Washington Hiking and
Backpacking Excursions
Olympic National Park
Madison Falls, Marymere Falls, and Crescent Lake Lodge Trail: These are all separate trails that are approximately 4 miles in length all together. Madison Falls and Crescent Lake Lodge trail are both easy hikes and have virtually zero elevation gain. Marymere falls is a moderate hike. It starts off level, but after a creek crossing the trail will start to rise. It rises about 250 feet before it comes to the bottom of the falls. The trail continues to climb about another 50 feet before looping back around and reconnecting to the trail toward the bottom of the hill. Pictures of these hikes are in part 1 below.
Rating: 7/10 7/1 7
7 Lakes Basin Loop and Blue Glacier: This was a 2.5 day backpacking trip that I did in the summer of 2013. It is a strenuous 57 miles. I started at Sol Duc Hot Springs at about 1,800 feet and headed up the Mink Lake Trail. Shortly after Mink Lake I went east on the Little Divide Trail. From there I continued past Deer Lake and made a short detour to Lunch Lake in the seven Lakes Basin. Lunch Lake is absolutley awesome, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to stay. I continued on the trail as it climbs to about 5,300 feet and then turned south down the Hoh Lake Trail. I stopped and ate lunch at Hoh Lake, which is another beautiful lake. I continued down the Hoh Lake trail to Hoh River Trail at about 1,000 feet elevation. I then made my way upstream. I was planning on staying at Lewis Meadow campground, but because I hadn't seen many people on the trail I decided to push on to one of the quota camps and hope that the quota hadn't been met yet. I finally made it to Elk Lake Campground and there was only one other couple staying there. The next morning I woke up early and made a quick run up to Blue Glacier at the top of the trail. The views of Blue Glacier and Mt. Olympus were amazing. This put me back up to about 5,000 feet. From there, I turned around and started back out the same way I came in. The second night I camped at Hoh Lake because I knew there was room available there, and I didn't want to have to push it another 8.5 miles to get to the next non-quota campground. Day 3 I continued back up the trail to High Divide Trail and then north on Sol Duc River Trail. This was another very pretty area. The trail goes by the small, peaceful Heart Lake. There were also many elk in the area and a few mountain goats. I continued down the trail to Sol Duc Falls and across the river where I met up with Lovers Lane Trail which led me back to the trailhead. Pictures from this trip are shown in part 1 below.
Rating: 8/10
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Madison Falls, Marymere Falls, and Crescent Lake Lodge Trail: These are all separate trails that are approximately 4 miles in length all together. Madison Falls and Crescent Lake Lodge trail are both easy hikes and have virtually zero elevation gain. Marymere falls is a moderate hike. It starts off level, but after a creek crossing the trail will start to rise. It rises about 250 feet before it comes to the bottom of the falls. The trail continues to climb about another 50 feet before looping back around and reconnecting to the trail toward the bottom of the hill. Pictures of these hikes are in part 1 below.
Rating: 7/10 7/1 7
7 Lakes Basin Loop and Blue Glacier: This was a 2.5 day backpacking trip that I did in the summer of 2013. It is a strenuous 57 miles. I started at Sol Duc Hot Springs at about 1,800 feet and headed up the Mink Lake Trail. Shortly after Mink Lake I went east on the Little Divide Trail. From there I continued past Deer Lake and made a short detour to Lunch Lake in the seven Lakes Basin. Lunch Lake is absolutley awesome, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to stay. I continued on the trail as it climbs to about 5,300 feet and then turned south down the Hoh Lake Trail. I stopped and ate lunch at Hoh Lake, which is another beautiful lake. I continued down the Hoh Lake trail to Hoh River Trail at about 1,000 feet elevation. I then made my way upstream. I was planning on staying at Lewis Meadow campground, but because I hadn't seen many people on the trail I decided to push on to one of the quota camps and hope that the quota hadn't been met yet. I finally made it to Elk Lake Campground and there was only one other couple staying there. The next morning I woke up early and made a quick run up to Blue Glacier at the top of the trail. The views of Blue Glacier and Mt. Olympus were amazing. This put me back up to about 5,000 feet. From there, I turned around and started back out the same way I came in. The second night I camped at Hoh Lake because I knew there was room available there, and I didn't want to have to push it another 8.5 miles to get to the next non-quota campground. Day 3 I continued back up the trail to High Divide Trail and then north on Sol Duc River Trail. This was another very pretty area. The trail goes by the small, peaceful Heart Lake. There were also many elk in the area and a few mountain goats. I continued down the trail to Sol Duc Falls and across the river where I met up with Lovers Lane Trail which led me back to the trailhead. Pictures from this trip are shown in part 1 below.
Rating: 8/10
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North Fork Skokomish Trail to O'neil Pass and Lake LaCrosse: This was a moderate to strenuous 50 mile, 3 day backpacking trip. I left from Staircase trailhead at about 800 feet elevation, and hiked north on the North Fork Skokomish Trail. The first 3.5 miles are pretty level and the trail is well groomed. After the FlapJack Lakes Junction the trail isn't very well maintained, as I encountered nearly 90 treees across the trail over the next 12 miles. The trail continues to climb gradually until you get to Big Log Camp where it starts becoming a little steeper. The section between Big Log and Nine Stream I spotted elk and a bear. The bear encounter was a little scary because it was walking right toward me despite me
yelling at it. It got about 20 feet from me before finally turning off of the trail. After Nine Stream Camp the trail becomes much steeper. Nine Stream sits at an elevation of about 2,000 feet. Over the next 4 miles it will climb up to 4,688 feet. The trail then drops back down by Home Sweet Home camp and meets up with the Upper Duckabush trail. This is where I set up camp, at Upper Duckabush campground, and had the place to myself. Day two I was planning on heading over O'neil Pass, down to the Quinault River, and then come back over LaCrosse Pass
and back to camp. I decided against this when I saw quite a bit of snow at O'neill pass which is exposed to the sun and about 500 feet lower than LaCrosse Pass. The Shaded LaCrosse Pass would have been extremely difficult to navigate. Instead, I just did a day trip up to O'neil Pass (4,950 feet), Marmot Lake, Hart Lake, and Lake LaCrosse. This area was beautiful. From there, I returned back to camp, where I now had some visitors. A Boy Scout Group of 12 had just arrived. Later another couple arrived. Two other couples came by looking for a spot to
camp after that, but it was full by then. Despite the crowded camp, it was still peaceful, and pretty quiet. The third day I headed back south on the North Fork Skokomish. Pictures from this excursion are shown in Part 1 (above) and Part 2 (below).
Rating: 8/10
yelling at it. It got about 20 feet from me before finally turning off of the trail. After Nine Stream Camp the trail becomes much steeper. Nine Stream sits at an elevation of about 2,000 feet. Over the next 4 miles it will climb up to 4,688 feet. The trail then drops back down by Home Sweet Home camp and meets up with the Upper Duckabush trail. This is where I set up camp, at Upper Duckabush campground, and had the place to myself. Day two I was planning on heading over O'neil Pass, down to the Quinault River, and then come back over LaCrosse Pass
and back to camp. I decided against this when I saw quite a bit of snow at O'neill pass which is exposed to the sun and about 500 feet lower than LaCrosse Pass. The Shaded LaCrosse Pass would have been extremely difficult to navigate. Instead, I just did a day trip up to O'neil Pass (4,950 feet), Marmot Lake, Hart Lake, and Lake LaCrosse. This area was beautiful. From there, I returned back to camp, where I now had some visitors. A Boy Scout Group of 12 had just arrived. Later another couple arrived. Two other couples came by looking for a spot to
camp after that, but it was full by then. Despite the crowded camp, it was still peaceful, and pretty quiet. The third day I headed back south on the North Fork Skokomish. Pictures from this excursion are shown in Part 1 (above) and Part 2 (below).
Rating: 8/10
North Cascades National Park
Maple Pass Loop Trail to Lake Ann and Rainy Lake: This is an absolutely gorgeous, but somewhat strenuous, 13 mile hike. From the trailhead, I headed up from the north side of the loop. I took the spur trail to get to the shore of Lake Ann. Lake Ann lies in a cirque, and with careful examination you can see hikers up on the trail on the mountain behind it. I then continued on the loop up to Heather Pass. From here, I took another short spur trail and followed it a little ways around the north side of the mountain to get views of Lewis Lake. I then got back on the main trail and headed toward Rainy Pass. The views of the mountains and Lake Ann from Rainy Pass are incredible. The trail climbs a little bit further, eventually to an elevation of 6,950 feet, 2,185 feet above the trailhead. The trail then zigzags down the mountain with a few arial views of Rainy Lake to the south and still some views of Lake Ann to the north. At the bottom, the loop trail meets Rainy Lake Trail. It is about .75 miles from here to Rainy Lake. Rainy Lake also lies in a cirque with a waterfall flowing down the mountain on the backside. Another beautiful lake. From the lake, it is only about 1.5 miles back to the trailhead. Photos and video from this hike can be found in Part 2 below.
Rating: 10/10
Maple Pass Loop Trail to Lake Ann and Rainy Lake: This is an absolutely gorgeous, but somewhat strenuous, 13 mile hike. From the trailhead, I headed up from the north side of the loop. I took the spur trail to get to the shore of Lake Ann. Lake Ann lies in a cirque, and with careful examination you can see hikers up on the trail on the mountain behind it. I then continued on the loop up to Heather Pass. From here, I took another short spur trail and followed it a little ways around the north side of the mountain to get views of Lewis Lake. I then got back on the main trail and headed toward Rainy Pass. The views of the mountains and Lake Ann from Rainy Pass are incredible. The trail climbs a little bit further, eventually to an elevation of 6,950 feet, 2,185 feet above the trailhead. The trail then zigzags down the mountain with a few arial views of Rainy Lake to the south and still some views of Lake Ann to the north. At the bottom, the loop trail meets Rainy Lake Trail. It is about .75 miles from here to Rainy Lake. Rainy Lake also lies in a cirque with a waterfall flowing down the mountain on the backside. Another beautiful lake. From the lake, it is only about 1.5 miles back to the trailhead. Photos and video from this hike can be found in Part 2 below.
Rating: 10/10
Blue Lake: This hike is a moderate 4.5 mile roundtrip that goes to a beautiful mountain lake. On the backside of the lake is a nearly vertical rock face that adds to the beauty. There are also views to the mountains on the north side of the canyon, as well as great views of Liberty Bell Mountain and Early Winters Spires. The trail starts at an elevation of 5,300 feet and climbs to 6,254 feet. Pictures of this hike can be seen in Part 2 below.
Rating: 9/10
East Bank Trail to Hozomeen B.C.: This was a three day, 67 mile round trip backpacking excursion that I took. The majority of the hike is moderate, but the section above Lightning Creek is strenuous. The trailhead is right off of HWY 20 and the trail drops down, crosses Ruby Creek, and then gradually begins climbing back up. Though the trail parallels Ross Lake, you have to hike about 7 miles on the trail before you actually see the lake. From that point on, you are pretty much in contact with the lake for about the next 11 miles. Ross Lake is a National Recreation Area so there are a lot of cayakers, people with canoes, boats, and ferries out on the water. At some points the trail is carved into the mountain with a straight drop off into the lake just a few feet below. There are several campgrounds along the banks of the lake, but a permit is required to camp at them. The trail crosses the mouths of the very pretty Devil's Creek and Lightning Creek via well built bridges. After Lightning Creek the trail starts to climb rapidly. It climbs about 600 feet in about .5 miles. After another 1.5 miles the trail starts to decline again and will cross Lightning Creek once more. From here I was planning on taking Castle Pass Trail to the PCT, hike to the northern terminus of the PCT and return down the PCT and a couple other trails back to the trailhead. This would have made about 100 mile, five day trip. After going about 1 mile up Castle Pass Trail, I could see that wasn't going to happen. In the first mile of the trail there were about 30 trees across the trail, and was continuing to get worse. The lack of trail maintenance forced me to turn back to the East Bank Trail. From there I went about another mile north to Deer Lick Campground and set up camp for the night and assessed my options. I decided I would continue up the East Bank Trail to Hozomeen B.C., and then come back down the trail the same way I came in, so that's exactly what I did. The trail comes to a dirt road, and from there it is a couple miles along the dirt road to Hozomeen. On the way back down I took the side trail to the beautiful Hozomeen Lake. I continued back to my camp (it was still early afternoon), packed up my belonging and continued down the trail. That night I stayed at Lightning Creek Horse Camp, you know one of those campgrounds that you need a permit for, that I didn't have. The next day I finished up the hike and returned to the trailhead. Pictures from this hike can be seen in Parts 2 and 3 below.
Rating: 6/10
Thornton Lakes: This was a strenuous 14 mile round-trip hike that I took, but it can be shortened to 11 miles if you just go to Lower Thornton Lake. The trail starts off at about 2,500 feet and gradually climbs as it follows an old road for the first couple miles. The road eventually turns into trail and it starts becoming steeper. Along the way there are several seeps and springs that are crossed. At the 4.5 mile mark you come to a junction and bear left to go to Thornton Lakes. Taking the right fork will lead you to Trapper Peak. From the junction it is about another quarter mile to the top of the ridge overlooking the lakes. The ridge sits at an elevation of 5,060 feet. It is then a short, but very steep, half mile down to Lower Thornton Lake and about another .2 miles around the west side of the lake to Thornton Lake Camp. There is no official trail beyond the camp, but there is a faint path through the brush. Follow the path to the outlet creek from Middle Thornton Lake and there are some spots to cross, either on logs or rocks. Continue following the creek upstream to the middle lake. When I was there in late July, the middle lake was still about 90% frozen over. Pick your way through the rock (and snow) field on the east side of the lake until you get to the steep rock wall on the backside. From there, Good Luck! You have to pick your way through the brush and shimmy your way up the steep rock face. Later in the year would probably be easier, but it appeared that the snow and ice may have been blocking several possible routes when I was there. When I got to the top there was a completely frozen over Upper Thornton Lake. Below are still excellent views of Middle Thornton Lake, and a little bit of
Lower Thornton Lake can be seen through the trees. Upper Thornton Lake sits in a cirque almost completely surrounded by jagged rock cliffs. Essentially, these are the perfect mountain lakes. Pictures and video of this hike can be seen in Part 3 below.
Rating: 10/10
Horseshoe Basin and Sahale Glacier: This hike is the Epitome of North Cascades National Park. This is a 21.5 mile strenuous hike that goes into the heart of the North Cascades. The trailhead sits at about 3,600 feet and immediately starts climbing. Over the next 3.7 miles it climbs 1,740 feet to Cascade Pass. From Cascade Pass there are excellent views to the valleys to the north and the south, and the mountains high above to the east and the west. At the top of the pass, head south down the trail. It soon becomes clear that this section of trail isn't used nearly as much. There is a fair amount of brush and grass hanging into the trail, and with the dew and the rain from the night before, I got soaked from the waist down. The trail descends pretty quick until you get to beautiful Doubtful Creek. After the creek there isn't as much vegetation growing into the trail, so I was able to dry out a little bit, until I got to Horseshoe basin trail. The trail takes off at about 3,600 feet. Before you know it, the trail is pretty much gone, and you are trudging up a small stream, completely surrounded by vegetation. Every once in a while there is a small clearing where you can soak up some rays to get warm again. Eventually the vegetation begins to clear and you come to Horseshoe Basin at about 4,800 feet. The basin itself is beautiful, and was the initial inspiration in making North Cascades a National Park. There are several waterfalls that surround you, and run down the rock wall into the basin. From Horseshoe Basin it was back up to Cascade Pass and then take Sahale Arm trail to Sahale Glacier. From Cascade Pass, it is another 1.75 miles, and 2,300 feet elevation gain to Sahale Glacier. After about .75 miles you come to the ridge of Sahale Arm. The views of Doubtful Lake below are remarkable. The trail gets a little steeper after that and you slowly make your way up to Sahale Glacier and Sahale Glacier Camp. Backpacker Magazine listed Sahale Glacier Camp as the best place in the U.S. to camp, and the second best place in the world to camp. The views of the surrounding mountains are unbelievable, and words can't describe it. Even the picures and video I have don't do it justice, but they can be found in Part 3 below.
Rating: 9/10
*If not for the vegetation growing into the trail, and me getting soaked, this hike would have been an easy 10/10.
Lower Thornton Lake can be seen through the trees. Upper Thornton Lake sits in a cirque almost completely surrounded by jagged rock cliffs. Essentially, these are the perfect mountain lakes. Pictures and video of this hike can be seen in Part 3 below.
Rating: 10/10
Horseshoe Basin and Sahale Glacier: This hike is the Epitome of North Cascades National Park. This is a 21.5 mile strenuous hike that goes into the heart of the North Cascades. The trailhead sits at about 3,600 feet and immediately starts climbing. Over the next 3.7 miles it climbs 1,740 feet to Cascade Pass. From Cascade Pass there are excellent views to the valleys to the north and the south, and the mountains high above to the east and the west. At the top of the pass, head south down the trail. It soon becomes clear that this section of trail isn't used nearly as much. There is a fair amount of brush and grass hanging into the trail, and with the dew and the rain from the night before, I got soaked from the waist down. The trail descends pretty quick until you get to beautiful Doubtful Creek. After the creek there isn't as much vegetation growing into the trail, so I was able to dry out a little bit, until I got to Horseshoe basin trail. The trail takes off at about 3,600 feet. Before you know it, the trail is pretty much gone, and you are trudging up a small stream, completely surrounded by vegetation. Every once in a while there is a small clearing where you can soak up some rays to get warm again. Eventually the vegetation begins to clear and you come to Horseshoe Basin at about 4,800 feet. The basin itself is beautiful, and was the initial inspiration in making North Cascades a National Park. There are several waterfalls that surround you, and run down the rock wall into the basin. From Horseshoe Basin it was back up to Cascade Pass and then take Sahale Arm trail to Sahale Glacier. From Cascade Pass, it is another 1.75 miles, and 2,300 feet elevation gain to Sahale Glacier. After about .75 miles you come to the ridge of Sahale Arm. The views of Doubtful Lake below are remarkable. The trail gets a little steeper after that and you slowly make your way up to Sahale Glacier and Sahale Glacier Camp. Backpacker Magazine listed Sahale Glacier Camp as the best place in the U.S. to camp, and the second best place in the world to camp. The views of the surrounding mountains are unbelievable, and words can't describe it. Even the picures and video I have don't do it justice, but they can be found in Part 3 below.
Rating: 9/10
*If not for the vegetation growing into the trail, and me getting soaked, this hike would have been an easy 10/10.
Mt. Rainier National Park
Spray Park/Wonderland Trails and Eunice Lake: This was a moderate to strenuous 22 mile hike in the northwest corner of Mt. Rainier National Park. Spray Park Trail and part of the Wonderland Trail can be combined to make a loop, which is what I did, with a few detours to Spray Falls, Carbon Glacier, and Eunice Lake. From Mowich Lake (El. 4,900) you begin by heading south on the Wonderland Trail. The Wonderland Trail is a 93 mile loop trail that completely encircles Mt. Rainier. After .3 miles, Spray Park Trail heads off to the left. The trail gradually climbs to an elevation of 6,300 feet over the next several miles. Along the way it passes a spur trail to Spray Falls. The falls are pretty remarkable. Watching the water come down the rock wall was reminiscent of the mist created when putting dry ice in a bowl of water. The views of Mt. Rainier from the top of Spray Park Trail were awesome. On top of that, wildflowers were blooming all over the place. The trail descends down to the east where it rejoins the Wonderland Trail at Carbon River Camp. There was a trail detour here due to a washout, but it leads to a pretty cool footbridge. From the footbridge it is only .75 miles out of the way to Carbon Glacier. After Carbon Glacier, I got back on track, did the detour, and was back on the Wonderland Trail. The trail drops gradually for a couple miles and then will ascend gradually for a couple miles, before coming to the most strenuous part of the hike. Over a .75 mile stretch of trail, it will climb about 1,100 feet to Ipsut Pass. At Ipsut Pass the Eunice Lake spur trail takes off to the right. It is about 1.25 miles to the Beautiful Eunice Lake and you can sea Tolmie Peak Lookout from the Lake. It is just under 3 miles from the lake back to the trailhead. Pictures of this hike can be seen in Parts 3 (above) and Part 4 (below).
Rating: 9/10
Wonderland Trail, Mowich to Golden Lakes: This is a moderate to strenuous 21 mile in-and-out hike along the Wonderland Trail. The trail starts out at about 5,000 feet and drops about 2,400 feet over the next 3.5 miles down to Mowich River. After crossing the river, the trail starts climbing on the other side. After about 7 miles you will be back up to 5,000 feet in elevation and will be at Golden Lakes. This area was very disappointing. The Golden Lakes were more like mud puddles. There wasn't much scenery on this stretch of trail. Even views of Mt. Rainier were few and far between. The best views were at the river crossing. There are actually 2 crossings, one for South Mowich River and one for North Mowich river, but they are only about a half mile apart.
Rating: 4/10
Longmire to Mirror Lakes and Comet Falls: This is a 24 mile moderate to strenuous hike. The hike starts at about 2,700 feet and heads north on the Wonderland Trail. There are a couple steep sections, but for the most part, the trail gradually climbs to about 5,200 feet over 7.5 miles. Along the way you go past a couple campgrounds, a couple small lakes, and a few creek crossings. Views of Mt. Rainier are pretty common, but they never get old. You also pass through Indian Henry's Hunting Grounds, which is a beautiful meadow area. In the meadow lies Indian Henry Patrol Cabin. In one glimpse you can take in the meadow, cabin and Rainier all in one. Just up the trail from the cabin is the spur trail to Mirror Lakes. The spur trail was hard to navigate and keep my feet dry at the same time. It goes through a lot of marshy type terrain. The trail climbs another 200 feet to the lakes at 5,400 feet. Mirror Lakes are insignificant, but the views of the mountain are still amazing. Unfortunately, the mosquitos in this meadow and marshy area were horrible. On the way back down the Wonderland Trail I took Rampart Ridge Trail north east to Comet Falls. Where the trail turns off it is about 3,900 feet. This section of Rampart Ridge doesn't get hiked too often. It is a little more overgrown, but not too bad. After about 2.75 miles you cross the creek just above the falls, and then climb for about another .25 miles to an elevation of 5,500 feet before dropping down to the bottom of the falls. Comet Falls is a pretty cool waterfall and a popular place among hikers. Most visitors come from the opposite direction that I came because it is only about 2.5 miles to the bottom of the falls taking that route. From the bottom of the falls it was back to the top, down Rampart Ridge Trail, and back down the Wonderland Trail to Longmire. Pictures and video of this hike can be seen in Part 4 below.
Rating: 8/10
Spray Park/Wonderland Trails and Eunice Lake: This was a moderate to strenuous 22 mile hike in the northwest corner of Mt. Rainier National Park. Spray Park Trail and part of the Wonderland Trail can be combined to make a loop, which is what I did, with a few detours to Spray Falls, Carbon Glacier, and Eunice Lake. From Mowich Lake (El. 4,900) you begin by heading south on the Wonderland Trail. The Wonderland Trail is a 93 mile loop trail that completely encircles Mt. Rainier. After .3 miles, Spray Park Trail heads off to the left. The trail gradually climbs to an elevation of 6,300 feet over the next several miles. Along the way it passes a spur trail to Spray Falls. The falls are pretty remarkable. Watching the water come down the rock wall was reminiscent of the mist created when putting dry ice in a bowl of water. The views of Mt. Rainier from the top of Spray Park Trail were awesome. On top of that, wildflowers were blooming all over the place. The trail descends down to the east where it rejoins the Wonderland Trail at Carbon River Camp. There was a trail detour here due to a washout, but it leads to a pretty cool footbridge. From the footbridge it is only .75 miles out of the way to Carbon Glacier. After Carbon Glacier, I got back on track, did the detour, and was back on the Wonderland Trail. The trail drops gradually for a couple miles and then will ascend gradually for a couple miles, before coming to the most strenuous part of the hike. Over a .75 mile stretch of trail, it will climb about 1,100 feet to Ipsut Pass. At Ipsut Pass the Eunice Lake spur trail takes off to the right. It is about 1.25 miles to the Beautiful Eunice Lake and you can sea Tolmie Peak Lookout from the Lake. It is just under 3 miles from the lake back to the trailhead. Pictures of this hike can be seen in Parts 3 (above) and Part 4 (below).
Rating: 9/10
Wonderland Trail, Mowich to Golden Lakes: This is a moderate to strenuous 21 mile in-and-out hike along the Wonderland Trail. The trail starts out at about 5,000 feet and drops about 2,400 feet over the next 3.5 miles down to Mowich River. After crossing the river, the trail starts climbing on the other side. After about 7 miles you will be back up to 5,000 feet in elevation and will be at Golden Lakes. This area was very disappointing. The Golden Lakes were more like mud puddles. There wasn't much scenery on this stretch of trail. Even views of Mt. Rainier were few and far between. The best views were at the river crossing. There are actually 2 crossings, one for South Mowich River and one for North Mowich river, but they are only about a half mile apart.
Rating: 4/10
Longmire to Mirror Lakes and Comet Falls: This is a 24 mile moderate to strenuous hike. The hike starts at about 2,700 feet and heads north on the Wonderland Trail. There are a couple steep sections, but for the most part, the trail gradually climbs to about 5,200 feet over 7.5 miles. Along the way you go past a couple campgrounds, a couple small lakes, and a few creek crossings. Views of Mt. Rainier are pretty common, but they never get old. You also pass through Indian Henry's Hunting Grounds, which is a beautiful meadow area. In the meadow lies Indian Henry Patrol Cabin. In one glimpse you can take in the meadow, cabin and Rainier all in one. Just up the trail from the cabin is the spur trail to Mirror Lakes. The spur trail was hard to navigate and keep my feet dry at the same time. It goes through a lot of marshy type terrain. The trail climbs another 200 feet to the lakes at 5,400 feet. Mirror Lakes are insignificant, but the views of the mountain are still amazing. Unfortunately, the mosquitos in this meadow and marshy area were horrible. On the way back down the Wonderland Trail I took Rampart Ridge Trail north east to Comet Falls. Where the trail turns off it is about 3,900 feet. This section of Rampart Ridge doesn't get hiked too often. It is a little more overgrown, but not too bad. After about 2.75 miles you cross the creek just above the falls, and then climb for about another .25 miles to an elevation of 5,500 feet before dropping down to the bottom of the falls. Comet Falls is a pretty cool waterfall and a popular place among hikers. Most visitors come from the opposite direction that I came because it is only about 2.5 miles to the bottom of the falls taking that route. From the bottom of the falls it was back to the top, down Rampart Ridge Trail, and back down the Wonderland Trail to Longmire. Pictures and video of this hike can be seen in Part 4 below.
Rating: 8/10
Narada Falls to Box Canyon to Panorama Point and back: This is a strenuous 26 mile hike. The trail starts at about 4,500 feet and you follow the Wonderland Trail east. It briefly climbs up to a saddle at 4,867 feet. In this saddle lies Reflection Lakes. I got there just as the sun was about to rise, and the entire walkway along the lake was filled with professional photographers getting
pictures of the lake with Mt. Rainier's reflection. Just after the lakes, the trail starts to drop and goes by Louise Lake. The trail continues to drop, crosses the road for the second time (the first time was by Reflection Lakes) and goes by a few neat little waterfalls. After the first waterfall the trail starts paralleling Stevens Creek. Eventually it crosses Stevens Creek at 2,600 feet elevation, and goes another 2.5 miles before crossing the road for a third time. This time the trail actually crosses over the top of a tunnel that the road goes underneath, and Box Canyon is right there. Box Canyon is pretty remarkable. It's like a giant slot canyon. At the top it is only about 40 feet across, but it is about 150 down to the raging Cowlitz River. From there I headed back up
the trail to the saddle and took a right turn on Lakes Trail. This trail leads to several other trails that roam the mountainside above Paradise Park. I made my way up past Sluiskin Falls and up to Panorama Point. The views below are pretty spectacular from this point. Heading up trail to the top of a little knoll will get you some awesome pictures of Mt. Rainier. At this point you are
at about 7,000 feet. I returned by taking several other trails back down to Paradise. From Paradise there is a single trail that heads down to Narada Falls, where I started. Pictures and video of this hike can be seen in Part 4 above, and Part 5 below.
Rating: 9/10
Rampart Ridge (west) and Carter Falls: This is a moderate 13 mile hike from Longmire. The trail heads out just across the street from Longmire and immediately starts switchbacking up the mountain. It climbs 1,300 feet in about 2.25 miles before leveling out for the last .75 miles. Rampart Ridge trail then meets up with The Wonderland Trail where I hiked back down toward Longmire. I continued past Longmire on the trail and headed east. The next 1.5 miles are pretty level. Just after Cougar Rock, the trail crosses the Nisqually River. The trail can easily be lost at this point because, though the river is relatively small, the river bed is quite wide. There is large area of river rock which makes it tough to follow the trail for some. Once out of the river rock on the other side, it becomes easy to navigate again. The trail does start to steepen at this point though. From the river crossing it is about another 1.25 miles to Carter Falls. I actually went a little beyond Carter Falls to Madcap Falls and then to Paradise River Camp. Along the way there were a couple cool little foot bridges across the creeks. Once I made it to Paradise River Camp I turned around and headed back the same way, to Longmire. Pictures of this hike can be seen in Part 5 below.
Rating: 8/10
pictures of the lake with Mt. Rainier's reflection. Just after the lakes, the trail starts to drop and goes by Louise Lake. The trail continues to drop, crosses the road for the second time (the first time was by Reflection Lakes) and goes by a few neat little waterfalls. After the first waterfall the trail starts paralleling Stevens Creek. Eventually it crosses Stevens Creek at 2,600 feet elevation, and goes another 2.5 miles before crossing the road for a third time. This time the trail actually crosses over the top of a tunnel that the road goes underneath, and Box Canyon is right there. Box Canyon is pretty remarkable. It's like a giant slot canyon. At the top it is only about 40 feet across, but it is about 150 down to the raging Cowlitz River. From there I headed back up
the trail to the saddle and took a right turn on Lakes Trail. This trail leads to several other trails that roam the mountainside above Paradise Park. I made my way up past Sluiskin Falls and up to Panorama Point. The views below are pretty spectacular from this point. Heading up trail to the top of a little knoll will get you some awesome pictures of Mt. Rainier. At this point you are
at about 7,000 feet. I returned by taking several other trails back down to Paradise. From Paradise there is a single trail that heads down to Narada Falls, where I started. Pictures and video of this hike can be seen in Part 4 above, and Part 5 below.
Rating: 9/10
Rampart Ridge (west) and Carter Falls: This is a moderate 13 mile hike from Longmire. The trail heads out just across the street from Longmire and immediately starts switchbacking up the mountain. It climbs 1,300 feet in about 2.25 miles before leveling out for the last .75 miles. Rampart Ridge trail then meets up with The Wonderland Trail where I hiked back down toward Longmire. I continued past Longmire on the trail and headed east. The next 1.5 miles are pretty level. Just after Cougar Rock, the trail crosses the Nisqually River. The trail can easily be lost at this point because, though the river is relatively small, the river bed is quite wide. There is large area of river rock which makes it tough to follow the trail for some. Once out of the river rock on the other side, it becomes easy to navigate again. The trail does start to steepen at this point though. From the river crossing it is about another 1.25 miles to Carter Falls. I actually went a little beyond Carter Falls to Madcap Falls and then to Paradise River Camp. Along the way there were a couple cool little foot bridges across the creeks. Once I made it to Paradise River Camp I turned around and headed back the same way, to Longmire. Pictures of this hike can be seen in Part 5 below.
Rating: 8/10
Heather Lake: This is a 6 mile moderate hike in the Cascades east of Everett, Washington. It is apparently a very popular trail, as the trail head was completely filled with cars when I got there with my brother. This is also a fee area, so you must have a permit to park at the trail head. The trail starts off on an old road and slowly gains elevation. Before long it leaves the old road and becomes pretty rough terrain and also becomes steeper. In my opinion, the rough terrain makes the trail more fun. It continues to climb through the mixed forest over rocks and tree roots. Sometimes there will even be a bit of a stream coming down the trail. I did this hike in August a day after a thunderstorm and there were some areas where running water was coming down the trail. If this is the case you must also be careful of slipping on the rocks in a few locations. After about 2.5 miles the trail makes it to the lake. My brother and I also hiked around the lake, which is about another mile. The lake itself is quite pretty, but the setting is what makes it stand out more. Directly behind the lake is a towering jagged mountain with sheer cliffs. The rain from the day before made a few small waterfalls down the cliffs, but I would love to see this area as soon as the trail is clear from snow.
Rating: 8/10
Rating: 8/10
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Lake Dorothy Trail: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is a moderate to strenuous, almost 14 mile, in and out hike to several lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The trail starts as moderate and gradually climbs about 2.5 miles along the Miller River before reaching Lake Dorothy. There are some nice pools in the river if you need to cool off on a hot day. If you continue on the trail, it will parallel the lake for the entire length (and it's a pretty long lake) before wrapping around the south end of the lake. Here the trail becomes a little more strenuous at is climbs up to a pass where there are some views of Bear Lake through the timber. The trail descends to the shore of Bear Lake and continues past it to Dear Lake. After Dear lake the trail starts descending more sharply and there are glimpses of Snoqualmie Lake down below. The trail continues past Snoqualmie Lake, but for an in and out hike, this is a good turn around point. Lake Dorothy is probably the prettiest lake on this hike, but it is also the most crowded due to its close proximity to the trailhead. For seclusion, Bear Lake and Dear Lake are better choices. Pictures from this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 8/10
North Fork Foss Creek Trail: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is another moderate to strenuous hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. I did this as an in and out hike to Little Heart Lake and back, however, the trail will continue a little ways further to Big Heart Lake. To Little Heart Lake and back it is 12 miles. The trail starts moderately climbing. The first part of the trail isn't too exciting other than biggest Douglas Fir tree I have ever seen. After about 2 miles the trail comes to Trout Lake. This is a pretty Lake, but nothing compared to what lies ahead. Past Trout Lake the trail becomes more strenuous. It climbs for about two miles before reaching a trail junction. The trail that heads off to the right isn't real obvious and can be a little difficult at times to follow. There is a little scrambling involved on this trail also, but it soon leads to a very beautiful Lake Malachite. Once back at the main trail, continue a little further up the hill and you come to Copper Lake. Copper Lake is another very beautiful lake. It is larger than Malachite Lake, but also more popular. Up the trail from Copper Lake, it becomes a little more secluded and the trail levels off a little bit. About 1.5 miles after Copper Lake, the trail comes to Little Heart Lake. Once again, another very beautiful lake. I hated to have to turn around here because all of these lake were so beautiful, but I was running out of daylight. Pictures from this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 9/10
Lake Dorothy Trail: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is a moderate to strenuous, almost 14 mile, in and out hike to several lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The trail starts as moderate and gradually climbs about 2.5 miles along the Miller River before reaching Lake Dorothy. There are some nice pools in the river if you need to cool off on a hot day. If you continue on the trail, it will parallel the lake for the entire length (and it's a pretty long lake) before wrapping around the south end of the lake. Here the trail becomes a little more strenuous at is climbs up to a pass where there are some views of Bear Lake through the timber. The trail descends to the shore of Bear Lake and continues past it to Dear Lake. After Dear lake the trail starts descending more sharply and there are glimpses of Snoqualmie Lake down below. The trail continues past Snoqualmie Lake, but for an in and out hike, this is a good turn around point. Lake Dorothy is probably the prettiest lake on this hike, but it is also the most crowded due to its close proximity to the trailhead. For seclusion, Bear Lake and Dear Lake are better choices. Pictures from this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 8/10
North Fork Foss Creek Trail: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is another moderate to strenuous hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. I did this as an in and out hike to Little Heart Lake and back, however, the trail will continue a little ways further to Big Heart Lake. To Little Heart Lake and back it is 12 miles. The trail starts moderately climbing. The first part of the trail isn't too exciting other than biggest Douglas Fir tree I have ever seen. After about 2 miles the trail comes to Trout Lake. This is a pretty Lake, but nothing compared to what lies ahead. Past Trout Lake the trail becomes more strenuous. It climbs for about two miles before reaching a trail junction. The trail that heads off to the right isn't real obvious and can be a little difficult at times to follow. There is a little scrambling involved on this trail also, but it soon leads to a very beautiful Lake Malachite. Once back at the main trail, continue a little further up the hill and you come to Copper Lake. Copper Lake is another very beautiful lake. It is larger than Malachite Lake, but also more popular. Up the trail from Copper Lake, it becomes a little more secluded and the trail levels off a little bit. About 1.5 miles after Copper Lake, the trail comes to Little Heart Lake. Once again, another very beautiful lake. I hated to have to turn around here because all of these lake were so beautiful, but I was running out of daylight. Pictures from this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 9/10
Enchantment Lakes: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is probably the most sought after area in the entire Alpine Lakes Wilderness. In order to camp in the Enchantment Lakes Area a permit is needed, and they are not easy to get. Without camping, you can make a shuttle trip through the Enchantments with about a 20 mile hike. That also includes over 6,000 feet of elevation gain. I didn't have a permit for overnight use and shuttling wasn't an option for me, so I did the 28 mile in and out hike with 6,000+ feet of elevation gain. It was worth it. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The first couple miles of trail are a little boring as it climbs through an area that recently burnt. Once I got into green timber it was pure beauty. After about 5 miles the trail comes to Nada Lake. This is a very pretty and peaceful lake, but it's the least beautiful out of all the lakes on this trail. After Nada Lake the trail starts climbing more until it reaches Snow Lakes. Past Snow Lakes, the trail again gets a little steeper. In some parts some low grade scrambling is required. Eventually, you make it to the Enchantments. The first lake you see is Lake Viviane. The rest of the way through the Enchantments is pure heaven. Crystal clear waters surrounded by jagged cliffs with snow still clinging on in the shady crevasses. Mountain goats can be seen walking around the rocky banks of the lakes. From Viviane Lake the trail ascends slowly past no less than 6 other lakes before coming to Colchuck Pass at about 7,800 feet. Colchuck Lake can be seen nearly 2,500 feet down below. This is one of those places you never want to leave. Although you can do this hike in a day, my recommendation is to stay as long as possible. Pictures from this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 10/10
Rating: 10/10
Colchuck Lake and Lake Stuart: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is a moderate to strenuous hike to two more beautiful lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The trail starts out moderate following Mountaineer Creek. After a few miles there is a trail junction with one trail leading to Lake Stuart and the other leading to Colchuck Lake. I went to Colchuck Lake first. This trail starts climbing at a pretty good rate. There are a couple stream crossings and nice little waterfall that the trail passes. Eventually, the trail comes over a little knob and there sits Colchuck Lake on the other side. On the backside of Colchuck Lake is 8,700 ft. Colchuck Peak. The lake and the mountain combined make for a beautiful setting. You can continue past the lake and climb even more to reach the Enchantment Lakes. This would be the shortest route to the Enchantments but also the steepest. From Colchuck Lake I went back down the trail and then took the fork that led to Lake Stuart. This section of trail climbs more gradually. After about 2.5 miles from the trail junction, the trail reaches Lake Stuart. Behind Lake Stuart resides the tallest mountain in the wilderness, 9,815 ft. Mt. Stuart. The grasses that line the edge of the lake in the shallow waters add to beauty of this lake. Although the official trail ends at the lake, there is a little bit of trail that continues past it, although it is difficult to follow. My guess is it leads to Horseshoe Lake. Pictures from this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 9/10
Ingalls Creek Trail: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This was a strenuous 32.25 mile round trip hike up Ingalls Creek to Ingalls Lake, and back. Although usually a strenuous hike for me is one that is steep, this one is strenuous due to all of the debris in the trail. Not realizing it when I planned this hike, the first 9-10 miles burnt the previous year and so there was a lot of trees down along the trail. On top of that, it didn't look like anyone had gone past about the 3 mile mark since the fire, so grasses and all sort of underbrush was growing into the trail. It made it very difficult at times. In fact, at one point is was so bad I almost turned back. Once I got out of the burned area the trail started climbing a little bit more, but for the most part, it was easier to follow and less debris in the trail. Once the trail got to about the 5,000 ft. elevation mark, it started to open up a little bit more and there were views of the surrounding mountains. As the trail approaches Stuart Pass, it gets steeper and steeper. About a 1/4 mile before Stuart Pass, an unofficial trail heads off to the left, paralleling the hillside. You have to watch your step very carefully as it is steep, and the trail is not very good. It's only about 1/2 mile on this gnarly trail before getting to Ingalls Lake. There are also several Mountain Goats that reside at this lake. This is another very beautiful lake, but looks quite different from the other lakes in the wilderness due to the surrounding rock being a completely different color. There is another trail to the lake that is much shorter and easier, and is also more popular. Pictures from the hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 7/10
Rating: 9/10
Ingalls Creek Trail: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This was a strenuous 32.25 mile round trip hike up Ingalls Creek to Ingalls Lake, and back. Although usually a strenuous hike for me is one that is steep, this one is strenuous due to all of the debris in the trail. Not realizing it when I planned this hike, the first 9-10 miles burnt the previous year and so there was a lot of trees down along the trail. On top of that, it didn't look like anyone had gone past about the 3 mile mark since the fire, so grasses and all sort of underbrush was growing into the trail. It made it very difficult at times. In fact, at one point is was so bad I almost turned back. Once I got out of the burned area the trail started climbing a little bit more, but for the most part, it was easier to follow and less debris in the trail. Once the trail got to about the 5,000 ft. elevation mark, it started to open up a little bit more and there were views of the surrounding mountains. As the trail approaches Stuart Pass, it gets steeper and steeper. About a 1/4 mile before Stuart Pass, an unofficial trail heads off to the left, paralleling the hillside. You have to watch your step very carefully as it is steep, and the trail is not very good. It's only about 1/2 mile on this gnarly trail before getting to Ingalls Lake. There are also several Mountain Goats that reside at this lake. This is another very beautiful lake, but looks quite different from the other lakes in the wilderness due to the surrounding rock being a completely different color. There is another trail to the lake that is much shorter and easier, and is also more popular. Pictures from the hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 7/10
Robin Lakes, Deception Lakes, and Marmot Lake: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is a strenuous 32 mile in-and-out hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. By going to all of these areas you end up making a "t" shape. I started off at the Deception Pass Trailhead at about 3,300 ft. and the first couple of miles are a very gradual climb. The trail passes Hyas Lake, and shortly after, the trail steepens considerably. About 4 miles from the trailhead, and at about 4,250 ft., a trail forks off to the right that heads to Tuck and Robin Lakes. This trail steepens a little bit more and isn't and in a few places, there are some obstacles in the trail. Eventually you get to the beautiful Tuck Lake at 5,268'. From there, it is a scramble up the final 900' to Robin Lakes, but it is well worth it. The scramble trail is hard to find at times. Take your time and look for cairns. The views from Robin Lakes are unbelievable, as are the lakes themselves. After heading back down, return to the Deception Pass trail and make a right. After about 1/4 mile your reach deception pass and a junction with the PCT. Follow the PCT north for about 4 miles to reach Deception Lakes. These lakes are peaceful, but not as pretty as Tuck, Robin, or Marmot Lakes. Head back south on the PCT to Deception Pass and another trail heads off to the right. Follow this trail approximately 4 miles to Marmot Lake. The trail starts off descending several hundred feet through a meadow area, before getting back into the timber and climbing. There are a few beautiful stream crossings along this trail. After about 3.5 miles the trail forks. The left fork leads to Marmot Lake, while the right fork heads to Lake Clarice. The next half mile to Marmot Lake is very steep, but once you get there you understand why you went through the trouble. From there, it's back down the Marmot Lake Trail, cross the PCT, and back down Deception Pass Trail to the Trailhead. Photos from this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 9/10
Rachel Lake Trail: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is a strenuous 10 mile in-and-out hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. From the trailhead, this trail starts off climbing pretty steadily. After about 1 mile it levels off a little bit and just gradually climbs as it parallels Box Canyon Creek. It stays relatively flat for about another mile before it gradually starts getting steeper. The last 2.5 miles become very steep as you pick your way over boulders and through tree roots. About 4 miles from the trailhead you come to Rachel Lake. This is a very calm, pretty lake that sits right at the edge of a cliff above Box Canyon. Continuing around the right side of the lake, the trail will continue to climb for approximately another mile. Along the way you have some excellent views looking down on Rachel Lake. You should also hear the squeaks of the Pika as you go by a few open rocky areas. Eventually, the trail comes to the Rampart Lakes. Once here, there is no clear trail. There are several small pools with trails interwoven between them, but some trails lead to campsites instead of the water. I was trying to be careful not to walk in on people's camp. It took a little bit of time to navigate around the lakes without intruding on people. None of the lakes are very big or real deep looking, but they are very peaceful. Pictures from this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 9/10
Snow Lake and Gem Lake: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is a strenuous 10 mile in-and-out hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. I did this as my second hike on this day, following the hike mentioned above. On top of that, I also had to change a flat tire, so by the time I got to the trailhead it was already crowded. This is one of, if not the most popular hike in the wilderness. The trail was like a freeway. I'm a fast hiker, so I found this very annoying that at times I was reduced to a crawling pace. When opportunities arose, I would sprint passed groups who refused to scoot over to let faster hikers pass. Fortunately, there were several considerable people who realized they were holding people up and would move to the side. The trail climbs considerably for about 3 miles before reaching a ridge, and then descending about a half mile down the other side to Snow Lake. There are some incredible views of Snow Lake from near the top of the ridge. Once the trail makes it down to the lake, other trails start forking off left and right to campsites and swimming areas. The main trail becomes difficult to follow because you are not sure which one is the main trail, but eventually it wraps around the right side of the lake and will begin climbing again. Fortunately, at this point most of the crowd has been left behind. From Snow Lake it is about another 1.5 miles and 850' elevation gain to Gem Lake. The trail does continue past Gem Lake to a couple other lakes, but I didn't have the time to go further on. Both Snow Lake and Gem Lake are very Beautiful, but I recommend leaving in the early morning hours to avoid the crowds. The crowds definitely took away from the experience for me.
Pictures of this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 9/10
Rating: 9/10
Rachel Lake Trail: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is a strenuous 10 mile in-and-out hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. From the trailhead, this trail starts off climbing pretty steadily. After about 1 mile it levels off a little bit and just gradually climbs as it parallels Box Canyon Creek. It stays relatively flat for about another mile before it gradually starts getting steeper. The last 2.5 miles become very steep as you pick your way over boulders and through tree roots. About 4 miles from the trailhead you come to Rachel Lake. This is a very calm, pretty lake that sits right at the edge of a cliff above Box Canyon. Continuing around the right side of the lake, the trail will continue to climb for approximately another mile. Along the way you have some excellent views looking down on Rachel Lake. You should also hear the squeaks of the Pika as you go by a few open rocky areas. Eventually, the trail comes to the Rampart Lakes. Once here, there is no clear trail. There are several small pools with trails interwoven between them, but some trails lead to campsites instead of the water. I was trying to be careful not to walk in on people's camp. It took a little bit of time to navigate around the lakes without intruding on people. None of the lakes are very big or real deep looking, but they are very peaceful. Pictures from this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 9/10
Snow Lake and Gem Lake: Northwest Forest Pass and Wilderness Permit required. This is a strenuous 10 mile in-and-out hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. I did this as my second hike on this day, following the hike mentioned above. On top of that, I also had to change a flat tire, so by the time I got to the trailhead it was already crowded. This is one of, if not the most popular hike in the wilderness. The trail was like a freeway. I'm a fast hiker, so I found this very annoying that at times I was reduced to a crawling pace. When opportunities arose, I would sprint passed groups who refused to scoot over to let faster hikers pass. Fortunately, there were several considerable people who realized they were holding people up and would move to the side. The trail climbs considerably for about 3 miles before reaching a ridge, and then descending about a half mile down the other side to Snow Lake. There are some incredible views of Snow Lake from near the top of the ridge. Once the trail makes it down to the lake, other trails start forking off left and right to campsites and swimming areas. The main trail becomes difficult to follow because you are not sure which one is the main trail, but eventually it wraps around the right side of the lake and will begin climbing again. Fortunately, at this point most of the crowd has been left behind. From Snow Lake it is about another 1.5 miles and 850' elevation gain to Gem Lake. The trail does continue past Gem Lake to a couple other lakes, but I didn't have the time to go further on. Both Snow Lake and Gem Lake are very Beautiful, but I recommend leaving in the early morning hours to avoid the crowds. The crowds definitely took away from the experience for me.
Pictures of this hike can be seen in the video below.
Rating: 9/10