At times, our little crew finds itself in dire need of nature and inspiration but short on time, which is where mini hikes come in. We haven't posted many because we weren't sure how useful they'd be to you, but then we realized that it's pretty awesome to have a go-to list of small hikes for times when you're itching to get outdoors but limited on time. So... this is the first in our series of mini-hikes. Let us know if you want more!
A few weeks ago, we went for a short jaunt in the Cascades. If you followed our crystal-mining and waterfall chasing adventure, this hike is in the same area. Pratt Balcony is an easy 3 mile hike in the Snoqualmie/North Bend area. When we went, we saw only two other small groups, which is exactly our speed.
Parts of the trail are a bit rocky, but those areas tend to be fairly flat. There are also a couple of stream crossings but nothing too significant. The little crossings really just add extra interest to the flat portion of the trail. We initially missed the turnoff to start gaining elevation so it's a good idea to have a map or the coordinates on hand. Note that shortly after it starts climbing upward, the trail splits. Both paths will take you to Pratt Balcony; one is just steeper than the other. We followed the steep side of the Y up and took the more gradual trail back down though it's really just a matter of preference.
Once you start gaining elevation (it's just over 600 feet), the scenery changes to ferns and old-growth forests. Its quintessential wooded-Washington hiking at its finest. The view is epic, so much so that while we don't generally repeat hikes, we're planning to return to this one with a picnic in tow.
Pratt Balcony Vitals
Length: Just over 2 miles
Elevation gain: 626 feet
Dog friendly? Yes*
Kid friendly? Yes*
Difficulty: AllTrails rates this as "moderate" but we hiked it easily with an 8 year old and a pup. Assuming the challenge comes from the rocky portions and stream crossings as there were no terribly unsteady or steep places along the climb.
Trailhead coordinates: 47.5489, -121.5379
Area: Snoqualmie/North Bend/Middle Fork Valley
Favorite nearby spots for pre/post hike nourishment: Arete (North Bend); Snoqualmie Ice Cream (Snoqualmie)
*Note that there is a very steep drop at the lookout, so pets and children should be kept close at the summit.
Happy journeying!
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