This new trail offers a nice short hike near Ollalie State Park. The quickest way to reach it is to park at the gated road just east of Hall Creek and the entrance to Ollalie State Park, on old US 10. Alternatively, park by the lawn at Ollalie and walk through the screen of trees to access the gated road. The Change Creek trail from old US 10 is also a fairly direct route to the area.
This gated road turns into a trail that quickly ascends to the Iron Horse Trail at the east end of the Hall (or Hull) Creek bridge. Walk east about 100 yards to find the start of the Zigzag trail, by a fallen log.
From its start on the Iron Horse trail, the ZigZag trail switchbacks up a forested hillside. Several hundred feet up, there is a small flat area wooded with maples. Take a rest on the cedar seat:
The trail weaves around mossy ledges higher up on the slope, and the trees thin, opening up vistas out over the Snoqualmie river valley. Six hundred feet above the Iron Horse, the Zigzag trail reaches Mountain Mutt Rock:
After an 800' climb, the trail reaches an old, overgrown logging road, elev. 2200'. This is low enough that the trail to this point should have little snow for much of the winter.
If you are itching for more exercise, a rougher continuation of the trail climbs another 600 feet to the main Hall Creek Road, on which you can hike to infinity and beyond.
Thanks for the info on the Zigzag trail, especially the elevation of the highpoint (for those of us who want to stay under the snowline). Any idea of roundtrip miles for the two options you mention?
Hi nordique,
From Ollalie SP lawn parking to the lower logging road is a pretty short hike of less than 4 miles round trip, and 1100 ' of elevation gain. Getting to the main Hall Creek road is another half mile and 600 feet of gain. There are some good views from there.
Four of us tried out the ZigZag Trail today, mostly avoiding rain, to the highpoint at--I assume--the Hall Creek Road, the second logjam, in part because I enjoyed the Change Creek Trail up to Hall Point last weekend (my third time up this fine trail). To the first logjam, the trail shows a lot of work, though it's still a bit rough. The second half is more like a scramble or climbers' route, at least when wet, and not a good path for a group. We didn't see a route beyond the second logjam so we retreated to the first one for lunch and our return to the cars. Photos here:
Hey Nordique, looks like you found a good way to get some exercise on a crummy rainy day. The big payoff of the ZigZag trail is access to the Hall Creek valley. Last summer, I walked the Hall Ck road all the way to the ridgeline overlooking the Cedar River, walked west on the road that runs along the ridgeline, then back down the Great Wall and Change Creek.
Gotta do something about that annoying log jam just below the Hall Creek road... at least lop and flag a decent route.
I've cleared a path through the logjam, so it is much easier to get to the Hall Creek Road now.
nordique wrote:
Four of us tried out the ZigZag Trail today, mostly avoiding rain, to the highpoint at--I assume--the Hall Creek Road, the second logjam, in part because I enjoyed the Change Creek Trail up to Hall Point last weekend (my third time up this fine trail). To the first logjam, the trail shows a lot of work, though it's still a bit rough. The second half is more like a scramble or climbers' route, at least when wet, and not a good path for a group. We didn't see a route beyond the second logjam so we retreated to the first one for lunch and our return to the cars. Photos here:
August 2010 update: the lower portion of the Zig Zag trail is much better than it used to be--it's getting to be a real trail. The upper portion, between the lower and upper logging roads, is being improved with new tread and switchbacks, on going work.
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