Originally Posted: June 2021
Updated: December 2022

Rattlesnake Mountain Trail Traverse: Rattlesnake Lake to Snoqualmie Point

Rattlesnake Ledges
Rattlesnake Mountain: East Peak (true summit) aka East Rattlesnake Peak (3517′)
Rattlesnake Mountain: middle summit aka Donna’s Pinnacle (3360’+)
Grand Prospect
Stan’s Overlook

Route Summary

Region: Central Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Issaquah Alps

Areas: Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area & Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area & Raging River State Forest

Starting Point: Rattlesnake Lake maintenance road gate (Elev. 920 feet), accessed from Cedar Falls Road SE

Way Points: East Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead kiosk (road walk); Lower Rattlesnake Ledge Trail Junction & Middle Rattlesnake Ledge Trail Junction & Upper Rattlesnake Ledge Trail Junction & Logjam Landing & East Rattlesnake Peak Road Junction & Windy Landing Trail Junction & Middle Rattlesnake Peak Road Junction & Grand Prospect & Sally’s Swale & Cedar Alley & Stan’s Overlook Trail Junction & Powerline Crossing & Raging River Mountain Bike Trail Junction (trail hike)

Ending Point: West Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead (Elev. 1080 feet) at Snoqualmie Point, accessed from Winery Road

Sidetrip 1: Lower Rattlesnake Ledge (trail hike)

Sidetrip 2: Middle Rattlesnake Ledge (trail hike & rock scramble)

Sidetrip 3: Upper Rattlesnake Ledge (trail hike)

Sidetrip 4 / Summit: East Rattlesnake Peak (road walk)

Sidetrip 5: Windy Landing (trail hike)

Sidetrip 6: Middle Rattlesnake Peak (road walk)

Sidetrip 7: Stan’s Overlook (trail hike)

Approximate Stats (excluding all seven sidetrips): 10.4 miles traveled; 2800 feet gained; 2650 feet lost; 4 to 6 hours elapsed.

Approximate Stats (including all seven sidetrips): 10.8 miles traveled; 2950 feet gained; 2800 feet lost; 4 to 7 hours elapsed.

Typical Season: mid-May thru mid-November

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Rattlesnake Mtn Trail Traverse (west to east): Snoqualmie Point to Rattlesnake Lake

Route Overview

Rattlesnake Mountain is an elongated landform oriented in a northwest-southeast alignment and sandwiched between the Snoqualmie River and Raging River, just southwest of North Bend.  This mountain and three others to the west—Cougar, Squak, and Tiger—comprise the locally famous Issaquah Alps.  However, unlike the other three Alps, which are blanketed with a web of hiking trails, Rattlesnake Mountain really has only one dedicated hiking trail:  a 10-mile-long footpath that follows the topographic spine in a remarkably straight line between Snoqualmie Point and Rattlesnake Lake.  This special characteristic makes the Rattlesnake Mountain Trail particularly appealing as a hiking traverse.

The Rattlesnake Mountain Trail Traverse can logically be completed in either direction, given that the total elevation gain and loss is essentially the same each way.  A west-to-east trek, starting at Snoqualmie Point, offers the advantages of better forward views and a more dramatic finish at Rattlesnake Ledges.  An east-to-west trek, starting at Rattlesnake Lake, offers the advantages of hiking away from the largest crowds and making a more relaxed (less steep) descent at the other end.  The east-to-west option is described below. For a description of the west-to-east option, look at my companion report.

The western trailhead, at Snoqualmie Point, can be accessed from Winery Road off Interstate-90, Exit 27.  A Discover Pass is required to use the established parking lot here, but free parking is available along Winery Road, just outside the parking lot.  The eastern trailhead, at Rattlesnake Lake, can be accessed from Cedar Falls Road SE off Interstate-90, Exit 32.  No permit is needed at the parking lot here.  Be aware, however, that both parking lots fill up quickly on summer weekends; as such, an early start or a midweek trek is highly recommended.

Full Route Description

Starting at the gated access road adjacent to the main parking area at Rattlesnake Lake (Elev. 920 feet), a 5-minute walk along the gravel-surfaced road takes you to the official Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead.  An architecturally handsome stone-and-wood kiosk here displays several informational signs and maps, as well as a plaque showing that this trail is part of the Mountains-To-Sound Greenway.

The Rattlesnake Mountain Trail (RMT) heads west from the kiosk and switchbacks upward through pleasant, shady forest.  Expect to encounter numerous other hikers during this first part of the traverse, especially on weekends. 

Upon reaching the crest of a minor ridge marked with a wooden sign (2.0 miles + 1200 feet from starting point), take a short spur trail off to the right for the first of seven sidetrips described herein.  This spur trail leads over to Lower Rattlesnake Ledge, which provides striking easterly views out to the Central Cascades and down to Rattlesnake Lake.

Continuing northwestward on the RMT for 5 or 10 minutes brings you to another short spur trail leading over to Middle Rattlesnake Ledge. If you are comfortable with exposure, you can scramble out to the brink; otherwise, just enjoy the view from the first rock outcrop.  To the southeast, Chester Morse Reservoir is now visible as a sliver of blue water at the head of the broad Cedar River Valley.  In the opposite direction, Upper Rattlesnake Ledge can be seen atop a steep, rocky buttress.

Another 5- or 10-minute hike up the RMT takes you to a wooden sign and a short spur trail leading over to Upper Rattlesnake Ledge.  From this marvelous vantage, the massive façade of Mt. Garfield can be seen rising above the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley to the northeast. The rocky knobs of the Middle and Lower Ledge are visible down to the southeast.

Beyond Upper Rattlesnake Ledge, the RMT proceeds upward through deep forest on a carpet of fir needles. Other hikers become noticeably more scarce with increasing distance.  Gradually, the RMT gradient eases off as it climbs onto the crest of Rattlesnake Mountain and twice crosses a mossy road.  While making a high traverse beneath the crest, you will get a brief look at a tall radio tower uphill to your right just before coming to a junction with the same mossy road.

For another worthwhile sidetrip, follow the road upward as it curves sharply back to the southeast.  A 1-minute walk will take you past a little viewpoint bench to the summit of East Rattlesnake Peak—the true summit of Rattlesnake Mountain (4.6 miles + 2600 feet from starting point).  The summit area hosts a tall lattice tower and a curious, old, red, log-style facility building.  If you like hunting for Easter eggs, you might have fun looking for the “Snake Benchmark” here.

After leaving East Rattlesnake Peak, you will pass an RMT sign and quickly come to a marked junction with a short spur trail leading out to Windy Landing.  This was probably a good viewpoint in past decades, but now the view is completely obscured by young trees and bushes.

Just past Windy Landing, the RMT enters a large clearcut and soon crosses a gravel road.  This road leads up to a small radio tower and auxiliary building sitting atop a minor hill that is identified as “Middle Peak” or “Donna’s Pinnacle” on some maps.  These names seem ill-fitting because the hill doesn’t look anything like a pinnacle and doesn’t feel much like a peak to me.  Judge for yourself.

Proceeding along the RMT through the logging zone, you will clearly see West Rattlesnake Peak with its cluster of radio towers straight ahead.  For the next ½ mile, the RMT closely parallels a gravel road that leads up this peak.  I can’t recommend it, but if you happen to be desperate for a longer sidetrip to an industrial summit, hop over to the gravel road and follow it up the peak.  Otherwise, stay on the RMT as it skirts the northeastern edge of the clearcut.

The RMT eventually re-enters deep forest and makes an undulating traverse around the flank of West Rattlesnake Peak before abruptly emerging onto a small clearing at Grand Prospect (6.8 miles + 2800 feet from starting point).  This vantage provides a great view of Mt. Si, towering directly above downtown North Bend.

Beyond Grand Prospect, the RMT begins descending through mature second-growth forest.  In a couple miles, you arrive at a six-way junction adorned with multiple signs and a large photomap (8.9 miles + 2950 feet from starting point).  Several mountain-bike trails branch out from this junction, and a short spur leads right over to Stan’s Overlook—the seventh and final sidetrip described herein. 

Stan’s Overlook makes a particularly fine picnic spot, thanks to several tables and benches. The view extends northward to Mt. Index, which is seen as a broad peak standing directly above the tiny cone of Fuller Mountain.

Back at the six-way junction, look carefully for the RMT heading straight downhill and passing through a wooden stile; don’t be misled by the mountain-bike trail angling down to the right.  From here, you will continue descending steadily, through a combination of mature evergreen forest and young leafy forest while passing underneath a powerline and crossing several gravel roads.

The last mile of the RMT follows overgrown logging roads until reaching its western terminus at the Snoqualmie Point parking lot (10.8 miles + 2950 feet from starting point).  Because this is also a major trailhead for the Raging River mountain-biking trail system, expect to encounter numerous twin-wheeled warriors here, especially on summer weekends.

Route Maps & Profile

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Photo Gallery

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