Register
 |
 - Nearby Hikes (Click Marker for information) |
Forums
Maps
Arches National Park - Utah (5)Bryce National Park - Utah (1)Canyonlands National Park - Utah (2)Zion National Park - Utah (4)Alpine Lakes Wilderness - Washington (1)Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Washington (1)Henry M. Jackson Wilderness - Washington (3)Mt. Baker National Forest-Snoqualmie - Washington (58)Mt. Rainier National Park - Washington (31)Norse Peak Wilderness - Washington (1)North Cascades - Washington (3)Olympic National Forest - Washington (6)Olympic National Park - Washington (3)Wenatchee National Forest - Washington (3)
John is an avid hiker, spending a goodly portion of his time up in the hills, or sitting in front of a computer.
I live in Federal Way, WA and I enjoy getting out into the great outdoors and hiking and would someday like to make it to the top of Mt. Rainier. When I can't get outside, I'm the IS manager at a marketing firm in Kent.
Directions: Take I-90 east and get off at Exit 38. Turn right at the stop sign, then drive a half-mile to the parking lot for Olallie State Park (and access to Twin Falls), elevation 1,200 feet. Restrooms are available; the park closes at dusk.
Trail Notes: I have to tell you looking back at this hike I am somewhat disappointed. From what other literature would have you believe this is some super hike. My thoughts are that this hike isn't all that. It is probably best done in one of two ways. The fist would be to do it in the early winter before snowshoeing in the pass if viable or doing this hike after work or something like that as a conditioning hike.
The trail starts from the Olallie State park, though if you lack a Forest Service pass you can park on the road without fear of a fine and only have about an extra minute to walk to get to the trailhead as it were. I say as it were since you travel from the parking lot up a relatively steep embankment to a dirt road which I imagine is used to maintain the power lines above. From here you proceed westward down the road for about 15 minutes looking for an in descript trail to the South (left side of the road).
Having located the trail you begin the climb which is actually an old logging road. The road appears to have been abandoned a longer time ago than say Mason Lakes, but the deciduous vegetation still predominates. The road is also steeper than your average logging road, probably owing to its genre. At any rate the climb is started and you spend about 30 minutes going up this switch backing road. I wasn't able to find any views along the way worth mentioning.
After about a 30-45 minutes you come across a rock overhang which hard to believe is one of the more interesting things on this hike. It has protection nailed into it all over the place and appears to be a climbing wall that has been used for quite some time. Unfortunately when we where there there were no climbers to entertain us.
Beyond this the road/trail continues along at about the same grade for another 30-45 minutes until a fork is encountered. There spur (and you want to take it if you are going to the Owl Spot) is pretty well marked with rocks and a coffee can. From here it is only about 10-15 minutes to Owl Spot which I have to admit has a nice rock bench to sit on and offers a decent view of North Bend. There is also an interesting rock outcropping up on Mt. Washington, but nothing too special.
Twin falls on the other hand is really a pretty cool little jaunt which can be arrived at by walking past the Owl Creek trail to the west. After walking about 15-20 minutes one arrives at a signed trail to Twin falls. It is a nice enough trail and seems to be more wooded that the Owl Spot was losing a couple hundred feet en route to the Falls.
The Falls themselves are quite impressive and the outlooks are quite popular with people. Equally impressive is the large bridge crossed in route to the lower falls which was apparently put in place by helicopter, quite a feat when you see the spot. I believe there is an easier way to get to Twin Falls than from Olallie State Park but am unsure of the specifics. A trip to Twin Falls is suitable to anyone who can walk, and probably most of those who can't all the same. A very nice Falls.
|
|
 |
| Best Time to Hike | |||||
| January through Year Round | |||||
| Hike Time | Difficulty | Rating | Distance | Elevation Gained | Max Elevation |
| 5 Hours |  |
 |
9.0 Miles Round Trip | 1,900 Feet | 2,800 Feet |
| RockyTrail | Crowded | Wildflowers | Views | Wildlife | Scramble |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
| Waterfall | Oldgrowth | Bugs | Blowdown | Bridgeout | TrailOvergrown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| TrailWashedout | SnowOnTrail | Muddy | |||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
 |
| Miles Away | User Rating | |
| Owl Hike Spot & Twin Falls | 0.0 | |
| Twin Falls | 0.5 | |
| MailBox Peak | 2.1 | |
| MailBox Peak | 2.1 | |
| Dirty Harry's Balcony | 3.0 | |
| Little Si | 4.0 | |
| Rattlesnake Ledge | 4.2 | |
| Rattlesnake Ledge | 4.2 | |
| Rattlesnake Ledge | 4.2 | |
| Mason Lake | 5.0 | |
| Mason Lake | 5.0 | |
| Bandera Mtn | 5.0 | |
| Mt. Defiance | 5.0 | |
| Mt. Defiance | 5.0 | |
| Mt. Si | 5.3 | |
| Mt. Si | 5.3 | |
| McClellan Butte | 5.3 | |
| Pratt Mtn | 8.6 | |
| Talapus Lake | 8.6 | |
| Pratt Lake | 8.6 | |
| Middle Fork Snoqualmie River | 10.0 | |
 Map to Trailhead from your location:
|
 Topographic Map of Hike:
|
 Virtual Earth Satelite Photo:
|
Geographic Coordinates:
| Lat: 47.439155578, Long: -121.689651489 |
 http://www.fs.fed.us |
| http://www.fs.fed.us |
 Powered Forcast For This Exact Hike. |
|
|
|
- Nearby Hikes (Click Marker for information) |
