Rating: Moderate

Activity Hiking

Distance 6 miles round trip

Time 4–6 hours

Distance from Seattle 60 minutes

ROUTE The parking lot at Alpental does summer duty as the trailhead for a well-trampled path. There are multiple sets of switchbacks on the way and a few meadows to cross before reaching this picturesque mountain pond; a side trip to the Source Lake viewpoint is worth the mile-long detour. Snow and ice persist well into summer, especially at the crest of a saddle and on the descent to the lake. Despite the campsites and old cabin ruins just off the trail, not to mention the throng of hikers, there remains some untamed charm at the lake, one of Snoqualmie Pass’s most photogenic wilderness sites.

Getting There Follow I-90 East to Exit 52, then turn left onto Erste Strasse. Follow 1 mile to the Alpental Ski Area parking lot.
Maps and Passes Green Trails No. 207 Snoqualmie Pass map; Northwest Forest Pass required.
Find It Snow Lake