Snoquera Falls Loop Trail #1167

Our Hiking Time: 2h 30m
Total Ascent: 900ft
Highest Point: 3400ft
Total Distance: 4 miles
Location: N 47° 2.3820, W 121° 33.1860
Difficulty: Easy



With the sun making an appearance, this week we decided to head back out to SR 410 to explore Snoquera Falls. This gentle 4-mile loop to a somewhat secluded waterfall with only moderate elevation gains was exactly the speed we were looking for.

Snoquera Falls is situated near a Boy Scouts of America campground now known as Camp Sheppard. But, before Harry J. Sheppard purchased the land from the federal government in 1947, it was a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) basecamp. From this site, the CCC built roads and structures in Mt. Rainier National Park as well as the Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The men serving in the camp dubbed it “Snoquera” a combination of Snoqualmie and the Employment Recovery Act (ERA) that paid their wages. Even before the Great Depression, beginning in the 1890s, the area was a regular stop along the wagon road leading up to Starbo Copper Mine, which pulled metal out of Mt. Rainier for over 50 years.

The trail begins at the Camp Sheppard parking lot, immediately plunging into the forest and weaving through the outskirts of the camp. Ignore the amphitheater and nature trail, and instead push on to the signed trail junction less than a quarter-mile down the path. We recommend taking a right for a counter-clockwise approach to this loop – mostly because you get to the waterfall a little faster this way. Despite being a little rocky and narrow, the trail is well-maintained and free of blow downs. On our trip out, we passed trail crews hard at work repairing damage from a rockslide near the falls.

Travel beneath mossy, second-generation forest and through the occasional talus field as you switchback up the trail. Once you reach the falls, you have a choice: you can continue over the creek to a rough path hugging the cliffside up to the base of the waterfall or you can watch the water tumble hundreds of feet down the rock face from a distance. Up close it’s difficult to get a feeling for the waterfall as a whole, but what you can get near is worth the extra effort. There’s enough room at the top to have a snack, enjoy the crashing water, and look out over a sea of evergreens stretching out into the distance. Keep in mind that Snoquera Falls are snow-driven, and during high summer they will be reduced to a trickle, and will not be as impressive as they are during the spring and fall.

This was a great hike that we would recommend to almost anyone. It’s not often that such an impressive waterfall is so easily accessible – although the short route up to the base of the falls is a bit of a scramble. The short climb up to the base of the falls somehow feels much more remote than it actually is. As an added bonus, you can hike this trail nearly year-round, with the falls putting on a different show depending on the season. A popular destination for sledding in the winter and camping in the summer, you can minimize the company by trying this hike in the spring.

To get there, take I-5 south to Highway 18 Exit 142A. Follow Highway 18 into Auburn and take the SR 164 exit. Head left on SR 164 through Enumclaw to SR 410. Head left onto SR 410 for 32 miles to Camp Sheppard just past the Dalles campground. NW Forest Pass Required. -Nathan



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Boulder River Trail #734

Our Hiking Time: 4h 15m
Total Ascent: 700ft
Highest Point: 1560ft
Total Distance: 8.2 miles
Location: N 48° 13.1220, W 121° 46.7100
Difficulty: Easy



This week, we were looking for a gentle hike that would not be too taxing on my still-recovering foot. After some research we settled on a fairly popular riverside hike in the Darrington area: the Boulder River Trail.

The Boulder River runs through the Boulder River Wilderness, nearly 50,000 acres of wildlands protected since 1984, which boast the only virgin timber in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The vast majority of the Wilderness is untouched – there are only 25 miles of maintained trail in the area, leaving the rest to black bears, mountain goats, and elk.

The trail begins by following a 1909 railroad grade above the river for about a half-mile before crossing the Boulder River Wilderness boundary. The rushing sound of Boulder River Falls can be heard in this first section of the trail, but are obscured by thick underbrush. While it is tempting to try to bushwhack down to them, we suggested you skip it because referring to this set of boulder-strewn set of rapids as a waterfall is a bit overgenerous. Instead, continue onward to what some folks refer to as Pre-Show Falls, a small horsetail waterfall tumbling down the rock walls opposite the trail. A trail leads down to the rocky riverside for a closer view and a glimpse of the next set of falls, unofficially known as Feature Show Falls, a quarter-mile upriver.

Feature Show Falls are perhaps the most dramatic feature along the trail – a large outcropping splits the falls in half as the water spills down the moss-covered rock face. For some this is destination enough, and you can settle in on the trailside bench or clamber down the riverbank to find a picnic spot. Others continue onward for another mile through a thickening forest of fir and hemlock to the final falls, sometimes called Meditation Falls. If you’re up for a longer day, continue past Meditation Falls to hike the full four miles to the end of the trail at Boulder Ford. At one time, hikers could cross the river here and continue onward and upward to the Three Fingers Fire Lookout, but the route has long since been abandoned in favor of other approaches.

It’s unsurprising that the Boulder River Trail is a popular hike. This trail gently takes you through a dramatic and impressive landscape. Once beyond Feature Show Falls, the forest becomes moss-laden and heavy, losing much of the undergrowth prominent in the early portions of the trail. The river remains a nearly constant companion, always within hearing distance even as it slips from view. Creeks cut across the trail, winding down to the river in contrast to the more dramatic cascades on the opposite bank. Even the wildlife was unexpected: water ouzels, wood ducks and hummingbirds all made an appearance. With only a few hundred feet of elevation gain and worthy destinations early-on, this trail is an excellent way to give children or the reluctant hiker a taste of the wilderness. One caution: when we hiked this trail, there were a couple of significant blowdowns that were a little tricky to navigate. Most hikers shouldn’t have much of a problem with these.

To get there, take I-5 north to Exit 208 and drive east on SR 530 for about 19 miles to milepost 41. Immediately after the milepost, turn right onto FR #2010 – some maps call this French Creek Road, but it’s not well signed. Follow the unpaved road almost four miles to its end and the trailhead. -Nathan




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Mud Mountain Rim Trail

Our Hiking Time: 3h
Total Ascent: 400ft
Highest Point: 1300ft
Total Distance: 5 miles
Location: N 47° 8.7000, W 121° 56.0400
Difficulty: Easy



After weeks of being laid up with a fairly severe heel injury, we’re finally back on the trail. Unfortunately, bone bruises need months to fully heal, so we’re easing back into our hiking routine, sticking to moderate elevations and well-maintained trails. The Rim Trail at Mud Mountain Dam fit the bill perfectly, and gave us a chance to head back out to the 410 area in some nicer weather.

Before the Mud Mountain Dam was built, farmers from Enumclaw to Puyallup would endure nearly annual flooding of the White River. For decades, farmers attempted to control the waters by dynamiting new river channels, pushing the flow away from their land and onto others. As Washington’s population grew, the flooding problem became more acute, and the Army Corps of Engineers was called in to find a solution. Their recommendation of an earth-fill dam located seven miles southeast of Enumclaw was authorized by Congress in 1936. The project, which would eventually entail 2.3 million cubic yards of sand, rock, and gravel, was delayed by World War II and was not completed until 1948. Since that time the dam has saved hundreds of millions of dollars in flood damage.

The trail begins at the entrance to the Mud Mountain Dam Recreation Area, following the fence for a short distance to the bluffs above the White River. As the name suggests, the route hugs the rim of the White River Gorge, offering glimpses of waterfalls and distant vistas through cottonwoods, alders, and the occasional evergreen. Although the trail crosses a number of roads that lead down to the river, trail makers do a decent job of minimizing confusion. Depending on how much exploring you’re up for, you may find yourself wandering through mixed forests and marshes down to sandy riversides.

This gentle multi-use trail is open to bikers, equestrians, and hikers. Accessible all year, this is a perfect option for an off-season hike. The playground and picnic area makes for a nice family outing during the summer, and the Rim Trail is toddler-friendly enough to bring the whole family on. Although the trail is over six miles long, there are multiple access roads that break up the distance, offering the opportunity to explore the trail in smaller sections. Relatively close to civilization and easy, this hike is a good excuse to dust off your gear and get a jump on hiking season.

To get there, take I-5 south to Highway 18 Exit 142A. Follow Highway 18 into Auburn and take the SR 164 exit. Head left on SR 164 through Enumclaw to SR 410. Head left onto SR 410 for a few miles to the well-signed Mud Mountain Road. Take a right and continue about 2 miles to the Mud Mountain Recreation Area. You can opt to park inside the gates during the summer, but keep an eye on the time – they close at 4pm. -Nathan


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