Rattlesnake Ledge, Little Si — Friday, Feb. 6, 2026

UPDATE 2/6/26: BATS! Sunset hike up Little Si, and then down in the dark with a headlamp. It was warm again in North Bend today, warm enough to bring out the bats that were obviously attracted to my headlamp on the way down... not just a few, but many, swooping in close to my face. Ugh! When I can feel their "wing wash" on my face it freaks me out a bit... coming into contact with them can be dangerous (<1% but still). But it makes sense - Little Si has cliffs with many suitable nesting spots. Hopefully they were not active today due to white nose syndrome, which can awaken them from winter hibernation. The trail today was dry, with some new tree fall, but only one crossing the trail. Sunset was not as colorful as last night (or even sunrise this morning, which was spectacular in North Bend), but the rocky front face of Little Si is a good perch. Need to try the scramble up the front side soon - today would have been perfect with the dry and grippy conditions. Many climbers out today. NOTE: Sun sets below Rattlesnake Ridge well before sunset, casting Little Si in shadow.

UPDATE 2/5/26: Mid-morning hike with glorious sunshine and temperatures in the high 50s. Warming on the ascent with a temperature inversion and gusty outflow winds. Those eastern winds have dried out the trail, so only a little mud and running water remains after the 2nd to last switchback. The dappled light in the mossy forest was beautiful. With warm winter temperatures, the forest remains lush (e.g. less fern die-off). The ledge was also dry and grippy, and a good perch to relax in the sun. Felt like late March! Some trees already have blossoms by the lake.

Bottom Line 2/3/26:

Always a good sunrise hike, especially when there is lots of low-level cloud out to the horizon (not really the case today). But this morning, the ascent was in the glow of a nearly full moon, and the sun rose to the east, with the moon behind us to the west. Beautiful. The forest was still pretty dark - headlamp recommended. The best color was about 30 minutes before sunrise. Rattlesnake Lake is completely full - early this year. But very little snow on surrounding peaks. Slippery at the top with wet surfaces.

Stats (x3 Rattlesnake x1 Little Si trips):

• Distance: 18-1/4 miles
• Vertical: ~5400 ft
• Duration: Over the last 7 days; 2/3 Rattlesnake sunrise: 2-1/2 hours (it got cold, so I ditched before the sun breached the mountains); 2/5 Rattlesnake mid-morning: 90 minutes; 2/6 Little Si: 2 hours
• Road/Parking: Rattlesnake gates still closed at 6am; parking in the small lot (~10 cars) outside the gate. Discovery Pass required, although not if you park on the road on the north side of the "end of county road" sign. Return to Little Si parking lot in the dark, but gates were still open (there are gates - never sure they get locked).
• Weather: 2/3: Clear with some high cloud, 40Fs, gusty on the ledge (I brought a puffy for the top, and I was still cold... sweaty underneath). 2/5: Much warmer and sunnier, but strong gusts at the top, and on the lake. 2/6: Warm, 62F at start, no wind
• Trail: Rattlesnake trail is in good condition with no obstructions. It is muddy at times, and there is at least one area with water flowing over the trail. The ledge is very slippery right now. There are reflectors on the trees that will help guide you up in the dark if you are looking to hit sunrise. There were 5 other folks up there early today. Rattlesnake Lake is FULL which I could not say last year at this time. But last year, there was lots of snow on the surrounding peaks - this year virtually none. The lake looked inviting for a kayak... maybe on one of the warmer days this week. 2/5: Much busier, with lots of folks headed up on the descent. Little Si trail is dry and in good condition, with a single down tree near the top. CAUTION: A lot of bat activity after dark; I had to turn off my headlamp and continue in the dark
• Takeaway: Still waiting to take similar Rattlesnake pics to those above on a clear morning after a low-level snowfall... it is not looking promising for that to happen this year! But it would be so beautiful!

A mix of camera and phone pics on this one ;)

More Information on this Trip Report

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