Snoquera Falls Loop, Skookum Flats — Monday, Mar. 19, 2007

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

Snow flakes were starting to fall as I pulled into the empty parking lot for the Snoquera trailhead in Camp Sheppard. The trail started out in good shape and was free of snow however it was pretty confusing where the Snoquera trail left the Boy Scout trails. The trail only gains about 400 feet from the trailhead to the falls but there was surprisingly a lot more snow near the falls. There were also more blown down trees near the falls. The obstacles were worth overcoming though as the falls looked magnificent. I continued on past the falls hoping to complete the loop counter-clockwise. My plan of completing a loop was put to an end soon after the falls where the trail disappeared under a landslide. With no visible safe way around it, this may be the trail’s end. I headed back the way I came but decided to take the trail to the Skookum Flats instead of returning to Camp Sheppard. At the road the sign said the bridge was out but I had to see for myself. Sure enough, there’s not much left of it, just a few cables with dangling planks. There is a fallen tree which one could cross on but I decided to save that butt scoot for another day.