Rattlesnake Lake

Rattlesnake Lake and the Cedar River Watershed Environmental Center are fun family destinations for several reasons:

1. It's less than an hour from Seattle.
2. It's fun rain or shine.
3. It's totally FREE!

Located just one exit east of the North Bend outlet mall, Rattlesnake Lake is close enough for a quick day trip, but far enough out to feel a world away from the city. 

After entering the Rattlesnake Lake area, continue past the first parking lot, usually used by hikers going up Rattlesnake Ledge.  Continue past the boat launch (unless you're bringing a non-motorized boat for exploring the lake) and drive down the length of the lake. 


Near the SE part of Rattlesnake Lake, the The Cedar River Watershed Environmental Center is a destination itself.  It feels like a small corner of the Seattle Science Center, focusing on watershed education.  The kids will love sending ping pong balls from wall to wall with vacuum tubes (like tubes at a bank drive-through.)  While sending the ping pong balls back and forth, they may pick up on some of the educational signs about the lifecycle of a water drop.

After checking out the inside of the Center, look for the binoculars outside and look for hikers on Rattlesnake Ledge.

Besides the Education Center, the trail along the east side of Rattlesnake Lake is great.  It is flat and paved, totally welcoming to new walkers, families with strollers, and wheelchairs.  Anyone can access the beauty of the area.  A little north of the Education Center, right along the paved path, is the little Cedar Falls waterfall.  The trail from the Education Center down to the boat launch at the north end of the lake is .75 miles long, or 1.5 miles round trip.  For a shorter distance, just walk out to the waterfall and back.

Finally, the best part of the area is of course Rattlesnake Lake itself.  In addition to a spectacular lake, the beach has lots of small rocks for tossing into the lake and plenty of driftwood stumps for imagination and climbing.  On rainy days, put on boots, coats, and hats - tossing rocks in the lake is fun in all kinds of weather!

BEFORE YOU GO
1. There are no fees or permits, or admissions fees to worry about.  Everything here is totally free!
2. Check out the website for official info and hours:
http://www.seattle.gov/util/EnvironmentConservation/OurWatersheds/CedarRiverWatershed/RattlesnakeLake/index.htm
3. Trail map:
http://www.seattle.gov/util/cs/groups/public/@spu/@conservation/documents/webcontent/strolling_200312081358153.pdf
4. The north end of the lake, by the boat launch, is the parking area for the Rattlesnake Ledge trailhead: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/rattle-snake-ledge.    Because it is such a fun hike, it is really popular on weekends, especially in the mornings as hikers set out.  Saturday mornings can be tough to find parking spots by the boat launch, although there is usually parking available down by the Education Center.
5. There are restrooms on site, including at the Educational Center.  Check the trail map for all locations.
6. There are no food vendors on site, but this is a great location for a picnic lunch.

 

GETTING THERE
*Address: 19901 Cedar Falls Road SE,  North Bend, WA 98045
*Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/iaEgn
*When entering the Rattlesnake Lake recreation area, parking for hikers heading up Rattlesnake Ledge is immediately on the right.  Stay on the main road and drive down the length of the lake to the Education Center parking lot.  If that lot happens to be full, continue down a little further to the overflow lot.