Hike of the Week
The pros far outweigh the cons for exploring Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley trails (though hikers still need to play it safe by not leaving valuables in their cars).
The valley is riddled with old logging roads in various states of grace or disarray, and many can be hiked most of the year, such as the Bessemer Road Trail. The road is a good conditioner and is used by mountain bikers and horseback riders.
By Karen Sykes | May 11, 2006
NORTH BEND -- The Middle Fork Snoqualmie River rumbles and tumbles green and white through a classic valley of the Cascade Range. It is ringed by rugged ridges and high lakes, laced by wilderness forest trails and waterfalls and stitched with premier rock-climbing routes. A few places are dotted with crystal mines and hot springs, and the river froths with paddle runs ranging from gentle to extreme.
It's a pretty magical valley, only 45 minutes from the largest metropolitan area between San Francisco and Vancouver.
By Greg Johnston | November 4, 2004
Hikers can get lost when they abandon a trail, and trails can get lost when they're abandoned by hikers.
Fortunately, just as lost hikers can be found, so, too, can lost trails be found anew such as the back-door route to Pratt Lake.
As I hiked across the new arched span over the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River recently, before me were two routes: one recently renovated and the other lost, but soon to be refound.
By Dan A. Nelson | October 18, 2001
