SNOQUALMIE MOUNTAIN
This hike is an all-time favorite! The views from the top are insane, but you really have to work for them by climbing an extremely steep trail to get there. Best of all, even though this trip starts from the same trailhead as one of the most popular hikes in the area, there are usually very few people on the trail.
Quick Facts:
Distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 3200 ft
Location: Snow Lake Trailhead, Snoqualmie Pass, Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
Season: Mid Summer-Late Fall
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass
Check the weather: mountain-forecast, weather.gov
Check for recent trip reports: WTA, AllTrails
Getting there:
Click here for the TH location on Google Maps
This hike starts from the same trailhead as the Snow Lake trail, which is right off of I-90. It’s an easy trip from Seattle that any car can make.
Hike description:
The beginning of this hike can be a bit hard to find. The easiest way is to start at the Snow Lake trailhead, and then walk about 50 feet downhill. The trail won’t be signed, so you’ll need to look for the trail heading into the brush.
You’ll start a steep climb uphill almost immediately, and you’ll quickly come to understand how this trail manages to gain 3000 feet in only 1.5 miles. Because this trail is not maintained, the “trail” will not always have stable footing, and you may need to grab on to trees to make some of the bigger steps, and definitely bring poles to help keep your balance. It’s part of the fun!
At just over half a mile, you’ll reach the turnoff for the Guye Peak trail. This junction should be signed, but the sign has recently been damaged. Stay to the left, so that you cross a creek below a large waterfall. During the Spring when snow is melting you will need to be careful as this stream can be quite high.
View from near the summit, September 2019
The trail & view to the south, September 2019
Before long you’ll emerge from the trees and enter the fields of scree and brush you’ll be on until the summit. Here you begin to get some of the great views on this hike of nearby peaks in the Snoqualmie Pass area, including Guy Peak behind you and Red Mountain. As long as the snow is melted, there’s a pretty well defined trail through the scree to the summit. In some areas it will appear to branch, but they all ultimately end up in the same place, and they are all steep. There is one short exposed area of the trail almost directly before the summit. The trail here has good footing, but if you aren’t comfortable taking it there is a less obvious trail that stays further back from the edge.
You’ll finally be at the summit, and the views here are incredible. On a clear day it seems like the mountain views never end. Be sure to visit the very far end of the summit to find the survey marker and peak over the trees to see an aerial view of Snow Lake far below. The summit block isn’t huge, but because this trail doesn’t see a ton of action there should be room to hang out for as long as you can and take in the views.
Be really careful as you work your way back down the trail, especially on the the loose rock. It’s very easy to slip and fall on the descent, especially on tired legs. Take your time, and use your hiking poles!
View of Snow Lake from the summit, September 2019