rattlesnake mountain trail

Not a difficult hike. The view is always worth it. Beautiful views of the lake and mountains. A great beginner hike. Take a lunch and relax on the ledge in the sunshine. Worth a visit in the winter too, when there is snow.

The trail is relatively short but it is steep, without many level spots to catch your breath. It does get crowded too, so pick your time carefully. You do get a great view from the top.

A number of prior reviewers have suggested that this trail is very crowded. We hiked it on a weekday afternoon about 3:00 p.m. and while we saw people at various points on the trail and at the top, I would not describe it as crowded, at all. The hike up is 1.9 miles. My husband and I are in our 40s and in decent shape. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the top and about 35 minutes to get back down. The view at the top is breathtaking. There is a huge rock outcropping at the top where you can sit and rest, take photos, etc. The trail was challenging but we saw people young and old, in various physical states (including a young man on prosthetic legs!) doing the hike. The trail is well maintained (it's a mountain trail - you should expect roots, rocks, trees, etc.) and there are natural rest points along the way. The first mile is less challenging than the second mile. You park at the Rattlesnake Lake parking lot and walk to the well marked trail head on a service road. The trail goes further than Rattlesnake ledge, if you want a longer hike. This was a great half-day hike, reached pretty quickly from downtown Seattle. You can also stop at Snoqualmie falls on the way. Highly recommended

I hike alot and this trail was more like a box car derby. It was extremely crowded and we spent alot of time in people's way. I am hiking to relax not race. Everyone on the trail lets you know you are in their way. Some were smoking and sharing it with us blowing it our face. The trail is steep with many areas of roots and rocks. I could not believe the way many people let small children indiscriminatly run amuck. When you get to the ledge it is UNBELIEVABLY dangerous. The crevices are straight drop down to death and people were running around and jumping over them with no regard to their safety or anyonelses. If you try to take a picture of the view people also walk right in front of your camera without regard. As well stand and sit on ledge while you are amazed they haven't fallen off or bumped off someonelse jumping around. One couple had their 2 very small children hold a newborn and a dog to take a picture and I was almost sick waiting for the wind to blow them off the edge. If you do go skip the 1.9 mile ledge maybe it is better at the next vista. I prefer Montana less crowded and understand safe climbing/hiking practices. This place is a zoo and I can't believe the state hasn't been sued. There have been falling deaths and hard to believe there isn't one every weekend. Even if you are careful the person bumping you off isn't. The park below is nice enough but if you are safety minded or don't like rude people stay down at the lake and forgo the hike.

Beautifully maintained trails surrounding Lake and not too difficult trail climbs. I was with my adult son with Down syndrome and he was able to climb up the trails and down with no problems. We swear we found evidence of Big Foot! There were times it was crowded, times it was not.

This hike lasts 1.9 miles one way and is quite challenging in a number of areas. There are no signs allowing you to how far you have left to go, which can be both a positive and a negative. It's very crowded, also. But it is worth out because the view at the top is undeniably breathtaking. Beware that there are no guard rails of any kind so walking around for photos should be taken with alertness. It's an amazing view and a hike worth taking.

We joined the many families of hikers on this shady switchback trail. Lots of people with dogs, too, on and off leash. We definitely felt like we got great exercise, but it is not too challenging, with many ares of rock steps. The top gives fantastic views, but has shear drop-offs (if you're afraid of heights, you may want to stay away from the edges.) We went on a Friday. The weekends may be too crowded. Also, some idiots have dropped quite a bit of trash over the top ledge, which detracts from the sense of being out in pristine nature as you look out from the summit. It took about 1-1/2 hours to get to the top and about and hour to come down.

My family and I took on this trail on a weekday in August (Ive heard it is very busy on weekends so either go very early or on a weekday). This was the first time we had gone hiking, and it was a very difficult path for us. The almost 2 miles up the mountain is all uphill, but the view from the top is worth it. Be careful if you have small children, though, because the ledge can be dangerous because there are no railings and you are over 2000 feet up. That being said, if you're careful, there is nothing to worry about. It was not too far from Seattle, which is a plus, but make sure if youre using a GPS to use Rattlesnake LEDGE not RIDGE to get to the correct area. Also, there is a very nice lake at the bottom of the mountain, so you should bring a baithing suit.

My husband and I hiked Rattlesnake on a Monday morning at 8am. The hike is gorgeous. It's challenging enough to let you know you're getting a workout, but I knew I could make it to the top. On our way down about an hour later we passed about 50 people starting to climb the ridge. Go early on a weekday and beat the crowds. :)

We hiked upto the 1.9 mile mark with kids. We saw lots of kids on the way. the hike is difficult but doable. Take as many breaks as you want. Don't run in the portion where there is a drop on your left or right.I wish there were better restroom facilities on site. We had to leave right after the hike to the nearest cafe so we could use a restroom.Tip: Take Powerade and trail mix, sandwiches so you can refuel on the way. sip the drink you take since you won't be able to use a restroom until you get down :)

This was my first time there. My sister went last year and she said the hike was a killer if you're not an active hiker. I read a lot of reviews mentioning it's an easy hike. So I went on Sunday with my husband. I exercise everyday with T25 but the hike wasn't what I expected. It's an incline elevation 1.9 mile to the ridge. I was breathing really hard, stop a couple times but I also noticed that even the fit people were doing the exact same thing. I don't feel too bad. The view was breathtaking and gorgeous overlooking the lake. Make sure you bring lots of water and snacks.

I've done this hike a few times now, and it's a great one for beginner hikers. You get some elevation gain, but it's nothing too outrageous, and the views are gorgeous if you need to stop along the way and catch your breath.The path is easy to find, and follow, all the way to the ridge, and the view from the top is worth the effort. Plan to take a snack or lunch and spend some time sitting on the rocky ledge enjoying the peace and quiet, and the amazing scenery. I made the mistake of going during spring break however, and the experience was a very different one. The trail was crowded and noisy, and I found it far to stressful to sit and enjoy the view. There are no barriers at the top, and the rocky platform leads to a massive drop, which isn't ideal for small children unless they are being supervised.

A steep hike with over 1,000 ft elevation gain over 2 miles but the trail is easy to follow and the views on top are fantastic.

What a wonderful trail, and the rewarding views at the top is totally worth it! There can be some crowds at the top, but nothing out of control (at least not when I visited). Bring enough water for your hike, and allow for some time to take in the views at the top.

First the good. This is a pretty hike in a pretty area with relatively close proximity to the Seattle metro area. It's a very manageable 2-3 hour hike that gets your heart pumping a bit, but doesn't tire you out. My four year old daughter hiked most of it and I saw people in all sorts of varying degrees of physical fitness hiking and enjoying themselves. The views at the top are remarkable with Mt. Si and the Snoqualmie valley on one side, and Rattlesnake Lake on the other. Now the bad. Because it's a cool hike and close to civilization, it is wicked crowded on the weekends. The path is pretty narrow and you end up almost feeling claustrophobic with people coming at you, people right behind you, impatient people trying to pass you. If you want a quiet hike in the woods, it's hard to get that with 500 people on the trail, you know? Anyway, it's totally worth it, but if you want a shot at a nicer experience, get there plenty early on the weekends (before 9:00 am) or save this one for a week day if you're able.