Hike of the Week: Christmas Lake

A hiker looks for Santa on the way to Christmas Lake

Christmas Lake

Yule like this hike along the Iron Horse Trail




by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin

December 22, 2006

Quick Facts

Location: Snoqualmie Valley
Land Agency: Washington State Parks
Roundtrip to Cedar Butte: 3.5 miles
Elevation gain: 900 feet
Access: Head on I-90 to exit 32 just east of North Bend. Travel south on 436th Ave SE. Road becomes Cedar Falls Road, continue traveling south to Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area. Look for large parking lot (located on east side of road) for the Iron Horse Trail.
Green Trails Map: Rattlesnake Mountain Map 205S
Notes: Dogs must be leashed

Here’s a nice little hike for Christmas day to one of the very few natural landmarks in Washington State named for this special day. Little Christmas Lake isn’t exactly a holiday extravaganza; it’s more of a marsh than a lake. Chances are there won’t be much snow lining its shores either, but plenty of evergreens-doubling for Christmas Trees will be gracing its perimeter.
So how did this little body of water near Rattlesnake Lake come to be named in honor of one of America’s most beloved holidays? Well, it wasn’t exactly for good tidings, comfort and joy. Little Boxley Creek which drains the lake flooded on December 23, 1918. Local residents began referring to Boxley as Christmas Creek and the lake too took on the name of the holiday in remembrance of the flood that caused considerable damage- including destroying the town of Edgewick.
Begin your hike on the Iron Horse Trail (also known as the John Wayne Pioneer trail). Follow this former rail line east and within .3 mile come to views of Christmas Lake off to your left. All should be calm now-all should be bright! Since you’ve hardly broken a sweat to this point continue up the Iron Horse Trail another half mile or so. Shortly after crossing Boxley (Christmas) Creek on a trestle, look for a signed trail taking off right. Follow this well-defined path for a steep .8 mile 800 vertical feet grunt to 1,860-foot Cedar Butte. Enjoy the view here of the Snoqualmie Valley including little Christmas Lake below. Now, give thanks that we made it through the past six weeks of ice, snow, flooding and wind storms. Like 1918, the 2006 holiday season has been quite a year as well!

Hikeoftheweek.com wishes all of its readers a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and joyous Winter Solstice!