- Good for Kids:
- Yes
13 reviews for Snow Lake
strenuousness = moderate
length = ~3 miles to the lake
we went for a nice hike to snow lake today (sunday morning in late august). we started the hike at 10:15am and it was already relatively crowded, lots of passing and being passed, but then also the sign of a nice trail. i saw lots of families with kids of all ages and dogs too, so it seems pretty friendly for families. the lake is quite pretty when you get there (it took us ~ 1.5 hours to get to the top). we found a few rocks to sit on at the top to enjoy the view and a light snack before heading back down.
things to bring: the trail is pretty well maintained but it's still relatively rocky and uneven so hiking shoes are helpful. sunblock/hat/glasses are helpful especially on a sunny day because this trail has lots of unshaded portions. near the lake the temperature is noticeably cooler, so i was glad i wore layers brought a track jacket. bring some tissues because the toilet at the bottom didn't have toilet paper and a bag if you think you'll be generating trash because trash cans were rare (i didn't see any).
it's a nice way to spend a part of the day!
This hike is definitely a popular one, and for good reason. Went on this trail at about 1PM on a sunny Sunday afternoon and found that there were tons of people heading back, and thankfully it seemed that there weren't as many coming up. It's an 8 mile, round trip hike with only about 1300 ft elevation gain. The trail is pretty rocky and doesn't have a lot of forest shade, so on a hot summer day prepare to be in the sun.
The lake itself is absolutely gorgeous and I would definitely recommend it for everyone, beginners and advanced hikers alike. This trail also requires a Northwest Forest Pass so pick one up at your nearest vendor for $5 before arriving. You can find your nearest vendor by going to their handy website (or if you've planned far enough in advance you could buy it online) http://www.fs.fed.us/r...
The hike was awesome! We went here two days ago and it was a great work-out. The view at the end was to die for. Well not that serious. But it was quite a beautiful sight. One of my roommates even jumped into the water. That crazy girl. But yeah the water was icy cold and there were huge blocks of ice floating in the water.
Going up was not as bad in the beginning but after an hour into the hike, I almost passed out. I was pretty dehydrated and the rocky path upwards was a little challenging on my body but I made it after taking a break! The slushy roads were kind of annoying and some parts of the trail were quite claustrophobic and spiky with all the branches sticking out.
But overall, it was a great hike and the lake view was well worth the four hours and eight miles. Whew!
We took our two year old and five year old on this hike. Both did great. My 5 year old climbed his first mountain all by himself with minimal adult assistance. My husband had to carry him down parts of the way going down but if my 5 year old can do it then it can't be all that bad. I wouldn't suggest this as a first time hike for kids though even though we managed to make it back to the car in one piece. It took us 3 1/2 hours round trip.
We started our hike by 9 AM but it was already somewhat crowded. Aside from the popularity of the hike, there is still a feel of solitude.
Not much in terms of shade from the sun so be prepared to stay hydrated and sun screened. The path is also very rocky so definitely wear some proper hiking shoes. Mosquitos aren't that bad while we were there but one managed to get me on my neck.
The lake is definitely a treat at the top of the hike. Absolutely beautiful. A great way to spend a Sunday morning.
This is one of my FAVORITE short hikes in the area. It's usually one of the first hikes I do each year. It's a great hike to take friends who aren't avid hikers, but like to get outdoors. In just a short time you have an amazing beautiful lake. Want some piece and quiet? Go just a bit further and head to Gem Lake. Definitely worth the extra work. Less people & even more pretty. This is also a very popular hike. So if you want to get away from it all and be by yourself in the woods, I wouldn't recommend this place.
I agree with what everyone else has said about this hike. It's a good way to spend a morning.... not TOO strenuous, but not too easy. It's about 6 miles round trip and about 1400 feet or so in elevation... relatively uneven terrain.
When we got there the lake was really fogged over, and literally 10 minutes after getting there the fog blew over and the lake cleared up, it was a great sight.
Snow Lake is worth the long hike!
It is not super steep, and there are a lot of hills so you won't have to worry about an all-uphill climb or an all-down hill tred. There are spots along the trail and beside the trail that you can venture off to to take photos, since there are amazing views of mountains and trees there.
The end result is magnificent. You're on the edge of the lake, and you can even jump into it if you would like! The nature definitely adds more to the hike, since there are always fun creatures following your tail!
Recommendation: Hike around September ish? And go as early as you can (7-9 AM) The mornings are usually crisp, and the sun is just breaking in so it is not too hot and not too cold! Also, the trail is kind of hard to find when driving there, so make sure the directions are dead on.
DIRECTIONS!!!!
We got lost for about 45 minutes trying to get here because there's not a single set of directions that are correct. We finally found it but didn't end up hiking it because the ranger at the visitor center advised against it. More on that later. Here are the real directions from Seattle:
Take exit 52 off I-90. Turn left under overpass, take 2nd right onto Alpental Road (not marked and it's a small road) and continue 1.25 miles to large parking lot on the left. Walk around gate; trail begins on right-hand, uphill side. Also, parking lot is close to the Alpental ski area.
Here's another link to more reviews and info about this hike (but don't listen to the directions from here!!): http://www.localhikes....
"Trail is 3 mi ea way, total elev gain 1,300' in, 400' out. This is a busy hike w/ spectacular views of the valley & surrounding area. It traverses steadily up the valley for 1.5 mi to a junction with the Source Lake Overlook Trail. The trail switchbacks uphill to a ridge at 2.3 mi; then down to the inlet & lakeshore. You can continue to Gem Lake at 5 mi. or down 1,000' to Lower Wildcat Lake at 7 mi."
We stopped at the visitor center right off exit 52 to buy our $5 recreation pass. We got a map and descriptions of all the hikes in the area. The ranger said that we shouldn't take Snow Lake because there was too much snow (even in June) and the lake wasn't visible... or something like that. Anyway, she talked us into going on Annette Lake, similar mileage and elevation gain. And that trail is AWESOME. We didn't end up going on Snow Lake so maybe we'll try it next time we're in the area. Otherwise, I would highly recommend Annette Lake.
Very crowded trail but well worth it. We started at 4pm on an August Saturday and encountered at least 100 people coming back. Once at the lake we saw only a few people though. Pretty rocky trail most of the way but easy enough for kids, and the views along the way and Snow Lake itself make this a great experience. Great half day trip to impress out-of-towners.
My friend Emily and I went today, and got there around 2. Wish we had beaten the rush...there were quite a few hikers and some bigger groups, which made passing by them through the really narrow rocky paths kind of awkward. Maybe I just make it more awkward, but I hate having to dance around people or slow down/speed up so that I can go off on my own.
Big rocky thigh-burning incline the whole way up (but you're out in the sun, so you can work on your tan!), and then another steep trail down to get to the huuuuge lake. You get some great shots of the lake.
We got in our suits and tried to find the cute boys who got there before us, but were glad we hadn't when we got to the water, because it was really too cold to swim in. And I got my butt dirty trying to sit on the rocks to dip my legs in. If you get there maybe earlier in the afternoon, you may be hot enough to brave it.
I got my arms and legs nibbled on by some flying creatures, so bring really stinky repellent.
Some people were going up there to camp, so if you're looking for an overnight adventure, this place could work.
ow my thighs
*joy
Snow lake was a beautiful hike, although it is too early in the year to be able to enjoy the lake. There was snow and ice everywhere once you got to the lake. Very little snow on the way up.
I had tried this hike about a month earlier before our heatwave and there was snow everywhere- the trail was impossible to find, and we only hiked about 1/2 a mile before our shoes were soaked through. So we decided we'd wait a while and try again...
We did the hike in about 2 1/2 hours round trip with an additional hour or so at the top. I remembered it being tougher, but it was fairly easy. It was funny to see where we tried to hike when everythign was covered in 8 feet of snow, and where the trail led us. We seriously would have gotten lost and never would have found the lake if we had continued when everything was buried...
The hike would have been better if we could have gotten down to the lake and it wasn't frozen over. That's really my only complaint.
I plan on going again later in the summer. The whole lake basin was all snow, and was beautiful even completely covered...
My 2nd time up to Snow Lake trail today....A little better than my 1st one since this trail seems to keep snow on it as long as possible. A great spot to hike without running into hoards of daily Mt. Si hikers. What was read on nwsource as moderate seemed fairly on the easy side to me and I am no fitness hiking junky here.
Maybe 2 hours up or so, absolutely beautiful views ending at a pretty hidden little lake which is perfect time for a bite of lunch before the easy trek back down.
Things to keep in mind, the $5 dollar park pass which i learned on the way Out can also be bought at the gas station around the corner..... And pets are required to be on leashes but this one is unpopulated enough my pup was very pleased to be free the entire trail.
soooo...this trail isn't actually in seattle. its about 40 miles east on i90. take exit 53 and hang a right and another right. then drive down a little bit and you'll see a small group of service stations, ski lodges, etc. you should be able to find the visitor center on your right. you have to go there no matter what, b/c you need to buy a parking pass for $5. from there they can tell you exactly how to get to the snow creek trail.
i spent a wonderful sunday afternoon at this place. beautiful sunny mid 70 degree weather and a wonder ful hike up to snow lake. the trail is rugged and steep in some places, but not so much so that a normal person or even a slightly out of shape person couldn't make it. i didn't notice a single piece of trash on the trail. all i could see were the permagrin smiles of my fellow hikers along the way. the trail winds its way up several switchbacks of the crest of a ridge and then down into the snow lake basin. the lake is beautiful and once you get down into the basin there are lots of little trails to go exploring on.
i'll definitely come back here. beautiful beautiful place...