Taylor River (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taylor River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Bear Lake North Cascades |
| River mouth | Middle Fork Snoqualmie River |
The Taylor River is a beautiful river located in King County, within the state of Washington. It flows through a scenic area, known for its lakes and waterfalls.
The River's Journey
The Taylor River begins its journey at the end of Bear Lake. From there, it tumbles over a small waterfall. After this first drop, the river flows into Deer Lake.
Once it leaves Deer Lake, the river drops over another waterfall. This second waterfall is much bigger than the first one. After this exciting drop, the river enters Snoqualmie Lake. This is the largest and most impressive of the three lakes on the Taylor River.
After leaving Snoqualmie Lake, the river plunges over another good-sized waterfall. This happens as it drops down a steep slope below the lake. Near the bottom, the river gets more water from a creek. This creek drains Nordrum, Judy, and Carole Lakes.
The river then changes direction, flowing from west to northwest. Soon, it turns west again. Along its path, the Taylor River is joined by three large streams. These are Big Creek, Otter Creek, and Marten Creek. Each of these streams also has big waterfalls before they meet the river.
After Marten Creek joins, the river turns south. It flows towards its meeting point with the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River. Just before it reaches the Snoqualmie River, it receives one more major stream called Quartz Creek.
Exploring the Trails
The Taylor River area is a great place for hiking and exploring nature. There are several trails that let you see the river and its surroundings up close.
Taylor River Trail
The main and most popular path is the Taylor River Trail. This trail used to be an old road. It ends near the base of the steep slope below Snoqualmie Lake. The trail starts just before a bridge that crosses the river. This bridge is a little bit upstream from where Quartz Creek joins the river.
The Taylor River Trail follows the river closely. You will cross Marten and Big Creeks on bridges. From these bridges, you can see the waterfalls of both creeks. You also cross Otter Creek, but there is no bridge there, and you can't see its waterfalls from the crossing. The main trail ends about 1.2 miles after you cross the Big Creek Bridge.
Side Trails and Adventures
There are also some smaller, less-known trails that branch off the main Taylor River Trail. These can lead to more hidden spots.
- Marten Creek Trail: This trail is not marked and can be a bit rough. You can find it branching off the Taylor River Trail shortly before you reach the Marten Creek Bridge.
- Lipsy Lake and Otter Falls: A short side trail branches off the Taylor River Trail after you cross Otter Creek. This path leads to Lipsy Lake. You can see the beautiful slides of Otter Falls, which drop right into this tiny lake.
- Dream Lake Trail: This trail branches off the Taylor River Trail shortly after the Big Creek Bridge. It follows a creek steeply up to Dream Lake. Be aware that parts of this trail can be hard to see.
- Nordrum Lake Trail: At the very end of the Taylor River Trail, you'll find the start of the Nordrum Lake Trail. This is a difficult route. It leads to the remote Nordrum Lake. It also gives you access to Carole and Judy Lakes, which are other backcountry lakes nearby.
