Ascend into an Alpine Paradise on this Washington Cascades Dayhike
Link pristine forests, wildflower meadows, and two picturesque lakes on this gentle, 3.7-mile hike near Snoqualmie Pass.
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- Distance:Â 3.7 miles
- Time:Â 1 day
- Elevation gain:Â 545 feet
Although short on miles, this 3.7-miler at Snoqualmie Pass packs in a weekend’s worth of scenery: moss-draped forest, two mountain lakes, and wildflower-filled meadows. From the trailhead at The Summit ski area, the gentle trail winds through stands of young firs to the edge of the grassy ski slopes. Continue south across the runs (and beneath ski lifts) for 0.7 mile. Past the ski area, the trail alternates between a path and a streambed as it enters an increasingly pristine forest of cedar and fir. Just shy of a mile from the trailhead, the path arrives at Beaver Lake and hugs its shores before starting a gradual descent to Lodge Lake, passing a waterfall on the way. Named for the Snoqualmie Lodge, which was built in 1914 and burned to the ground in 1944 (a second lodge burned down in 2006), Lodge Lake is the perfect place to picnic before heading back to the trailhead.
-Mapped by Nathan and Jeremy Barnes
Info Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
