months and on weekends as it is pretty close to Issaquah/Seattle and had good parking.

It took us about 45 minutes to hike to Rattlesnake which is about 2.3 miles from the trailhead.  Right after we checked out the beautiful lookout at Rattlesnake Ledge, we continued on up the trail in hopes of making it to East Peak.  Right after this point we came into snow on the trail and were not wearing snow shoes.  We didn't really care.

We continued on the snow trail and braved the elements even though sometimes our feet would sink in to the snow about thigh deep.  We made it to a clearing after meandering through all of the snow trails.  It was pretty cool as there was only one set of footprints in the 1/2" of newly fallen snow.  After while there were no footprints so we were traveling on uncharted waters.

We were looking for a spot to have lunch and pack a chew but could not find a place.  I believe the point to which we got was approx. 3.7 miles from the trailhead.  The views from up here were pretty amazing and all of the snow around made it that much more beautiful.

I would recommend this hike for any hiker who likes to get the heartbeat up and likes nice views.  Even if you're a novice hiker, this hike is not that bad.  Especially just to Rattlesnake Ledge.

I have been to several hikes around the Seattle area, and this one was one of the best. If you are looking for a good work out with beautiful scenery and don't want to spend too many hours, this was the perfect hike.  I got a late start at around 4pm but had the luxury of hiking on a weekday. The round trip to the top of the ledge and back was only about 2.5 hours. Traffic was mild, and the views were the best I have seen. Mount Si Trail was a much more demanding hike, and much longer, but the views on Rattlesnake ledge were just as rewarding.

If you are looking for a hike that does not take all day, but will give you a nice work-out with beautiful views and a bit of inspiration, this is a highly recommended hike.

The view at the top more than makes up for the dull hike. Encountered about 8 groups on Thursday.  Will definitely have to come back on a sunny day to take some panoramic shots. 2.5 difficulty level.

Surprisingly, did this trail for the first time Saturday, July 28. Decided to head out very early and was that ever the right decision! Trail up was peaceful and only encountered about three groups going down. However, heading down was a zoo! Will never do this trail on a weekend again. Lot's of people who had no clue about trail etiquette and the path is way too narrow for that kinda two-way traffic.

That said ... this is an excellent hike. Just enough of a heart-pumper without being overwhelming and a beathtaking view. Decided to head further to the fire tower look-out and the trail was again very mellow. Not a whole lot of people decide to go beyond the ledge. All in all, a satisfying hike. Let the dog in for a dip in the lake at the end which seemed to make the end of her day too!

The trail connects now too with another trail and can now do a solid 10-12 mile hike one-way. recommendation is to park one car at one trailhead (off exit 27) and the other at Rattlesnake Ledge. Definitely would be worthwhile!

The Rattlesnake ledge trail is an amazing short hike.  There is plenty of parking at the trail head, and the trail starts out in a low grade and continues like that for about a mile or so.  The trail then becomes steeper, but it won't overwhelm you even if you are a novice hiker (like me).  The view along the way and on the top of the ledge is incredible, and is well worth the effort.  It took me and my wife about an hour to get to the top and 30 minutes on the way down.  Like the other reviewers rightly point out, this trail seems to be pretty popular and so is crowded on nice sunny weekends.

This is one of my favorite places to come and because it is accessible pretty much year round it makes a good outing for those clear winter days.  I should note however, that I never do this hike in the summer months unless its early on a weekday.  All other times I advise you to simply take a dip in the lake as it can get quite crowded.  At the top you'll be rewarded with a nice view, and though the trail does get abused some it is in good shape.  If you're more of a loner, then keep on going past the ledge for bigger views as very few of the weekend warriors venture past the first viewpoint.  Well worth the effort, I definitely recommend.

Thought we'd get a chance at a quiet hike since it was a wet to partial gray day.  What we encountered was a circus. Ended up yielding the path multiple times to rude groups of yuppie trail runners and a group of power walking women who clucked incessantly like hens at the top of their lungs both with each other and at their mob of six off leash dogs. And, to add insult to injury, we policed up two piles of dog shit that were left behind. Ladies, If you read this: take your fat asses to the gym next time and curb your fucking dogs. We learned our lesson to stay away from any trail near to Seattle to ensure no future contact with the disciples of unenlightened self interest. Harsh you say? We even encountered a man TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE while "hiking" the trail...WTF?

This was the starting hike of Spring 2007 and it did not disappoint me. The hike itself is not very difficult although there are few switchbacks which kind of knock the wind out. But compared to the scenary, it is well worth it. The view is beautiful. Do realize that this is a very popular destination and hence lots of traffic. So get early.

More Information here

Hiked in mid November, 2006.  The hike is fairly short in the sense that you can look down and clearly see your car when you get to the top, but the elevation gain is significant (the car looks like a small speck).  It was nice on a late fall afternoon, no rain but a wet trail.  Fairly crowded, but the only annoyance were a pair of "power hikers" who appeared to be racing to the top with ski poles, etc with little regard for the rest of us.  The view at the top is great, pretty much 360 vistas.  The top would be a great place to have a small picnic in the summer, my guess is that it must be really packed at that time.

We left Seattle at around 1:00 and returned at around 7:00.  It was a cloudy day threatening rain and we risked it.  The walk up told us that we were going to get wet but we were covered by the canopy for much of the 2 mile hike.  It was a prototypical hike through the hilly cascade forest and the view from the top is very dramatic and panoramic.  The cloudy wisps blowing past us made me feel kinda wierd and vertigo started to freak me out a bit.   So that was an added bonus.   If you want to give any out-of-towners a taste of what makes Washington special this is a great option.  Be sure to bring a camera for the top.

While vacationing from Colorado, I had a couple of hours to kill while my friend was at work. Originally, I was going to hike Mt. Si but had trouble finding the turnoff and stopped at the Ranger Station for directions. They had a great map of the area with good trail descriptions and directions to each TH. Since my early start for Mt. Si was dashed, I decided on a shorter hike and checked out Rattlesnake Ledge. I am in moderate shape and found the trek to be a nice heart-pumping workout. Keeping a steady pace and I made it to the overlook in 45 min. For meandering hikers, it will take longer. One woman at the top said it took her an hour and 40 min. But hey, at least she made it! The trail is a steady uphill grade about 2 miles through a shaded forest. There aren't any vistas, save for one or two small glimpses of the lake, until you reach the lookout or the “top”. For a longer hike, you can continue as far as 9+ miles up to another lookout (I forgot the name) and then down the valley, in which case you'll probably want to drop a car at the other end first. I hope to try that on my next visit, but this time I had to turn around and boogie on back to Seattle. I did this hike on midday on a Friday in August and it wasn't crowded in the least. For those who want to make a day of it, pack a lawn chair and a lunch and hang by the lake when you're done. On a hot day you can cool off with a dip in the lake!

A really good 4 mile (roundtrip) hike about 30 or so minutes outside of Seattle.  The hike isn't extremely steep, but there are some slightly difficult areas.  Other than that, it's a pretty level grade.  The only qualm I have is the fact that this hike is usually crowded - - the last time i went (which was last thursday), there were two guys making a lot of noise at the top.  But other than that, it's really lovely.  Bring a lunch and stay for the views.   Directions from Seattle:  From I-5 South, get on I-90 East.  You'll be driving for about 30 miles.  Take Exit 32 and turn right on to 436th Avenue SouthEast.  Continue to the end of the road - it will change name to Cedar Falls Rd.).  Look for parking area for Rattlesnake Ledge.

This trail now goes to all along the ridge west to the Snoqualmie (Point?)trail head off of exit 27....so you can drop a car off at exit 27and then drive to the Rattlesnake Ledge TH and just continue west...it's about 11 miles...this would make a great conditioning hike to do a round trip(22mi)...There has been a ton of work done to make this possible...what a great thing to have close by.

This is an excellent hike if you're looking for something short and close to Seattle.   The views from the top are fantastic and the hike itself is not very strenuous.  It's definitely worth the effort.  The lake at the bottom is very nice as well.

We went yesteday, the Sunday of Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend.  It wasn't too crowded, though we did see a surprising number of people for the time of year, and the rain/hail weather conditions.  It was clear and sunny in the morning (I had forgotten what colors other than "gray" the sky came in, heh), which probably drew crowds.  The middle third or so was slushy, melty snow and was a bit more work going up and very slippery going down.  There was about a foot of fluffy, fluffy snow on top, and about half way through our lunch, the sky clouded over and it began to hail rather hard.   As a New Englander missing snow, I was rather delighted with this, but I was alone in that sentiment.  My boyfriend went in slacks, tube socks and an old pair of running sneaks.  Aside from the wetness, there was actually nothing wrong with his choice, so really, it's a pretty easy hike even in slush.

On a personal-rant note: as far as I've been told, people descending have the right of way, and ascenders are supposed to step aside to allow them to pass.  Either way, if you hike on narrow trails where there are people, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PASS PEOPLE.  Sometimes this means you move over and pause for a moment.  If you can't do this without getting all huffy and rolling your eyes - stay home.  Seriously.  This isn't rush hour on the freeway.  We go to the woods because it's nice.  It can't be that hard to be nice to fellow hikers.

The DAF team headed up to Rattlesnake Ledge on Sunday December 04.  There was a couple of inches of snow at the trailhead, increasing to about a foot at the top.  The trail up was well traveled, and there was no need for snowshoes, or gators.  The trail was a bit slick though.  The trail is a gradual climb most through the forest to the top, where there is a lookout.  The view from the top goes west and south and was nice on a cold clear day.  Enjoy.

This is a decent hike with nice views for relatively little effort.  However, I would not say that it would be easy for visitors who are in bad shape.  There are a few other nice hikes that are easier than this one.  (Lake 22, Wallace Falls)  The trail is nicely maintained, and the initial 1/4th of it is very easy.  The last half is a steady, moderate grade (enough to not feel 100% leisurely).  The view at the top is quite grand, with snow-capped mountains in the distance this time of year.  You will see much of civilization as well, as this hike is just outside of town.  My biggest reason for rating this hike a 3star is because there was definately a "parade" of people, even though it was a little chilly out.  You'll be doing your share of "hi" and "howdoyado".  Nonetheless, if you are looking for a quick and convenient hike, this is an enjoyable one.  The estimate for the hike, according to the sign at the trailhead is about 45minutes to 1hour to the top.  I'd say that's pretty accurate if you are all business and don't doddle.

I hiked the trail for the first time this weekend (August '05) with my two teenaged sons and our dog.  Our mistake (or good fortune, depending on who you ask) was that about a 1/4 mile up when the trail splits into 3 paths, we went left..and apparently took the 'old' trail.  This is much more of a 'hike' than the new trail but offers solitude and some pretty cool rock caves.  It was about 85 degrees when we hit the top. Well worth the effort...crystal clear views in every direction!

I will say, though, that I doubt I would hike it again on the weekend. The crowds at the top were a little unnerving. Especially with the number of small children running around, a little too close to the edges for my comfort.

Gear: I would definitely bring a good walking stick -- for on the way down when the gravel gets really loose under your feet.

Dogs: Best part of this hike was letting the dog swim at the lake before 'and' rewarding him with a nice cool swim afterwards! And soaking our own feet, of course.

I have made this hike at least one hundred times (I lived in North Bend two years) and consider it the best "short hike" (5 miles or less roundtrip) I have yet experienced.  The trail is very high quality and walkable even after heavy rain, and the view from the ledge--a 270-degree view of Snoqualmie Valley, Cedar Valley, and the untouched watershed land with Rattlesnake Lake directly below--is absolutely breathtaking, particularly at sunrise when the fog runs through the valleys and still clutches to the higher mountains nearby and in the distance.  Parking is free, the trail is accessible and mostly snow-free year-round,  and a quick dip in Rattlesnake Lake at the bottom after the hike is very refreshing on a hot summer day.  This is a great trail for anyone--my son hiked it with me once when he was only three years old--but challenging enough if you pick the right pace.

There is good parking at Rattle Snake Lake. It is a high car prowl area so don't leave any valuables in your car. The trail is easy to get to, and well marked. The trail is maintained and kind of 'park' like. There are bridges to cross streams and even some places where steps have been made for your convenience. If you find it too easy, try running it. There are plenty of photo oportunities at the top next to the shear cliffs. There are sweeping panoramic views of the Snoqualmie Valley and North Bend below. It was good advice to continue along the trail past the first view point. The other viewpoints are just as scenic, but with less crowd. There is no solitude on this trail during the weekend.

A short and easy hike higly recommended if you only have a few hours, or bring along family and friends in bad shape or unused to hiking. I The trail is good and never truly steep, but I must admit I found the trip rather boring. In the end the hike is rewarding, and the drop from the top is worth it all, with good options for scary pictures and nice views in several directions.

A good hike that was not as steep as I expected. The view was fabulous and the down hill trip was nice and easy. Very, very crowded trail, lots of families and dogs. Spent about an 1 1/4 hrs going up at a slow pace and 45 min coming down.