Three short, easy hikes on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Oxbow Loop

 

Sitting atop the snag

Stepping down, so we can see all his pretty colors

This one has to take photo billing, a delightful bonus surprise of the day. A Red-breasted (yellow bellied) Sapsucker woodpecker. 

 

 

The first salamander of the year—we think it may be an Oregon slender salamander

 

 

 

The trailhead sign has a map of the loop

The last hike we went on in 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions and our desire to limit exposure by choosing lesser known or less frequented trails, was in August at Oxbow Loop.  It is a 2-mile loop that winds through the forest and dips down to the river beach in one place.  There are numerous views of the river and lake along the route.  Last time we started from the right hand side and had a hill to climb on the return.  This time we started on the left side of the loop and went steeply down but had a less steep climb back up to the junction at the end of the loop.  Perhaps because we did it in the reverse from the previous time, we noticed things we did not remember seeing the first time. 

 

This trail is a new trail, finished in 2018, and built by the Department of Natural Resources on State land.  The trail surface is gravel for most of the way, easy walking, and wide enough for people to walk side-by-side in many places.  This is short and easy enough to be a good hike for parents with young children.  There are two parking areas, one by the loop junction and the second a short distance beyond as you continue driving on the road.  The second parking area is slightly larger and has an outhouse.  This trail requires a Discover Pass. 

 

 

Salmon berry blossom

Colt’s Foot

Bleeding heart

Trillium

Middle Fork Snoqualmie River

 

 

Oxbow Lake

 

 

Pratt River Bar

 

Fire pit near camp site

Continuing down the road from the second trailhead for Oxbow is an unmarked 1/4-mile (1/2-mile round trip) trail to Pratt River Bar.  Before starting the trail there is a bridge over a substantial creek.  The trail surface is mixed gravel and packed sand-dirt with a few rocks.  There are several campsites and fire pits at the rocky beach.  As we were returning to the car, we met two mothers with four children on their way down this easy walk to play on the river beach and have a picnic lunch.  There is no outhouse and no pass requirement was posted.

 

Champion Beach

 

Trail head sign with map and information

Champion Beach

 

After stopping at Pratt River Bar, we turned around and drove back past Oxbow on the way toward the main roadway where there is another very short, 1/4-mile or 1/2-mile round trip trail that leads down to a riverside beach called Champion Beach.  There is a larger parking area, an outhouse and a trail head sign with information posted.  The Discover Pass is required.  We did not check out all of Champion Beach.  Even though it is marked for day use only, we could see some campsites and fire pits similar to those at the Pratt River Bar area.  The trail surface is gravel part of the way, packed dirt, has a bridge over a creek, and a boardwalk with metal slats over swampy places.  The beach is a typical rocky river beach.

 

The road to all three of these short day-hikes is paved.  Since these hikes are short, easy, and not frequented as often as some of the more difficult, longer hikes along the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River they were ideal choices for us as a first outing of 2021.

 

Count for the day:  Three miles. Elevation gain:  maximum 100 ft.  On the trail, one grandpa, one dad, one baby in a carrier at Oxbow.  Two moms, four kids at Pratt River Bar.  No other people on the Champion Beach trail but additional cars at all parking areas when we left.  NO DOGS, NO BUGS (big deals)!

 

Note:  We like dogs, just not when they are running unleashed and out of control on trails.