Hike of the Week

Best Lake Hikes

Blue Lake─Ice lingers long in this large alpine lake set in a deep rocky cirque

Quick Facts Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Darrington Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 27.3 miles Elevation Gain: 5,725 feet Green Trails Maps: Sloan Peak, WA-No. 111; Glacier Peak- No. 112, Monte Cristo, WA- No. 143 Access: From Darrington, head south on the Mountain Loop Highway 16.0 miles turning left onto FR 49. Follow […]

Melakwa Lake–The buzz is out on this great Snoqualmie Pass hike

Location: Snoqualmie Pass region Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 9.0 miles High Point: 4,600 feet Elevation gain: 2,400 feet Difficulty: difficult Green Trails Map: Snoqualmie Pass Gateway, WA- No 207S Contact: North Bend Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (425) 888-1421 Note: NW Forest Pass required Access: From Seattle, head east on […]

Lake Serene — Placid lake tucked beneath the terrifying towers of Mount Index

Quick Facts: Location: US 2 near Index Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 7.6 miles Elevation gain: 2020 feet Green Trails Maps: Index WA- No. 142 Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required Access: From Everett follow US 2 east for 34 miles to […]

Blanca Lake– A strikingly beautiful lake set beneath a formidable wall of jagged peaks

Quick Facts: Location: Wild Sky and Henry Jackson Wildernesses,North Fork Skykomish River Valley Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 8.4 miles Elevation gain: 3,300 feet Green Trails Map: Monte Cristo, WA- No. 143 Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required. No fires allowed near […]

Lake Janus — Wilderness gateway to eastern Snohomish County

Quick Facts: Location: Pacific Crest Trail near Stevens Pass Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 6.5 miles Elevation gain: 1,550 feet Green Trails Map: Benchmark MT- No. 144 Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker -Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Self-issued free wilderness permit available at trailhead. Wilderness regulations apply. No fires allowed near lake. Access: […]

Lake West and Lake Helen – Seldom visited lakes within the shadows of Mount Rainier

Quick Facts: Location: Glacier View Wilderness Land Agency: Gifford Pinchot National Forest Roundtrip: 8.4 miles Elevation gain: 1,600 feet Green Trails Map: Mount Rainier West, WA no. 269 Contact: Cowlitz Valley Ranger Station (Randle), Gifford Pinchot National Forest Notes: FR 59 is rough in spots but is passable for passenger cars. Wilderness regulations apply. Free […]