Area: Middle Fork Snoqualmie

Length: 5.2

Elevation: 1030 + 600 - 200

Condition: generally good with rough places

Solitude: low to medium

Appeal: low

Features: river views

Difficulty: easy

Administered: North Bend RD

Trailhead: Middle Fork TH

Connects to: Pratt Connector trail
Upper Middle Fork trail
Dingford Creek trail

Guides: none

Maps: Green Trails Mt Si, Green Trails Skykomish

 

Overview

The trailhead lot sports over 50 slots according to the official records. That means that maybe you have a chance of finding a place to park, which is one of the features of this trail. You will still contend with some crowding, but all of that dissipates in roughly two miles, and then you can have the larger and better portion of the trail in relative peace. The Middle Fork river is pretty, but you don't see a lot of it as you follow a network of stitched-together old road and rail grades, dating from the times when the logs were stripped out of the valley. That was long ago, so trees are back, but not like the original. Beware, on some days this trail is open to bicycles! Don't let this be a problem. Check with the N.B.R.D. office for schedule.

Details

For the first mile, you pass close to the base of the "Stegasaur" ridge. At about 1.5 miles, the trail is temporarily at the river edge, and maybe not such a great thing, vulnerable to washouts. If necessary, bypass through the brush.

The middle portion of the trail tends to stay relatively moist year-round. Enjoy the thick blankets of club moss that border the trail. You may also find washed rubble from seasonal creeks — just pass straight across if no obvious trail is visible.

 

A few good views open to a 3400-foot rocky sentinel above the river to the right. As you pass at about 3.8 miles, gain a few feet of elevation and move up and away from the river, crossing Cripple Creek on a high bridge (often broken, often repaired).

Descend from the other side of the bridge, closer to the river, then regain all of that elevation to reach the Dingford High Bridge across the Middle Fork River, with views of Dingford Creek confluence and access to the Dingford trailhead.

For a day trip, no need to climb the last 200 feet, just leave the access trail at the far side of the bridge, and find a flat perch for lunch on rocks above Dingford creek. You may observe some population here, those with no respect for the condition of their vehicles, who managed to reach the Dingford trailhead by so-called "Road 54".