Skykomish Region
- Greider Lakes
- Joan Lake (via Johnson Ridge Trail)
- Blanca Lake and Toil Peak
- Swimming Deer Lake (via Pacific Crest Trail)
- Jade Lake (via Necklace Valley Trail)
- Merritt Lake and Alpine Lookout
- Lake Janus and Glasses Lake Viewpoint
- Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls
Greider Lakes
Length (RT): 4.7 mi Diff. Level: moderate Elev. Gain: 1500 ft Season: June-November
This is a short hike that gets you in to a couple of nice mountain lakes. Big Greider is surrounded by majestic peaks. There is also a spur trail leading off between the lakes to a nice vista overlooking the lakes. Initially, you'll pass a marsh pond and then start switchbacking in nice forest. About three quarters of the way, an area of small cliffs and rocks is reached. In the old days, one had to literally climb them. But now, DNR has rerouted the trail and built some stairs to go over that area. Soon, the switchbacking ends as you enter the hanging valley. The way then levels, going pretty much straight, and then dropping a bit to Little Greider Lake. There are some nice camps here. Cross the outlet via a bridge and swing around the lake and climb up briefly, meeting a short spur trail (0.75 miles long) which leads to the vista. Finally, drop into Big Greider Lake (2.35 miles) and a campsite. There is an outhouse available just a bit down the shoreline by the outlet. I caught a nice 12-inch rainbow trout out of this lake using a black roostertail (1/4 oz).
How to get there:
Take Highway 2 the east end of Sultan. Turn left onto Sultan Basin Road and drive to Olney Pass and registration station (about 15 miles from Sultan). Stop here to register before you hike. Take the middle road around the east side of Spada Reservoir to the Greider Lakes trailhead on your right.
Hike List
Navigation
Joan Lake (via Johnson Ridge Trail)
Length (RT): 9.0 mi Diff. Level: strenuous Elev. Gain: 2300 ft Season: July-October
This a great hike for views and exercise, plus a beautiful mountain lake. The grade is either easy or very steep. Initially, you start on an old logging road that climbs very steeply through clearcut. Soon a fork is reached. Keep left, climbing even more steeply to the ridge top, and actual start of trail at the edge of the forest (0.75 miles). The next 1.5 miles are mostly in forest with occasional views of Mt. Fernow to the south. The forest is left behind as the summit of Sunrise Mountain is attained. There is a good view of Glacier Peak here.
Enter forest and drop 300 feet before climbing steeply again. At about 3.5 miles, the trail enters an area of meadows and stunning flowers. Here's a shot of my friend Danny and his dog, Rambo, in this area (48.2 KB). A short while later, the way climbs nearly to the top of Scorpion Mountain. At the highest point, take a spur trail up to the very summit for panoramic views and look down to beautiful Joan Lake (40.6 KB) a few hundred feet below you. From the spur trail junction, the Johnson Ridge Trail then drops 500 feet to the lake. There are some nice campsites here. Be sure to bring mosquito repellent or you'll be sorry like we were!
How to get there:
Take Highway 2 to Skykomish, and just a bit beyond, turn left onto Road 65 (Beckler River) for seven miles. Turn right on Road 6520. Keep straight at a junction (1.7 miles from Beckler River road) and roughly 3 miles later, turn right on 6526 to its end and trailhead. Warning: I've heard that the road is washed out 2 miles or so before the trailhead (1997). It would be a good idea to contact the Skykomish Ranger Station to check on the road conditions.
Blanca Lake and Toil Peak
Length (RT): 9.5 mi Diff. Level: strenuous Elev. Gain: 3228 ft in; 600 ft out Season: July-October
A large glacial-fed lake, heather roaming, elegant forest, and majestic, rugged peaks provide reasons to do this one. I especially enjoyed the climb to Toil Peak and its views. The first 3 miles are a relentless series of switchbacks in forest, and then the trail levels onto a ridge top. Look for first views of Glacier Peak to your right. Soon, forest is left for heather meadows and more views. Drop down a bit into forest and Virgin Lake. Swing along the lake and resume switchbacking down a steep, muddy, rough one mile to Blanca Lake (35.3 KB). Here's a shot of the first view of the lake just before you drop down to its shoreline . One could cross the outlet and scramble to Columbia Glacier. There are some camp sites along the lake.
Now, let's go to Toil Peak. Go back to the heather area above Virgin Lake and look for the faint side trail at the highest point of the main trail. Turn right and initially enter woods for a bit and then curve south (or left) back into open heather. The tread is lost at times, but keep heading south. Eventually, you will climb onto the ridge of Toil Peak and enter woods again and soon, start climbing steeply back into heather country. From here, the way levels for a bit then climbs very steeply straight up to the next flat area. First of glorious views are here. Follow the tread straight in and then curve up to the very summit of Toil Peak (5128 ft). Wow! I just couldn't believe the views up here. Here's a shot of Blanca Lake far below (36.9 KB).
How to get there:
Take Highway 2 to Index and turn left on the North Fork Skykomish River road. Drive 14 miles to Garland Mineral Springs and in just another half mile, turn left on Road 63. Take this road 2 miles and turn left into the trailhead parking area.
Swimming Deer Lake (via Pacific Crest Trail)
Length (RT): 10.0 mi Diff. Level: mod/stren Elev. Gain: 1600 ft in; 1000 ft out Season: mid July-October
I like to do this one in the fall. The whole shoreline of Swimming Deer is ringed with fat, juicy blueberries. Be warned: I have seen a lot of bear tracks and scat in this area so make plenty of noise. The trail initially starts up the ski slopes, in and out of forest, and then switchbacks to the Cascade Crest (1.5 miles). There is a nice lunch spot here. The way then drops for a quarter of a mile to an access road and powerline. From here, the Crest Trail winds through forest, meadows teeming with flowers, and talus slopes to Lake Susan Jane (3.5 miles; 41.9 KB).
Switchback up and at 4 miles, reach a junction on your left. This is the Icicle Creek Trail. Look below at large, blue Josephine Lake (45.2 KB). Climb up heather terrain to the crest of a ridge and then drop down. Forest is entered again, and note lovely Swimming Deer Lake (42.9 KB) down below. Look for a faint trail leading towards the lake (about a mile from the junction). Drop steeply down a rocky, muddy trail and/or spring bed to the flat shores of the lake and the blueberries. Actually, this was pretty rough. I plan on looking for an easier way down next time.
How to get there:
Take Highway 2 to Stevens Pass. Turn right into the large parking area just past the Forest Service residence area.
Jade Lake (via Necklace Valley Trail)
Length (RT): 16.0 mi Diff. Level: strenuous Elev. Gain: 3000 ft Season: late July-October
This is a wonderful, long hike to a beautiful lake. This is a good backpack route because there are a series of lakes beyond Jade and La Bohn Gap. The first 5 miles are rather easy, with some up and downs in the valley floor. The trail was rather brushy in some places in this stretch. Watch out for Stinging Nettles. Also, you'll be passing Alturas Lake (roughly 2.5 miles from TH). It's really just a swamp, so bring lots of bug spray. At about 5 miles, a nice riverside camp is reached. The original log crossing was washed out (1997) so follow markers upstream to a new log crossing (has cable rail). Then, for a short bit, go through woods, and then cross another braid of the river via a large log. The main trail is straight ahead at the top of the small rocky slope. Follow cairns and boot-marks to the trail.
After negotiating 2400 feet in the next 3 miles, Jade Lake (22.8 KB) is reached. The trail parallels the lake's left shoreline to a nice camp spot by the inlet. Note La Bohn Gap straight ahead. Cross the inlet and in just a quarter of a mile is Emerald lake (just past the shelter and to the left). I've only gone as far as Emerald, but will do a backpack back here so the area can be explored more thoroughly. Another route to the La Bohn Gap is via Williams Lake-La Bohn Gap trail which spurs off from the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail (reached via Road 5620).
How to get there:
Take Highway 2 to the Foss River road No. 68 (about 2 miles past Skykomish). Turn right and in 4.2 miles, turn left into signed East Fork Foss River trailhead (0.6 miles past the Tonga Ridge road junction). Parking can be competitive so carpool if possible or take hike during the week.
Merritt Lake and Alpine Lookout
Length (RT): about 11.5 mi Diff. Level: strenuous Elev. Gain: about 3500 ft Season:July-October
How about a lake full of hungry trout and the chance to see a mountain goat or two? The first two miles are easy grade switchbacks through old growth Ponderosa pine and Douglas Fir. I usually see a lot of deer sign but haven't seen a deer yet. At two miles, you'll pass by a boulder field and at 2.5 miles, a junction is reached. Nason Ridge Trail merges with the Merritt Lake Trail here. If you were to turn left, you could go on to Rock Mountain. Keep straight, and at 3 miles, reach 5003-foot Merritt Lake (11.2 KB). Some nice campsites with established fire pits.
For Alpine Lookout, follow main trail(now Nason Ridge Trail) away from Merrit Lake and climb 0.5 miles to a junction. Left would take you to Lost Lake. I'll check this one out next summer. For the lookout, keep right. The next 2 miles is an up-and-down ridge walk through a variety of country. I especially liked the section of trail that passed through an old forest fire area. Here is a shot of an interesting rock formation (38.8 KB) in this area. Finally, at 5.25 miles from the TH, take the spur trail uphill to Alpine Lookout. As you would expect, incredible views, including Lake Wenatchee. I was fortunate to be able to take a good picture of a mountain goat (22.1 KB)
Update: I had the good fortune to see something you don't see everyday: a rubber boa (52.8 KB) crawling across the trail. These are very friendly members of the boa family and don't grow much longer than 20-24 inches. Only other boa species in North America is the slighly larger Rosy Boa which is more commonly found in the southern states such as California. Rubber boas are rarely seen because they tend to hide in burrows and come out at night looking for mice and other small rodents. It will just curl up on your wrist if you pick one up.
How to get there:
Take Highway 2 to Stevens Pass and go east 11 miles and turn left on Road 657 (near milepost 76). Drive 1.6 miles to the trailhead and end of road.
Lake Janus and Glasses Lake Viewpoint
Length (RT): 13.0 mi Diff. Level: mod/stren Elev. Gain: about 2150 ft in; 800 ft out Season: July-October
Lake Janus is beautiful, but I really recommend that you continue on up to the Cascade Crest and enjoy an awesome ridge walk that takes you in and out of Eastern and Western Washington. One could hike on to Grizzly Mountain (a 17-mile roundtrip), but I turned around at the Glasses Lake viewpoint. Ok, initially, you'll take the Smith Brook cutoff trail (#1590) one mile to the Pacific Crest Trail at Union Gap (4680 feet). Along this spur, you'll pass a nice meadow. At the junction, turn right on the Crest trail. The way drops 700 feet and then climbs up a bit before leveling at 4146-foot Lake Janus (3.5 miles; 31.5 KB). There are numerous camps here and an established camp for livestock.
For the ridge, keep on. The Crest trail crosses an tiny outlet and swings around the lake and begins switchbacking at an easy grade. Eventually, the terrain opens up as you get closer to the Crest. I saw quite of bit of deer sign up here. Didn't see any deer though. Finally, the Cascade Crest is reached (5.0 miles). Look for a nice view of Glacier Peak ahead of you. After 1.5 miles of enjoying views of both sides of the Cascades, I took a short spur on my right to a great viewpoint of Glasses Lake (35.8 KB).
How to get there:
Take Highway 2 to Stevens Pass and go east 4.5 miles and turn left on Smith Brook Road (6700). Cross the Nason Creek bridge and turn left towards Rainy Pass. Go up this unpaved road 3.5 miles to the Smith Brook trailhead.
Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls
Length (RT): about 8.5 mi Diff. Level: strenuous Elev. Gain: about 2250 ft Season: June-November
My first reaction to the new Lake Serene Trail was, "Wow!!!" Years ago, I did this hike with the Seattle Mountaineers when it was still a dangerous route. I want to thank all those who have taken part in building the new trail...what an elaborate set of stairs, boardwalks,etc. Great job!!! Ok, walk up the old, gated road, keeping right at the fork, and in a bit, cross a tiny stream. Now, the old road becomes more like a trail. At 1.5 miles from the TH, just after passing a junction with a blocked off road, level off and now, the trail breaks away from the old road. It drops down a quarter of a mile to another junction. Left takes you to Serene, while the right takes you up a steep 0.5-mile trail up to Bridal Veil Falls (25.0 KB).
In the old days, we would go up to the lake in this direction. You would have to climb root ladders full of water, huge rocks, etc. Definitely not for the squeamish! Let's go on to Serene. Back at the junction, keep left and drop down to cross Bridal Veil Creek via a bridge. Drop a bit more to the side of a cliff and tiny stream. Swing uphill and begin a countless series of switchbacks, often going up impressive stairs. Keep looking back for occassional glimpse of the falls behind you. Finally, begin a fairly long traverse back towards Bridal Veil Creek. Note a side trail heading into the woods to a pit toilet. Keep straight and shortly, curve into the basin of 2509-foot Lake Serene (23.2 KB) and switchback down to the lake (2 miles from the Bridal Veil junction). Follow trail across bridge crossing of Bridal Veil Creek. There is a campsite here. Keep straight and note benches for sitting. Climb up some more steps up to a rocky point jutting out into the lake. Good spot for lunch. I've heard that they are going to build a trail around the lake and a route to Mt. Index. I'll check this out next summer.
How to get there:
Take Highway 2 eight miles past Gold Bar and turn right on Mt. Index Road (just before the bridge). Follow signs a short way to the large trailhead parking area.
Please contact evergreenhiker17@yahoo.com if you have any questions or comments.
This page was last updated on 4/9/2004.
© John J. Maher IV