Miles: 10.8 thru hike (with shuttle), 2.25 miles to first ledge
Elevation Gain/Highest: 2721ft/3481ft
Map: Green Trails Issaquah Alps, King County
Favorite Eats After Hike: Garlic Crush, Agave Cocina, North Bend Bar & Grill, Chang Thai & Pho, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
Hike Details:
“Located just 30 miles east of Seattle near North Bend, the Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area is a mountainous ridge along Interstate 90 that offers some of the most scenic hiking in the Cascade foothills. The 10-mile-long hiking trail along the ridge is easily accessible from I-90, provides many opportunities for views of Mount Si, the upper Snoqualmie Valley and the Cascades, and reaches a high-point elevation of 3,500 feet. At the south end, the 1,000-foot-high ledges above Rattlesnake Lake reward hikers with a spectacular view of the Cedar River Watershed.”-King County
My hike:
1/26/2019
You would be hard pressed to be a hiker who lives in the Seattle area and not have heard of Rattlesnake Ledge and Mountain. Located near North Bend, it draws a wide range of hikers from the metropolis for low elevation views, trail running and selfies. This was my third time on the mountain. The first time was in the rain with limited views and the second time in the dark with my husband’s search and rescue group. That’s how easy this trail can be, you can hike it at night (with the right gear, especially a headlamp and not your phone).
My friend Kari Darvill organized a hike on this sunny Saturday and we opted for a thru hike of Rattlesnake Mountain. Most people hike the 2.25 miles to the first ledge of Rattlesnake and turn around. But for those with more stamina, there are two more ledges higher up on the trail and it is possible to hike across the entire length of the 10 mile long ridge. We parked a car at Snoqualmie Valley and then carpooled to the parking lot at Rattlesnake Lake to begin our trek of Rattlesnake Ledge and the Mountain Ridge Trail.
The trail starts out on an old road and then meanders up into the woods on a well worn path. There is plenty of room for passing (uphill hiker has right-of-way) and stops for catching your breath and a view between the trees down into the Snoqualmie Valley.
You reach a saddle first and you can see the second and third ledge on your left, turning right takes you a short distance to the first ledge.
Expect plenty of company there but if you wander up a bit further to the other ledges you will find a small amount of solitude if you are early enough. Be mindful of the ledge, it is easy to slip and fall. King County Search and Rescue has most of their missions here and there are permanent bolts and routes for rescuing/retrieving those that have fallen. Also, mountain goats have been spotted on the ledges. In 2018, goats were extracted from the Olympics where they were invasive and brought back over to the Cascades. There are signs warning you of what to do in the event you encounter one.
If you decide to follow the entire trail to the other side of Rattlesnake Mountain, you can expect a forested ridge, clear cut open areas with views of Mount Rainier and the Olympics along with the popular viewpoints of Grand Prospect and Stan’s Overlook. There will even be a few quiet spots of repose next to a stream or cellphone tower. Don’t let those detour you, however. This hike is perfect for when you don’t have a lot of time to drive to a hike or the weather is less than optimal.
You can get an idea of what the Rattlesnake Ledge and Mountain Ridge Trail looks like in my video of our thru hike and if you have any questions about doing the shuttle, let me know. We did the hike starting at the ledges early in the morning to avoid having to come down them later on in the day when most people would be hiking.
Directions: To Snoqualmie Point Park, take I-90 east to Exit 27. At the end of the ramp, go right and follow the road to the end. Go through the gate on the right to enter the trailhead.
To Rattlesnake Lake, take I-90 to Exit 32. Go south on 436th Avenue SE, turning into Cedar Falls Road SE. Follow this main road 3.1 miles to the parking area for Rattlesnake Lake. To reach the trail, follow an old roadbed that circles the lake to the right.
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