Dirty Harry’s Balcony by Web Mountain perches over the South Fork Snoqualmie River. Above the lookout rises Dirty Harry’s Peak, overlooking Granite Lakes. Plus, Olallie State Park near the freeway offers the shortest approach.
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Dirty Harry’s Balcony at a Glance
Access: Olallie State Park Far Side Trailhead
Round Trip: 4.6 miles
Elevation Range: 1300′-2613′
Essential Gear: none
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes
Playlist: Beats
Exit 38 by Olallie State Park
It’s been nearly six years since Cody, the yellow lab, and I visited. At the time, we stopped by the balcony after ditching the Dirty Harry’s Peak plan due to heavy snow. But we’d been to the peak before, so we didn’t miss out much.
Today, I returned with a college friend, Matty, who lives in Federal Way. The couple she brought along were also outdoor fanatics visiting from Taiwan. They’ve scaled many of the Baiyue 100 Peaks spanning the middle of the island.
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Hiking Through Climbing Areas to the Viewpoint
The dozen cars in the lot likely belonged to climbers climbing in the area. Perhaps because it’s midweek, but I don’t remember seeing other folks on the excellent trail. The 2.3-mile walk over the mild terrain went by quickly over several chats.
Besides the stunning McClellan Butte, it was super windy at the overlook! At one point, the gusts knocked over the tripod with my camera. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the sunny weather atop drop-offs that looked even steeper this time.
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Viewing Interstate 90 from Dirty Harry’s Balcony
I didn’t remember hanging out by the cliffs before. So I checked my old track and realized we were a short way west. As I recall, the valley views to the east were equally impressive. But it was less exposed with more trees.
We took off shortly after a delicious lunch generously provided by Matty’s friends. Before leaving, we stopped by the old spot to confirm my suspicions. Soon, we chatted away back to the car by the South Fork Snoqualmie River.
See more trip photos here.