Rattle Snake Ledge

It was a beautiful crisp fall afternoon and I headed up from Rattlesnake Lake to the ledge. You can see the top of the ledge in the top left of this picture. It’s a great hike if you’ve only got three or four hours and don’t want to spend them in the car driving. It is just out of North Bend

It is not a wilderness experience. You can expect to see people from age three to age eighty and a fair number of people glaring at the person who brought them. But it is the best view for a one hour hike in the state.

In the distance you can see Chester Morse Lake, the source of your drinking water if you are from Seattle, or if you’re from Mercer Island which happens to buy its water from Seattle. The canyon in front is boxley canyon.

As crowded as this gets, if you continue on for another ten minutes to the second ledge, you will likely be all alone. I’ve seen 50 people setting on the ledge, moved on for ten minutes, and watched for an hour without anyone walking by me. and you get to watch all of the people on the first ledge hanging on for dear life. You walk out of the trees and in five steps you’re at the edge of 600 foot drop off. Many people get there before realizing it, quickly set down and carefully scoot back.

The moon was rising over Mt. Washington and in the distance you can see Bandera Mountain. 

 

The best time to hike this trail is to time it so that you’re at the top about an hour before sunset. The walk through the trees usually has a beautiful golden lightand you get back to the lake to see a sunset.

And if it is the fall, the timing is perfect to stop at Scotts in North bend for one of their great burgers.