Middle Fork of Snoqualmie Road Access

Thanks for all of the information.

our group was more interested in trying the traverse from Snoqualmie Pass and out via Mt.Daniel 

If we started in Commonwealth and then headed east to exit it looks like we would have to dump a car above Cle Elum Lake. How far back does this road go in the winter?

Thanks for all of the information. 

If we started in Commonwealth and then headed east to exit it looks like we would have to dump a car above Cle Elum Lake.  How far back does this road go in the winter?

this time of year, i don't know...but i imagine its a very lengthy road slog. when we tried it last season, it was early July and one could drive to the Cathedral Pass trailhead.

...but i imagine its a very lengthy road slog. 

Indeed. My first trip to ski Daniel(May, '85) required hiking/skiing the road from Salmon la Sac. The road is slow to melt out, more so now because of the snowmobile grooming program. Expect to drive to or close to the trail head sometime in June.

There is a sno-park at Salmon-Le-Sac -- past that point the Cle Elum river road climbs steadily and worse in the first few miles is on a north facing aspect -- so it takes a while to melt out. Another challenge in May / June is the Scatter Creek, crossing the creek when it is running high and swift can be problematic both on foot and while driving.

If you were doing a traverse right now -- crossing the creek and skiing down the road to Salmon Le Sac should be do able -- I think about half of the 13 miles from the Mt Daniel trailhead to Salmon Le Sac are steep enough to "stand on your skis and glide" under firm conditions, a third flat and the remainder slight climbs.

semi-hijacking this thread for another question....

anyone ever tried going up Mineral Creek valley in late spring/early summer when its still got snow?

The Mineral Creek TH is accessed from a spur road off Salmon La Sac Rd and provides a fairly direct route to the northeast side of Chikamin, where one could then connect up with the rest of the high traverse towards Lemah, Overcoat, etc.
I've hiked it in the fall to access Chikamin and it seems like it could be a fast route in to start a similar Alpine Lakes traverse with a fairly short car shuttle, one at Mineral Cr, and one at Cathedral Pass.

anyone ever tried going up Mineral Creek valley in late spring/early summer when its still got snow? 

Unfortunately, your access road goes over 3400' Cooper Pass before dropping to the Mineral Creek trail head. I doubt that would melt out soon enough to provide over-snow travel up to Park Lakes. A friend with a boat could get you within a mile of the trail from the head of Lake Kachess though.