 |
It's crystal clear why Quartz Creek Trail is a pleasant outing
By KAREN SYKES ![[Bio]](../image/bio_bttn.gif){kind=small}
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER
 |
If you are in need of such a walk, you may want to visit the Quartz Creek Trail, an easy route that can be hiked most of the year and it is close to home for many of us.
I've recently been smitten with the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley and found the Quartz Creek Road easy, interesting and lonesome. Yes, the "trail" is actually a road, and though I generally dislike road walks, this one feels like a trail and is closed to motorized vehicles.
The road passes through several pockets of old growth, and a few big cedars will command your attention at the higher elevations. In early summer there are several small waterfalls and the lower portion of the road is lined with lily of the valley.
The road was built for a quartz mine and logging. The mines are on private property, and if you are a rockhound, you must obtain the owner's permission before gathering specimens.
Quartz crystals are found in the valley and several small mines are in operation today.
The views of Garfield Mountain from the road are startling and to non-climbers downright scary looking.
The hike is easy and straightforward, but you can make it more of a workout by hiking up the Rooster Mountain logging road, an unsigned spur road that climbs to 4,000 feet and offers more views of the Garfield family.
Climbers can climb Rooster Peak (5,339 feet) by leaving the spur road at an elevation of 3,800 feet (the last switchback).
You also can stay on the Quartz Creek road and hike to the road end at 2,900 feet for a total elevation gain of 1,700 feet.
A trail at the end of the road continues about a half mile to Lake Blethen. The property is owned by a timber company, but we didn't see any "no trespassing" signs.
We turned back before we reached the lake, intimidated by a stream crossing that probably is insignificant later in the year but seemed dangerous at the time, although someone has strung a handline to assist in crossing.
If you don't want to walk to the end of the road, there are many good lunch or turnaround spots suitable for everyone in the family. We stopped at the end of a large switchback with logs to sit on and fine views of the Snoqualmie Valley and Garfield Mountain.
This spot seems to invite introspection and you might visualize that the Snoqualmie Valley was once covered with ice deep enough to extend halfway up Garfield Mountain.
Twenty-thousand years ago only the highest summits in the valley were visible -- the summits of Price Mountain and Garfield appearing as mere islands in a sea of ice. The glacier may have extended as far as Snoqualmie Falls.
We met only one hiker the entire day, who happened to deliver a warning of a deteriorating wooden bridge farther ahead. We soon came to the bridge, which spans a gorge. Some of the planking is gone and the remaining planks are rotten, with gaping holes. However, the foundation logs seemed strong enough to support what remains of the bridge.
We crossed cautiously.
If you decide to cross this bridge, proceed with caution. The road ends about a mile beyond the bridge. The path to Blethen Lake continues from the end of the road.
Getting there
From North Bend drive I-90 east and get off at Exit 34 and turn left. Drive past the cluster of convenience stores and restaurants, turn right on Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Road No. 56, cross the Taylor River bridge at 15.5 miles, shortly beyond a junction.
Road 56 continues to the right. Stay straight and drive about a half mile to the road-end and parking at the Taylor River trailhead No. 1002, elevation 1,200 feet.
Trail detail
The trail (actually a road) begins by crossing the Taylor River and enters forest, following the Taylor River for about a half mile to a signed junction (a small sign nailed to a tree).
The Quartz Creek road climbs to the left.
The Taylor River trail continues straight.
The Quartz Creek road climbs gently, switchbacking to several good viewpoints before reaching the Rooster Mountain Spur Road, which climbs to about 4,000 feet. From the spur road, it is about a mile to the end of the Quartz Creek road.
Trail data
From the trailhead to the end of the Quartz Creek road it is about seven miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 1,700 feet.
"Hiking the Mountains to Sound Greenway" by Harvey Manning (The Mountaineers, 220 pages, $12.95) mentions this hike and offers maps and information on the area and its other fine hikes.
· New Silver Fir chairlift signals big-time growth for The Summit at Snoqualmie
· Snowshoeing on Mount Seymour: B.C. walk rewards with beauty and chocolate fondue
· Lincoln and Cove parks: Two waterfront parks bring nature near
· For running, high-priced jacket's claims are all wet
· Outdoors Report: Forecast favorable for clam diggers
· Outdoors Report: Anglers banking on uptick in 2009 openings
more
· The Independent: What creationists really hate is that we emerged by accident
· Report of possible P-I sale surprises papers' leaders
· Hundreds march in Seattle to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza
· Nickels aside, Seattle's mayoral race is wide open
more
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 4 million unique visitors
and 45 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2009 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
