Rattlesnake Creek Trail

Rattlesnake Creek offers an unusual kind of wilderness walking: the creek itself is the trail. From the small trailhead roundabout off Highway 410, the route follows a two-mile 4x4 track to the William O. Douglas Wilderness boundary, where the footpath turns into a string of creek crossings, washed-out grade, and occasional flagging. The creek bed becomes the easiest line forward, and wet feet are a certainty.

At 1.5 miles the Hindoo Trail junction branches south toward Mount Aix. Continuing upstream past the wilderness boundary, fly anglers find some of the Naches District's best catch-and-release trout water, and backpackers find fine camps in the first flats. Strong parties can push another seven miles to Indian Creek Meadows.

Run this trail in mid to late summer when flows drop. Spring and early-summer crossings are ford-level and can trap parties above sudden rainfalls. Bring sandals or wet-wading shoes.