Washington – Rattlesnake Ledge Hike
Although a little frightening in name, the Rattlesnake Ledge Hike leads you to a rocky outcropping with fantastic views of the surrounding ridges and lake far below. As a solo hiker, I found the easy-to-follow trail to be delightful, with mossy boulders, lush greenery, and flowers, with a stunning destination as your reward. The moderate climb is steady with the final reveal wide rock with steep cliffs and sweeping views. With a few passing clouds, the lighting was ever-changing and added depth to my photos.
Note: I visited on a weekday afternoon and constantly passed other people. If you’re looking for peaceful solitude, this is not your hike. Usually, I am not a fan of crowded hikes, but the wide trail made it less noticeable.
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Rattlesnake Ledge Hike
From the parking lot, it is a short walk around the mountain-side of the lake to the trailhead. There are kiosks of information and “restrooms” to use before you hit the trail. Coming from California in late summer, the greenery of the lower section of this trail shocked me. You mean, Washington doesn’t completely dry out to become a fire hazard every summer?! The lower section of the trail features ferns, mossy boulders, flowers, and young trees. There was so much greenery that I took off my sunglasses on this part of the trail.
The steady climb is on a wide soft dirt trail. Watch out for rocky sections and tree roots as you take in the trees. Sunlight dapples the upper section of the trail with a small sliver of view down to the lake, which will help you gauge your progress. Look for the pops of color that the small trail-side flowers provide. In this middle section, there are a few switchbacks, but only a couple.
Around 2 miles into the trail, the trees will open up and you will have to choose between continuing on the trail to one of the upper ledges or taking the connector trail to Rattlesnake Ledge. Head to the ledge to take first to check it out.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars, I would do this hike again on a weekday morning
- Intensity: Hiking shoes, athletic clothes, day pack, plenty of water
- Location: Snoqualmie Region, North Bend Area near Seattle, Washington
- Cost: Free!
- Restrooms: There are some port-a-potties at the trailhead
- Timing: 2 – 3 hours
- Distance: 4.3 miles roundtrip
Highlights:
- Incredible views of the lake, Mount Si, Mount Washington, and the Cedar River
- Shaded lush trail surrounded by trees
- Well-maintained trail
Lowlights:
- One of Seattle’s most popular hikes, so expect company
- Due to the lush trees, there is only small slivers of the view as you climb
Scenic Views
On the way to the ledge, there are open spaces where you can take in the view of North Bend. Careful on the rocks and roots as you make your way to the large clearing that is Rattlesnake Ledge. Then you will have to navigate the cracks and maybe do a little light scrambling to get down to the very edge. Once you do, phew, it is stunning. Rattlesnake Lake below was vibrant shades of blue – something I didn’t expect when seeing the lake earlier. Looking out, you’ll Mount Si, Mount Washington, and North Bend toward the left side, when looking out. Straight out, you’ll see another lake in the distance, which is Chester Morse Lake. And toward the right, you’ll see another ridgeline, which I cannot find the name of or information about – if you know it, let me know in the comments!
It is a sheer cliff, so those with a fear of heights should take it slow and not get too close to the edge. Watch your footing as there are also large crevices. Also, watch your pack for there are small critters that will immediately check your bag for snacks. I recommend scrambling to the lower area to fully take in the view as the crowd moves around. When I went, there were around 10 to 12 people coming and going on the ledge.
Bonus Ledges and the Return Trip
If you have more time/energy and a desire to get away from others, head back to the main path, and continue on the trail to two more ledges. I didn’t have the time to do these, but there is a middle ledge and upper ledge. On this website, it says you will get even more sweeping views of the northwest and can look down at those at Rattlesnake ledge – hah!
When you’re ready, you will return on the same trail. I found it to be a quick descent with the soft dirt not giving my knees any issues at all. Though, I do think how much your knees hurt depends on a number of factors. Returning to lake-level, I took a few photos on the rocky shore near the parking lot and headed out.
Getting Photos as a Solo Hiker
This hike is a particularly good example of how to get photos at a busy viewpoint of yourself. In essence, you will need to ask other people to take a photo of you or have a tripod. With crowded locations, I personally think setting up a tripod is too time-consuming and impacts other people’s experiences. Instead, I’ve created a little system to ask for photos:
- First, explore the area and angles that you would like to capture. Pick out a few spots, taking empty photos.
- Ask a couple or fellow hiker if they want THEIR photo taken. It’s nice to offer to couples because they might not get photos of them together.
- Set them up in the spot that you want your photo in. This is a great way to see how the photo will come out in addition to giving them a well-crafted composition.
- 80 – 90% of the time, they will then offer to take your photo. If not, simply ask.
- Usually, they will naturally stand the same spot you did. I also say, “I’m going to try a couple of different poses if you wouldn’t mind taking a bunch” and specify if I want vertical or horizontal. Thank them profusely!
- Rinse and repeat with different areas. Don’t ask the same people to follow you around and don’t take over one view.
By getting other people bomb photos first, it is not only a win-win, but it sets them up to naturally get good photos of you without being overly directive. Once I am satisfied, I’ve gotten, I will go around and offer to take photos of other people without needing reciprocation. It brings joy to get a nice photo of a solo hiker, couple, or even family or group, so I am happy to do it.
Get to the Trailhead
Head to the Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area, which comes up on Google Maps. This will lead you to an expansive parking lot. I did not see a fee to park in the lot but read the signs to be sure. There are paths that will lead you to the lake. Follow the paths toward the mountainside of the lake. There is a gate on a gravel road that will lead you to the kiosks and trailhead.
I drove from the REI near Seattle Airport to the parking lot, so I don’t have a good idea of how long it takes to get there. Looking at the map it is roughly 45 minutes from Seattle, depending on traffic.
Overall Thoughts: Rattlesnake Ledge Hike
With the distance from Seattle, trail length, and expansive views, this was the perfect mid-day/afternoon hike after flying into the city. Being unfamiliar with the area and also having a wide trail, the number of people on the trail didn’t bother me. I could also see how it could get crowded on the weekends. The lush greenery and fantastic viewpoint made this hike worth the effort and overall, I enjoyed the trail.
This trip was the first time that I got to hike in the mountains around Washington and I totally fell in love with the Cascades and Olympic National park. I am already planning a trip for next year and would like to make a trip to the Pacific Northwest annually, especially when California dries up.
That said, what day hike or even backpacking hikes would you recommend that I check out in the future?? I plan on doing the Enchantments soon, but let me know in the comments if you know of other fantastic day or multi-day treks.
Happy Travels,
Hanna
