North Bend, WA: Rattlesnake Ledge

Hiked: 04 October 2019
Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation: 1,100 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Cedar Falls Rd SE, North Bend, WA

View from Rattlesnake Ledge

Just a short 45 minute drive from Seattle (assuming light traffic), Rattlesnake Ledge is a popular King County hike and provides beautiful views of the Snoqualmie Valley for a relatively small comparative effort.

We drove out to North Bend when Chris got off of work on a Friday afternoon. Despite a traffic backup, we were still able to get to the trailhead with plenty of time before sunset. The trail, in classic PNW fashion, was a wet dirt track up through an evergreen forest. The trail climbs pretty steadily, with a respectable amount of elevation gain for the short distance. Along the way we saw families, dogs, and trail runners all making their way up to the top. There are no breath taking views during the hike itself, but the forest scenery is good enough view in itself.

After climbing for about an hour, the forest cleared to reveal the rock cliffs of Rattlesnake Ledge and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The pictures here don't do justice to the low lying clouds that fill the valleys, the craggy mountains and hills, or the innumerable evergreens that cover all of it. We sat on the rocks trying to take it all in until the cool October winds sent us back down the trail.

Clouds collect in the lower valleys and cover nearby peaks

The lake near the trailhead can be seen from the top of the ledge

Overall, this hike is an excellent pre/after-work option or could supply an intense trail run. Crowds probably get pretty bad on the weekends, so this trail is probably best used for weekday excursions.

Rattlesnake Ledge would provide excellent views for both sunrise and sunset