A short walk to the falls, but it was beautiful, and lots of spots along the water that you can…read morewalk to get closer to it. We enjoyed a nice snowy hike and it was really nice and quiet, not many people there which is always a bonus. There's a bathroom at the trailhead and another on the way to the falls.

Great place to visit and relax by the river. Easy walking trail and plenty of parkingread more

As a recreational lake, Lake Easton is great if you have water equipment or just want to go…read moreswimming. The water is a blue-ish green color and clear near the edges. The main parking lot was full, but it was actually better to park in the other lot because we were able to go to less crowded areas along the lake. I wish they made it easier to access the lake after the bridge. It's steep and rocky/sandy.

The noise from the highway and train are all you hear at night. I came to the woods to draw close…read moreto nature. The bathrooms have no toilet paper. Called the main office and was told the shipment didn't arrive and we were basically @hi@ out of luck and to figure it out. The charge is not worth the campsite they provide.

Parking lot was full when we arrived but there's plenty of side pull offs to park. The FS road was…read moreactually really nice- only really large potholes at the start. The trail was a bit muddy and damp in some areas but totally manageable. Kids said there were some bugs but I didn't notice any. There were a handful of other hikers on the trail but not too bad. We didn't notice any poop bags or trash- good job people with pack it in pack it out!!! Once we arrived at the lake there were only a few hikers relaxing and enjoying the view. The lake is so clear and was so tempting to jump in but waited for another trip. There were some stones and roots but most of it was quite pleasant and we found the hike back down to be way less brutal than most hikes with some kind of elevation. It was giving me Yosemite vibes with the large rocks and mostly dry path. There was a pit toilet at the parking lot but didn't use it. It states the Discover pass is not valid there- had the national parks pass posted. The noise of traffic could be heard off in the distance but by the time you're at the lake it's completely gone and you're just vibing with the sounds of nature. Will be back again to take a dip in the lake and soak up more of the views. Hiked 6.22.2023

This hike is really catered to family friendly hikers. With that being said, it's a pretty easy…read moreand very light elevation and switch back gain. The only downside is that it can get packed, quick! Be mindful of parking. All in all the lake is gorgeous!! I highly recommend coming early and leaving early, by mid afternoon this place is packed to the gills! The views are gorgeous and you cannot take a bad picture. Enjoy!

Good easy hike close to Seattle. You can rather go to the peak or to the balcony to a nice lookout…read more It was around 4.5 miles there and back. Would recommend for a little day trip!.

This review is for the whole Dirty Harry's Peak trail. The trails to Dirty Harry's Balcony is very…read moresimilar to the Chirico to Poo Poo point trail, a good 6 miles out and back workout with amazing views in itself, a very popular trail, as I encountered quite a few people on this part of the trail, and after enjoying the views at the Balcony, I know better why I had the trail to myself the rest of the way to the Peak, cause it's a kick ass muscle burning steep trail! Shady with beautiful views the whole way, definitely recommend hiking poles , especially coming down. A good trail to work on your patience, cause I've learned after some challenging trail in Big Sur and John Muir, to take your time, enjoy being out in some awesome nature, suck it up, cause it will be worth it in the end. Besides, doesn't a cold beer always taste best after the hard hike? The last half mile to the peak gets really steep, it was cool hiking over the stream part of the trail. Lots of wildlife, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes (harmless) and tons of pollinators, bees and butterflies. I was so grateful as I came to a major rock slide area that the trail winds around it. Trying to keep the rock slide trails to a minimum. Arriving at the Peak, it's definitely a great view , all around, with the south side being the climb up, with the north side have a cliff face with at least a 300 foot drop. Great place to have a snack, and get ready for the trek back. I definitely recommend taking the trail past the peak, west to the rock slide and end of trail, the views of Rainier and amazing views west are breathtakingly beautiful. I was blessed with a clear sunny day, you could even see Seattle in the distance to the west and the Cascades all around, the I-90 corridor from Snoqualmie pass to almost Seattle. Well worth the ass kicking hike, and not another soul to be seen. Very peaceful. It's all of the 9 miles that AllTrails says it is. Rated hard, and truly is. If you question the shape you're in, I would still highly recommend the Dirty Harry's Balcony hike. Cool views of the middle fork of the Snoqualmie, and small stream crossing throughout the upper trail. It's summer time in the PNW, get out and enjoy all the beauty nature has to offer this time of year. There is also quite a few rock climbing opportunities throughout this trail area, which I saw a few taking advantage of. Parking lot is moderate size, with parking along the road an option. The earlier the better. Happy Hiking and Yelping! God bless and Cheers!

Came on a Saturday morning about a quarter past 8AM, parking lot was already full so we parked in…read morethe parking lot across the bridge, walked back to the trailhead on the street. Hike was pretty shaded for a long time, wasn't very steep, lots of runners, saw some backpackers / campers (PCT'ers?). Not the most polite backpackers that we saw though, which surprised me. Went up Kendall Peak after reading directions on how to find the intersection; the path was just a quarter mile up to the top, path was narrow and super steep, a bit rocky as well but totally worth the climb, the view was AMAZING, 360 views, beautiful weather. Back on the PCT, the trail went back up a bit until the Kendall Katwalk, which was quite beautiful and was a different perspective than the peak. Hiked to Ridge Lake and Gravel Lake, the former which was small and didn't have many people, the latter was a bit bigger but not very pretty. Not much of a mountain view at either one, water wasn't too cold, lots of mosquitoes though, bring repellent. Not many people at either lake which was nice, not many people overall on the trail. Hike down wasn't too bad, total was a bit long though, definitely recommend!

Whoooot!! My new favorite hike around the Snoqualmie area! With no true summit, Kendall Katwalk is…read morea narrow pathway with stunning views! Difficulty: Moderate (mainly because it was so long) Round trip: 11-11.5 miles Elevation gain: 2600 ft Time: 2.75 hours up, 2.25 hours down Drive: Very easy and straight froward. Right off exit 52 on I-90. Parking: The Pacific Crest Trail main parking lot that can fit around 50-60 cars. Very popular trail so come early. I came on a Tuesday morning at 9:00 am and there were already about 10-15 cars parked. Trail: The trail is in pretty good shape. Numerous of wild flowers blooming. The hike starts off at Pacific Crest Trail parking lot and into the sheltering forest. Some parts of the pathway are pretty narrow and surrounded by lots of lush overgrowth. The beginning of the trail has a very gradual mild incline. After about 2 miles, the trail splits into two junctions with a sign for the Commonwealth Creek Trail. You will stay on the right side heading upwards. There are a couple of small stream crossings. The trail then opens up into an open talus and into a rocky terrain. The trail starts to pick up a little with a moderate grade incline. There are switchbacks but some are not well defined. Around 4 miles or so, the trail starts to get narrow circling the side of the mountain. Amazing views everywhere! Kendall Katwalk is a well defined narrow pathway with huge rocks lining the edge. There are two open areas on each side of the ridge to relax and enjoy the scenery. If you keep following the trail for another 1-1.5 mile, you will reach Gravel and Ridge Lake. I didn't bother to keep going, 11 miles round trip was already pretty long to me. Lots of trail runners! Bugs: Bring bug spray. I got bit 4 times by annoying mosquitoes. Tips: The last two miles are very exposed. Be sure to bring sunblock! Overall, this trail is pretty easy and straightforward. The overall incline was very gradual and not very steep. *Northwest Forest Pass required*

Rattlesnake Ridge is an awesome hike that is quintessential to the area. It's popular for good…read morereason as it's accessible and has great views of Rattlesnake Lake and beyond. For anyone who loves hiking in the Seattle area, they've likely already visited Rattlesnake Ridge. So take your visitors from out of town here and it'll be a solid time. Because it's a popular trail in North Bend, like any others in the area, get here early if hiking on the weekend. We visited on a holiday where many people had the day off, so ended up parking on the side of the road as the parking lot for this trailhead was all full in the late morning. You've been warned! Bathrooms are located at the start of the trail and is where the lake is for beautiful views and a swim. The trail itself starts through a forest and is mostly covered by the trees. At the top is where it's clear, so it's a great hike for sun coverage. But you'll still break a sweat as it inclines. It's four miles roundtrip, and there are other trails attached to it for further adventures. For those who are used to hiking, this is an easy one to do. AND, it's dog-friendly! Loved seeing all the dogs here. I recommend climbing Rattlesnake Ridge and soaking in the views at the top. You won't regret it.

I have done this hike over a dozen times and still come back…read more 30-40 min drive from Seattle so not a far trek. 1.9miles each way and 3.8 Roundtrip so not a super long hike but not short either. It's perfect with great views. Expect the trail to be busy on weekends during the summer months. I always like to start early and end early. Would say it takes 2-3 hours round trip depending on your level of fitness (this includes some time at the top to enjoy the views, take a sip of some water or coffee, and eat a light snack). Highly recommend (wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and some snacks for the top).

Came on a weekday in the summer in 2023, arrived at 9:00 am and the parking lot was about 2/3 full…read more It is a small parking lot, and by the time we left in the afternoon, a few cars were parked along the forest road leading up to the parking lot. The forest road leading up to the trailhead was pretty well maintained -- a few small potholes, but very avoidable. Just drive slowly around the turns, I thought there was decent space for 2 cars to pass slowly as needed. The trail was in perfect condition. We enjoyed that it was a relatively wide path, not TOO many rocks/roots (for our older dog to navigate), was shaded pretty much the whole way, and was not too steep (by WA standards). We only identified 1 spot at each lake with decent day use access to the lake, and these lake access areas were small. We didn't have an issue with that as the trail was not crowded, but I imagine it could be an issue on busy summer weekends.

If you're looking for an easy - moderate hike with beautiful lake views, highly recommend Talapus…read moreand Olallie Lakes! This one had been on my list for a while, so I'm glad I finally got to do it. As some other reviewers have said, be prepared for a crappy road to the trailhead and also a small parking lot. I feel like that's standard for a lot of Washington hikes, though. Come early and you won't have a problem is my motto! This hike is definitely doable for people who are just starting out hiking - I'd even say older kids (like 3/4 and up?) could tackle this one without too much of a problem. And of course, our dogs loved it too. About halfway into the hike you see one of the lakes which is a nice moment for a respite if needed. If not, power on to the next! Up at the top, if you go early, expect to run into some campers... There are signs that clearly say there isn't any day camping, but that's definitely relative and based on perception. There were campers in EVERY spot that had a good view of the lake, making it really hard to find a good spot to catch a full view of the lake. All in all, a good hike that will take up about half your day. We arrived at about 8 am and we were out by 11.

We were told about this trail by a local who walked through the Ghost Town several years ago. This…read moresounded like a fun adventure so we took a hike. First: the parking area is chained shut and 'tow' signs are in the drive way area that leads to the parking lot. We drove over a one-way bridge (traffic signals control traffic direction) and found a parking area on the right. This area also has the same 'tow' signs but the lot had several vehicles and many people were in the area so we parked. It's a shady lot with a spring water dispenser straight from the ground. (A sign asks that you Venmo money for any water you take from the Spring) We walked back over the bridge, past the gate and onto the trail. Second: the initial hike is a wide incline covered in gravel. This leads you up and around to a Coal Car where the trail divides. The Ghost Town is to your right. The mine shaft and grave yard are to your left. Both trails continue to lead up. One of the hike pages I looked over described this as an 'easy' trail for kids. Regarding climbing over obstacles, the path is clear and it is an easy hike if you go toward the ghost town. However, the grade is pretty steep in that direction. The direction of the mine however has several trees down and most we had to climb over. The trail there is not well maintained. The Ghost Town: This pathway is mostly wide and gravel covered making it the easier of the two trails. We found one foundation covered in undergrowth on the right that you can climb the steps onto a small foundation. You have to really be looking to see the steps. On the left is what looks almost like a retaining wall on the hillside. That's all we saw of a 'town'. The path continues to climb up and around. It may lead out to the road on the opposite side of the hill but we did not walk all the way and I make that suggestion based on maps. This trail is mostly full sun. The Mine Shaft and Graveyard: We came back and took the left branch of the trail where it divides at the Coal Car. This trail runs from wide and gravel covered to single file while walking through raspberry bushes (prickers). Thankfully we had rain jackets on so those tiny thorns did not snag our shirts and I kept my hands above my head to save my skin. Be prepared for that. This trail is mostly shady. It takes a while to reach the mine shaft which includes a plaque with some mine information. The shaft is quite large, goes straight down, is surrounded by a metal railing and topped with a lattice of rebar. The sign suggest you drop a rock in to hear how deep the shaft is, however as this must have been done hundreds of times, rocks nearby are scarce. Bring your own rock with you. Once you have spent all the time you'd like at the mine shaft, take the trail to the left of the mine shaft plaque to continue on to the graveyard. There are a couple of places along the way that will make you wonder 'is this it?' It's not. Just keep going. It's another longish hike in a more gentle upward direction. The path veers off to your right at several points, one of which leads to a wet low area, but overhead here you will see remnants of some coal car rails. There is a trail leading up a steep incline that will take you to the top of the rails if you'd like a closer look. The 'up' is easier than the 'down' on this steep pathway. The graveyard is further ahead, past this coal car rail. Just keep walking. You will see on your right, at the base of a tree, a toppled over headstone that looks like a small obelisk. This, and a wooden sign erected by a local group stating they fenced in a grave, are the main visible signs of the graveyard. The area is completely overgrown, including the fenced in grave. After climbing over trees and fending off thorny raspberry bushes (without the joy of eating some of the berries) this was a disappointing hike. The trail ends here. Some of the downed trees have had a path chopped or cut out so you can walk around or through them but most your scramble over. I am not sure what is happening with this land or why the lot is closed with no explanation sign. I could not find information in a search of local news sites. I do wonder however if it has anything to do with a downtrodden looking 'resort' on the other side of the bridge. They offer you access to a waterfall for a small fee. I believe you can access this waterfall from the chained lot if you take the trail directly down to the river on the left. But this is just speculation. I did not take them up on their offer. If you are here for a nice, uphill hike, take the path to the right at the coal car and enjoy a wider path with some views of the surrounding area. That is a pleasant hike in and of itself. Just don't expect to see a 'ghost town' and you'll enjoy this hike. Happy hiking!

While the hike in and out was nice, easy for kids (of at least aged 5 years), and relatively quick,…read morethe ghost town wasn't really worth the effort (destination).