Snow Lake

Hike to one of Washington's most beautiful alpine lakes.

Hiking Difficult

Distance: 10 km
Ascent: 520 m
Descent: 520 m
Duration: 2-3 hrs

Low Point: 951 m
High Point: 1.3 km
Gradient: 9˚

Snow Lake is yet another of Washington State's beautiful alpine lakes. The hike to reach it begins near the Summit at Snoqualmie, but unlike most of the famous Snoqualmie hikes, it doesn't follow the Pacific Crest Trail alignment. Instead, it strikes off up a different valley, climbing over a low pass and descending the other side to reach Snow Lake.

Photo from Snow Lake — Photo: Shutterstock

Description

With just 1,700 feet of climbing along this 6.3-mile hike, Snow Lake is a fairly moderate and achievable alpine lake hike by Washington standards. You can expect a fairly rocky, rooty trail tread with a few steep pitches where it crosses the pass, earning it a "Difficult" FATMAP rating.

Sources: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/snow-lake-1

Difficulty

Difficult

Hiking trails where obstacles such as rocks or roots are prevalent. Some obstacles can require care to step over or around. At times, the trail can be worn and eroded. The grade of the trail is generally quite steep, and can often lead to strenuous hiking.