Colton Jacobs

I forgot how large Crater Lake was. Wikipedia said it was only 6 miles in diameter, multiply X 3.14 or C = πd and boom its only 18.84 miles around, that's cake, or pie. Imaging a NASCAR track with a pond in the middle.WRONG, hindsight being 20/20, dramatic landscape rarely equates to flat, cycle friendly roads. It was really around 40 miles, 5,200 ft elevation gain and about 7,900 ft elevation ...

This is an abandoned trail that heads south along Rainy Creek, off of the downstream section of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail, and up to Rainy Lake. The lake is popular among fisherman, since it is home to lots of trout, but be warned -- route-finding skills are a must on this trip. I do my best to keep the trail free of fallen trees and there are pink trail markers hung up in places, but it...

Choose from Trout Lake (1.6 miles each way with 500 feet of elevation gain), Copper Lake (4.2 miles each way with 2400 feet of elevation gain), or Big Heart Lake at 7.3 miles each way, with 3300 feet elevation gain). There are plenty of camp sites if you decide to go overnight at any of the lakes, however it is possible to do the whole trip in one (very long) day. The trail stays fairly level u...