Kendall Katwalk — Snoqualmie Region

Date Hiked: September 18

Kendall Katwalk is a hike I have had on my bucket list for a long time. This beautiful trail is extremely accessible: the trailhead is right next to I-90 and is an entry point for the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail is part of the PCT, so you can make your hike as long as you want to if you continue on past Kendall Katwalk. Many people continue on to Ridge Lake.

We arrived at the trailhead around 10:30am and had to park out on the road because the parking lot was full. Thankfully the walk to the trailhead was not too long. The road in is all paved and the bathroom at the trailhead was fully stocked with toilet paper and well taken care of. Make sure to fill out an Alpine Lakes Wilderness Use Pass at the trailhead, for both day hikers and backpackers. This helps the forest service keep track of how many people, stock, and dogs are using the trail.

The trail was in great condition. Blueberries were nearing the end of their season but there were still plenty of ripe ones to snack on. The trail intersects with a few streams but they are not difficult to cross and the trail is still in good condition, though wet. The stream pictured here had a pool large enough to get drinking water from (elevation 4,323ft, roughly 3.2 miles in).

Once you reach higher elevation, the views are stunning, especially with the weather we had. Pikas were abundant within the boulder fields and we also heard a marmot whistle! We hiked a little beyond Kendall Katwalk to have lunch away from the crowds. On the way down, we spotted many dog poop bags along the side of the trail. Please pack out your dog's waste, as well as your trash! Leave no trace.

In total we hiked 13.5 miles round trip. The trail grade is quite manageable and pleasant. We got back to the trailhead around 5:15pm. Overall an excellent and accessible day hike.