Ride Summary:
A good training ride if you need to get in and out fast. Steep and grueling at times it can really test your limits.
Trail Description:
Rattlesnake Mountain is a long ridge overlooking the South Fork Snoqualmie River Valley, Interstate 90, North Ben, and the Cascade Mountains on the east and the Issaquah Alps and Puget Sound basin on the west. Although the hillsides have been stripped of their forests and the ridge crest dotted with telephone and radio relay towers, the riding is outstanding. The loop climbs over the summit ridge of Rattlesnake Mountain then descends along the Raging River drainage. The ride is almost entirely on logging roads, some in excellent condition, some steep and rough. The road is gated at the base so the entire ride may be vehicle-free when loggers aren't working the area.
How to get there:
Drive Interstate 90 east from Issaquah for 8 miles to Exit 25. Turn south on Highway 18 for about a quarter of a mile, then take the first left on SE 104th Street. Go straight for 200 feet then park in the large open area at the right-hand side of the road.
Additional Notes:
If you're looking for awesome scenery this is the place!
| Posted by: tbsan on 11/7/2010 |
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WARNING: criminal activity at this trailhead. Parked the car at trailhead Saturday Nov 6th 2010 at 1pm. On returning at 3pm the car's passenger side and rear driver side windows were smashed. Nothing of value taken: an empty fanny pack and one credit card. If you park here take everything of value and personally identifiable information with you: driver license, car insurance and registration, garage door opener.
Trail is washed out about 45 mins up, but you can wade through the water. Still a good ride.
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| Posted by: Rene Garcia on 7/18/2009 |
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Did this today, 7/18/2009, good conditions overall. The road has two missing sections that required you to walk a bit. 1 is a small creek and the other is rocky terrain, after that it's good all the way to the top.
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| Posted by: Tony B on 8/16/2007 |
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We rode this 5pm 8.15.07. Trucks are delivering top soil on west side of trail just after the power substation only as far as mile 3. After that, no trucks. Trail is dry, tough, 2-3 100yd technical parts [larger rocks]. Takes about 1:40min to cellphone towers.
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| Posted by: TomG on 7/29/2007 |
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Right now there is a sign that reads "Construction Vehicles Only." Weyerhaeuser is currently logging the western portion of Rattlesnake Ridge so plan your trip on an off day when the gate is closed. I went on a Sunday morning/afternoon when the gate was closed and did not encounter a single vehicle/person.
It was indeed a grueling ride. Once you reach the power station about 2 miles past the gate, the paved road becomes a dirt road mixture of mildly steep to extremely steep and bumpy inclines. I recommend trying to get obtain a map of the area prior to your trip. The place is a maze of logging roads. I would imagine a better planned trip could provide for a more rounded experience. I chose my path at random and ended up spending too much time forced to walk up impossibly steep inclines.
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| Posted by: Schmidty on 6/19/2007 |
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All I saw was a "Construction Only" sign and several dump trucks going in and out. Anyone know when it will reopen?
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| Posted by: Tony on 6/20/2006 |
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This trail is not closed. I've ridden it June-Oct 2004, 2005, 2006. It is a gruelling ride: about 1h 30' to the top to the cellphone towers. Best times to ride are after 6pm and weekends.
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| Posted by: El Diablo on 9/28/2005 |
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This trail, last time we tried to bike it, is 'closed' as we were told by the convoy of trucks rolling down.
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| Posted by: martin on 9/19/2004 |
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This was a great ride for my first trip in Washington. There is a fair amount of paved road and wide gravel road for the first mile, but there are lots of little side trips you can take along the way, particularly the very steep dual track power line maintenance trails.
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| Posted by: Rene on 6/8/2003 |
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Great training trail, about 2.5 hours for the whole loop, some 7-8 miles of climb and another 7 of descend.
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| Posted by: Chris on 3/23/2001 |
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Right on Tim! Riding Rattlesnake in November. Thanks for the motivation. This is a good days worth of ridin'. Not technical, as Tim already mentioned, but certainly a good workout ride. Some tough climbs, when you explore. And some good, fast, bonzai downhills. Check it out!
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