Denny Creek Trail, Snoqualmie Pass, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

Sign at the Denny Creek trailhead

 

Our most recent hike was a short one to the water slide on Denny Creek.  It was a cold, drizzly day but the best weather day for the week.  Puffy jackets and long johns, gloves and hats helped keep us warm and dry.  The newer main parking area serves three trails, Denny Creek, Franklin Falls, and Wagon Road.  There are newer outhouses at the main upper parking area and also at the handicapped parking area below the main lot.  The old Denny Creek parking trailhead is closed to cars.  The small outhouse there was closed for the season.  The Wagon Road is another way to get to Franklin Falls.  Since it is only 55 miles from Seattle, it is a very heavily visited hiking area.  However, on a cold, rainy day there were not many people.

 

 

 

Roots, slippery when wet

Stairs

more stairs

 

and still more stairs

Part way up to the slide is this newer bridge over the creek

We have hiked this trail before but this time we found it full of rocks, roots, and stairs.  Lots of stairs.  Trail crews sometimes think that stairs are an improvement on trails but uneven stairs are very hard on older legs, both going up and coming down.  We will take a walk-around slope in lieu of stairs, if there is one available, almost every time.   

 

 

 

 

Stairs down to the water slide and the log bridge crossing the creek

 

There was mud and standing water on the trail in a few places and one small creek we walked through.  Our boots are waterproof, so no problem.  There has been some erosion since we were last here also, but we are now a little older too and that makes a difference.  For instance, we did not attempt to use the log bridge, that does not have a railing, over the rushing water in the creek.  We might have considered doing that a few years ago but not now.  Also, our turn around destination this time was just getting to the slide.  Continuing up across the creek about another ¾ mile are the spectacular Keekwulee Falls. Denny Creek lower falls are a view through trees, while the upper Denny Creek falls are at the top of the water slide.

 

Denny Creek lower falls

Denny Creek upper falls

 

It is too late in the season now for flowers but fall colors are still out and there are various shapes, sizes, and colors of mushrooms all along the trail.   I do not know mushrooms, but used a field guide to guess the common names. 

 

Shrimp mushroom

Brown coral fungus

Yellow coral fungus

Tiny witch's butter

 

 

Tiny tan mushrooms growing on log

 

Angel Wings

Clump of white mushrooms

Someone had turned part of the clump over and I thought the underside was pretty

Violet Cort

Most of the trail is quiet and woodsy.  However, one section goes directly under the I-90 freeway and there is audible traffic noise.   

 

 Denny Creek

More pleasant are the burbling sounds of the water in Denny Creek and peek-a-boo views of rushing water here and there. 

 

 

Count for the day:

13 hikers, 2 dogs

540 ft elevation gain

3 miles RT

55 miles from home