Sledding Near Snoqualmie

Sledding Near Snoqualmie

Interested in sledding near Snoqualmie Pass? Here are 2 options to check out this winter with some variety in amenities, activities, and cost.

#1 - Hyak Sledding Hill

Hyak Sledding Hill is a great place for sledding.  The parking lot is adjacent to the Iron Horse Trail, which also makes it a great starting point for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and relatively flat hikes on groomed trails.  Here's a trip report from 2 years ago when Jake & I took an easy snowy hike along the Iron Horse Trail & Keechelus Lake: http://dotsonstories.blogspot.com/2015/01/keechelus-lake-iron-horse-trail.html

Features of Hyak include:

1. A sledding hill long enough to be fun for older kids

2. A ski patrol / sledding "lifeguard" at the top of the big sledding hill during peak times to help manage safety

3. A couple of smaller, unofficial sledding hills great for younger kids 

4. A *heated* restroom facility in the middle of the parking lot with running water.  This makes potty breaks so much easier for little ones compared to sanican or no facilities, like most sledding hills.

5. You can bring your own sled, so you can choose what style of sledding or tubing your family prefers.

6. It is very close to I-90, so it is likely that the road will be maintained about as well as any road up at Snoqualmie.

Things to be aware of:

1. While the road to the entrance of the Hyak Sledding Hill is likely to be as drivable as any road in the area, there is a small hill from the road up into the parking lot.  This is not always as sanded or de-iced as I would expect for an entrance to a sledding hill.  Bring chains with you (as with any snowy outing), practice putting them on before going, and be prepared to put them on if needed.  There was a lot of snow in the parking lot, I did not need chains for my Honda Odyssey, and very few cars in the lot had chains.  The heavy traffic in and out kept the road driveable, but if you go on a day where it's been sunny for a few days, which could result in melting & re-freezing, come prepared.

2. Both a Washington State Discover Pass and a Snow Park Pass with Groomed sticker are required.

Permit Details:

To park in this lot, you need both a Discover Pass and a Sno-Park pass with the groomed sticker.  A day pass for the Discover Pass costs about $10 and a day pass for the groomed Sno-Park Pass costs $20.  You can pay on-site via an attendant if the entry booth is staffed or at the pay station in the parking lot.  Both accept credit cards.  An annual Discover Pass runs about $30 and an annual Sno-Park Pass with the groomed lot sticker runs $80, so if you plan on coming more than 3 or 4 times this season, annual passes may be a way to go.  Just to make things a little more complicated, you can also use an annual Discover Pass and just buy a day pass for the Sno-Park pass if you like hiking year-round but only plan on going sledding here once or twice. You can buy both ahead of time at REI and several other retailers.

	Single Day	Annual Pass	More info
Non-Motorized Sno-Park Permit with groomed sticker	$20	$80	https://fortress.wa.gov/parks/ecomm/prod/Store/SNO/SnoChoice.aspx
Discover Pass	$11	$33	http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov
Sno-Park/Discover Combo	$30	N/A	https://fortress.wa.gov/parks/ecomm/prod/Store/SNO/SnoChoice.aspx

Getting There:

Address: For GPS, try entering: 15 Keechelus Boat Launch Road, Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068. This may not be recognized by all GPS systems, but it may get you close.

Link to map: http://binged.it/1xGDejC 

Directions: 

1. From Seattle/Duvall, take I-90 East and take Exit 54-Hyak.

2. At end of off-ramp, take a RIGHT.

3. In about 20 feet, take IMMEDIATE LEFT.  Look for brown "KEECHELUS TRAILHEAD" sign under a green "Dept. Of Transportation HYAK MAINT. DIV" sign.

4. In about .4 miles, turn RIGHT onto  Keechelus Boat Launch Road.  Look for the brown KEECHELUS TRAILHEAD" sign.

5. Take the first RIGHT into the Hyak Sledding Hill parking lot.

Photos:

Main sledding hill at Hyak

One of the smaller sledding hills at Hyak

Parking pass machine in Hyak parking lot

#2 - The Summit Tubing Center

The Summit Tubing Center is a dedicated tubing slope with more structure than Hyak.  Guests purchase tickets for 2 hour sessions and must use tubes provided.  Prices for tickets range from $5 for children 5 and under and up to $25 per person for 13 year-olds and older, so this route can get pricey pretty quickly.  Their website has all of the info so I'll link to it here: http://www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/activities/tubing/rates-and-hours 

Getting there: http://www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/activities/tubing-faq  

Photo:

http://www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/mountains/tubing

Digital Art - Planets

This digital art project is great for kids as young as kindergarten. The basic skills of this project are just filling in a background color and drawing a circle.  While these two tasks may take a while and require assistance with kindergarteners, older kids will have fun adding all kinds of silly extra details.

Although we use a specific program at school called Drawing for Children, Microsoft Paint installed on all Windows computers can get the job done, too.

Basic Planet
1. To open Microsoft Paint, hit the Windows Key and type: mspaint
2. When Paint opens, change the background color by clicking the paint can that's tipping over.  It's like an entire can of paint is spilling all over the page.  If black isn't selected by default (or if you want a different color for outer space) click one of the color squares to the right.

3.  Next, select a color for the planet.  In Microsoft Paint, select a circle shape and change the fill to "solid color."

4. To change the fill color from the default white to another color, click the "Color 2" square and select a color.

5. If the planet has craters, create smaller circles of the same color within the main planet circle.

6. If the planet has rings, try using a solid rectangle of another color.

This should get kids up and running with a new planet.  Experiment with different colors for the planet or outer space.  Maybe the planet isn't even a circle.  If your kids have access to any drawing program with more features than MS Paint, add a clip art alien or dinosaur to the scene!  Blue scribbles can be a comet, and white dots can be background stars.  Do your kids know any constellations they want to add?  (Jake's favorite constellation is w-opia / Cassiopeia.)


Adding Continents
If kids want to create continents, they should have fairly solid mouse control.  The polygon shape is like a connect-the-dots sort of shape, where the student clicks on various points to create connected lines.  When the end is connected the the beginning, the shape is created.  If a student doesn't have the mouse agility to accomplish this, it can be frustrating for them.  I don't usually mention this to the kindergartners just starting out.  Creating craters is enough planetary detail for them.  If you have an older student who really wants to try this out, find the polygon shape at the top and set the fill to "solid."  Play with the line width and Color 1 for the outline and Color 2 for the color of the shape.

Adding Bands
If the students want to create bands, or lines, on their planet, first try using narrow rectangles.  To look like bands that are a little less solid than a rectangle, try painting or drawing freehand, with a different type of brush.  In Microsoft Paint,click the "Brushes" button near the top.  Select a brush style, like "Crayon."  Additionally, play with line size and Color 1 color.

To create a color different than the default 20 colors, click "Edit Colors."  Click a color in the rainbow box, and make it brighter or darker with the slider bar on the right.  When the custom color box looks to be the right shade, click the big "Add to Custom Colors" button at the bottom of the dialog.

 Example of solid rectangles used for rings, and crayon drawing used for gassy bands.

Pokémon Planet
Have a Pokémon fan in the house?  Here is a step-by-step to creating a Pokémon planet!
1. Create a white circle.  Change the line size to be the widest.  This will help the center rectangle blend with the outer edge of the circle.

2. Create a narrow, solid, and black rectangle in the middle.

3. Change the line size to be a medium width, and create a solid, white circle.

4. Select red for "Color 1" and use the spilling paint can to fill the upper arc.

Microsoft Paint and other basic drawing applications have a limited feature set, which helps prevent kids from getting too overwhelmed and lost.  However, even with a basic tool set, a little imagination can create lots of fun new scenes!

If you want to give kids an opportunity to explore with digital drawing, but don't exactly want them messing up your nice computer, the public library has computers that are free for members to use.  Last I checked, the Duvall Public Library had Microsoft Paint installed.  Before heading down, call to confirm, though.  Especially during rainy days, this can be a fun and free way to get out of the house and try something new!

It is fun to see what they will come up with!

Summer chairlift ride at Stevens Pass

After exploring the Iron Goat Trail near Stevens Pass in August, we tried a new adventure: taking a scenic chairlift ride at Stevens Pass in the summer!  It was so fun!

Stevens Pass operates a chairlift on the weekends in the summer so that mountain bikers can take the lift up and ride down incredible mountain bike trails. You don't need to have a bike with you to buy a day pass, though.  Just like chairlift passes for skiers, one day pass enables unlimited riding, so we had a lot of fun with this!

Every other chair is specially designed to carry mountain bikes.

Jake was sufficiently impressed at the folks doing jumps while riding mountain bikes down the mountain.

At the top, we got off, walked around a little, and had a picnic.

After our picnic, we rode the chairlift back down.  We rode around a couple of more times before getting back in our car to check out the Interpretive and Martin Creek trailheads along the Iron Goat Trail.

BEFORE YOU GO:
1. Check out the hours of operation of the Scenic Chairlift Rides at Stevens Pass: https://www.stevenspass.com/site/summer/other-summer-services

GETTING THERE:
1. The address for Stevens Pass is 3001 NE Stevens Pass Hwy, US 2, Skykomish, WA 98288.

2. Park on the south side of Highway 2, just pass the trail overpass.
3. Go into the main lodge to purchase a lift ticket.
4. Head over to Hogsback Express - the only lift running in the summer.

Rattlesnake Ledge

Today Jake and I had a great time checking out Rattlesnake Ledge near North Bend.  Although we have spent many fun days at Rattlesnake Lake before, it was great to finally take Jake up to the ledge above.

Now that we have 6 month old baby Tyler, I have to plan out hiking logistics a little more than before.  Since he is not sleeping through the night and not even taking reliable naps yet, my energy has been hovering at a MOMbie-zombie level since about December.  Although I've been exercising enough to finish my first 10k a couple of weeks ago, I still am not at my pre-pregnancy fitness level yet. I have carried Tyler in a front carrier for several 5+ mile hikes with minimal elevation gain, but at 20+ pounds he is getting a little heavy (and warm) for a front carry up a thousand feet with some rocks and roots to navigate.  Although he is likely ready to go in the frame carrier, I didn't want to try it out for the first time with him on Rattlesnake Ledge, so he stayed home with Andy while Jake and I went out for an adventure.

Because of the easy drive, the large parking lot and well-maintained trail that can accommodate lots of people, and of course the incredible view, Rattlesnake Ledge is one of the most popular hiking trails along the I-90 corridor.  Since the large lot and even overflow lot fill up every weekend, I decided to take Jake on a Friday, the only weekday he doesn't have swim lessons this summer.  When I checked the forecast, it predicted a cloudy but rain-free day.  These are my very favorite types of days for hiking!  Clouds often deter some folks, so the trails are less crowded.  Plus, it keeps the hike cooler, which is a total bonus.

However, when I woke up Friday morning, I saw that weather.com indicated it would be a sunshine plus one cloud in the morning but a 3 cloud icon in the afternoon.  I had some concern about the ledge being obscured in the clouds, which would take away from the view. Last fall we went to the top of the Skyline Trail at Mt. Rainier.  Normally there is a spectacular view of Rainier, but when we went, this was our view:

Labor Day 2015. 5 months pregnant on Mt. Rainier's Skyline Ridge Trail

However, Friday was really the best day of the week for our busy summer schedule.  Plus, the mountain isn't exactly going anywhere.  If we "only" got to do a great hike in great hiking weather, we could always come back again!  So, with dark clouds in the sky and a couple of misty droplets speckling the windshield on 203, we set out to Rattlesnake Lake.

When we arrived at the Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area, Jake wanted to check out the ledge with the binoculars at the Education Center.  Although I was eager to get on the trail, the whole purpose of taking him out to explore is to foster a love for being out there.  If a 10 minute detour would help get him excited for the day, I was fine with a side excursion.  

While I saw clouds over the ledge that could possibly totally block our view by the time we got up there (like our experience on Mount Rainier last fall), all he could see was real people moving around on the ledge and he was so excited he would soon be one of them! 

After Jake finished scouting out our destination, we drove back to the trailhead at the north end of the lake and started on our way.

Near the start of the trail is a large boulder.  Jake had fun pretending that going under the overhang was like going in a cave.  Then we had fun taking silly pictures.  Jake is so strong!

Up ahead, he found another small rock cave.

Wait, where did he go?

He discovered all kinds of stumps, logs, and rock for jumping off of.

One thing that is fantastic about this hike is that the first half to two thirds are really easy.  Although we steadily climbed, the path wasn't steep.  Neither of us broke a sweat or felt any muscles burn for the first hour and a half.  We stopped here after about 10 minutes or so because I realized I had forgotten to put on bug spray.  Thankfully I always carry my hiking essentials so we had some on hand, even though I hadn't been thinking about it. Since stopped, it was a good opportunity for a couple of crackers & some water.  Isn't it great how few people were on the trail on this cloudy morning?

Equipped with a layer of protection from mosquitos, we set out again.  As we passed this mossy boulder with ferns on top, Jake noticed it looks like an alien's head.  Do you see it?

I carried a topographical map with us, and I could tell that the couple of switchbacks near the end of the trail would be steeper than the lazy meander of the first part of the hike.  We stopped at a part of the trail that had a wider area off to the side so that we could rest, hydrate, and re-fuel before the last part.  You can tell how exhausted Jake felt after the first 2/3rds of the hike.  Of course, even if he had been tired, the kid will never pass up the opportunity to climb up & jump off of something.  I told him to knock himself out because it looked like the upper part of the hike would be too narrow and steep for forest parkour.

Ladybug!  We saw lots of millipedes and slugs on the way up, but this was the only ladybug that Jake touched.  Granted, it was dead so it couldn't fly away, but Jake thought it was really cool to check it out up close.

While we had to put in some work for the last bit up, it was never hard enough that we needed to take breaks. It still felt great to reach the top, though!  As an extra bonus, by the time we got up there, the clouds had unexpectedly lifted!  The sky was still overcast, but we had no problem seeing the turquoise lake below.  The top was a precarious jutting of rock, similar to the top of Little Si.  I am glad I didn't have the frame carrier on, but Jake was a wonderfully responsible hiker as usual.

We had a nice little picnic of sandwiches, pretzels, applesauce pouches, and a piece of candy I let him bring.  After we hiked down, drove back to the Rattlesnake Lake Education Center to check out the binoculars again as well as shoot ping pong balls around the room in the clear vacuum tubes.  If you're not up for hiking up to the ledge but want to check out Rattlesnake Lake sometime, I highly recommend going to the Education Center next to the SE part of of the lake.  The beach is great for wading or throwing rocks and there is a flat wheelchair/stroller accessible path that runs along the east side of the lake: http://dotsonstories.blogspot.com/2015/09/rattlesnake-lake.html.

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

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.  

*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.  If the parking lot and the overflow lot are full on the north side of the lake, people often park on the shoulder of Cedar Falls Road leading into the park.

*There are restrooms with running water at the Educational Center and sani-cans at the Rattlesnake Ledge trailhead.  Check the trail map for all locations.

*Once parked, follow the signs to the trailhead.  Everything is well signed.

Cheap Adventures Within 1 Hour of Seattle's Eastside

Looking for an adventure that won't break the bank?  Check out some of these destinations within an hour of Seattle's Eastside for a change of scenery or to try something new.

#1 Go for an easy, local hike: http://dotsonstories.blogspot.com/2015/04/easy-eastide-hikes-with-kids.html. Check out the list of nearby hikes that are generally under a mile long.  Since adults often walk around 3 miles per hour, many of these would only take an adult 20 minutes to do.  However, kids as young as 3 or 4 can walk these on their own if you plan for an hour to allow them time to explore rocks, bugs, trees, and streams.

#2 Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park (Charlotte's Trail, Lowland Creek Trail) - Redmond, WA

Fees: None.  Totally free!
Address: 19545 Redmond Road, Redmond, WA 98053
Website: http://www.redmond.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=4101
Trail map: http://www.redmond.gov/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=23566
Restrooms: Yes, there is a restroom facility opened year-round near the barn.
Stroller / wheelchair options: Yes
Why you want to go:  Kids love visiting the animals at the little red barn.  This isn't a petting zoo, but kids can get up close to pigs, goats, and chickens.  There are a couple of swings across the lawn from the barn and there are a couple of tire swings down the trail from the barn.  Kids up for a little adventure beyond the barn can explore the Lowland Creek Trail or Charlotte's Trail (15 minutes each) to see some little foot bridges.  Have the kids wear boots because it's fun to stomp in the tiny streams year-round.
Getting there: From the parking lot, head towards the barn to see the animals.  To get to the trail, go through the gate just past the restrooms.  Charlotte’s Trail is the paved path that goes past a horse pasture and tire swing.  Take it out and back for a wheelchair-accessible option.  A minute past the gate, find the trailhead to the Lowland Creek Trail on the right.  Once on the trail, take a left turn at each junction and you will work your way back to the animal barn.

#3 Rattlesnake Lake – North Bend, WA
Fees: None.  Totally free!
Address: 19901 Cedar Falls Road SE,  North Bend, WA 98045
Website:http://www.seattle.gov/util/EnvironmentConservation/OurWatersheds/CedarRiverWatershed/RattlesnakeLake/index.htm 
Trail map:http://www.seattle.gov/util/cs/groups/public/@spu/@conservation/documents/webcontent/strolling_200312081358153.pdf 
Restrooms: Yes.  Check trail map for locations.
Stroller / wheelchair options: Yes
Why you want to go:  The Cedar River Watershed Environmental Center is a destination itself.  Kids will love sending ping pong balls from wall to wall with vacuum tubes (like tubes at a bank drive-through.)  
After checking out the Environmental Center, walk down to the lake.  Kids love walking along the beach and throwing rocks into the lake.
If the family is up for a stroll, the trail between the Environmental Center is paved and passes by the little Cedar Falls waterfall.  It is .75 miles between the boat launch and the Cedar River Watershed Education Center, or 1.5 miles roundtrip.  To scale it down, just start by the Education Center, walk down to the lake, and go as far or as little as your family likes.  Point out the impressive Rattlesnake Ledge across the lake and let kids know that they will be able to hike up there someday, too!
Getting there:  Just one exit east of the North Bend outlet mall, Rattlesnake Lake is perfect for a quick getaway.  Parking can get crowded weekend mornings, so try for either a weekday or a weekend afternoon.  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 Environmental Center parking lot.  If that lot happens to be full, continue down a little further to the overflow lot.  

#4 Go for a ferry ride - Seattle, Mukilteo, or Edmonds, WA