You are here: Home » Find a Hike » Hiking Guide » Annette Lake

Annette Lake

Last modified Jan 30, 2010 07:10 PM
Waterfall along the Annette Lake Trail, by Garrett.
Dense forest drapes the lower trail, keeping hikers cool on the hottest August afternoons. At trail's end, a deep lake waits to kill off the last of the summer heat--for those brave enough to dive into its icy waters. Between the thick second-growth forest stands and the high alpine lake, the trail rolls along Humpback Creek, offering tantalizing views now and again of pretty waterfalls along the tumbling creek.

The trail begins alongside the Asahel Curtis Nature Trail but continues to climb to the right when the gentle Asahel Curtis Loop goes left. You'll follow an ancient old logging road (mostly reclaimed by the fertile forest).

At about 1 mile out, you'll pass under a high-tension powerline and 0.25 mile later will cross the wide track of the Iron Horse Trail (the old railroad right-of-way). From this point, the trail gets serious. Serious about scenery, and serious about climbing.

The path switchbacks up the Humpback Creek valley for more than 1.5 miles until the last steep pitch puts you at about 3600 feet elevation. For the next mile, you'll traverse the slope above Humpback Creek, with occasional views across the valley to Humpback Mountain. The trail ends at the shores of Annette Lake, which lies in the cirque between Humpback Mountain, Abiel Peak, and Silver Peak.
Improve or add to this guidebook entry

Recent Trip Reports

Hiked here recently? Submit a trip report!
There are 201 trip reports for this hike. See all trip reports for this hike.
Annette Lake — Mar 06, 2010 — Silverdul
Day hike
Issues: Snow on trail
Expand report text Hide report text
The day we hiked on Lake Annette, the weather was fully sunny. However,the half of the trail covered by...
The day we hiked on Lake Annette, the weather was fully sunny. However,the half of the trail covered by iced snow. It was very slippery without Yak-Track. I strongly recommend to use it. The lake view was hilarious. On the lake side the snow melted down in day time. Some hikers stepped on the icy surface on the lake. It looked not safe. Please be cautious when you bring young aged guys, be extra cautious. There is one pit toilet near the entrance lake side. But it is hard to find out. So don't pee on the snow near lake shore.
Read full report with photos
Annette Lake — Feb 20, 2010 — Jimbo Brian
Day hike
Issues: Snow on trail
Expand report text Hide report text
A wonderful sunny day in a winter of many sunny days. I picked Annette Lake with the idea that lower...
A wonderful sunny day in a winter of many sunny days. I picked Annette Lake with the idea that lower trails would be packed with people, and I wanted to check the snow level. As I passed High Point on I-90, the roadside parking was definitely full of cars. Annette Lake had only a few cars, just what I wanted. The lower trail was in great shape up past the John Wayne trail and beyond. Although John Wayne was snow-covered, the trail was not. It was still clear of snow until the switchbacks at about 2 miles. As I climbed, the patches were longer and longer, becoming permanent at about the 3rd switchback with about a foot of packed icy snow. I put on Yak-Trax and kept going. A couple parties coming down also had Yak-Trax or traction. They were definitely useful. The packed snow varied in depth as you cross open areas and shaded areas. After the switchbacks, the trail crosses several potential avalanche slopes. These slopes seem to have 2-3' of packed snow, well settled at the moment. After passing through the last set of trees, the lake appeared, covered in a layer of ice several inches thick, except near the outlet. I did not walk on the ice. We never know where volcanic hot springs may weaken the mountain ice. The sun was wonderful, but it wasn't actually hot. With the Yak-Trax, it took me four hours up to the lake and back. I came upon a party of four, one in tennis shoes trying to pick their way up. That's not a fun way to hike in slippery snow, especially going downhill. There is only one tree across the trail in the switchbacks, 12-16", easy to step over. It looks like these high trails are going to open up early this year.
Read full report
Annette Lake — Jan 16, 2010 — KarenP
Day hike
Issues: Blowdowns | Water on trail | Snow on trail | Avalanche danger
Expand report text Hide report text
When our plan to go to Melakwa Lake was thwarted because the road was not plowed, Kazuyo and I decided...
When our plan to go to Melakwa Lake was thwarted because the road was not plowed, Kazuyo and I decided to go to Annette Lake instead. The trail was very, very icy. I was very glad to have Microspikes. Kazuyo was wearing YakTrax. (On the way home, we went to REI so Kazuyo could get Microspikes too.)

Even though there were several cars in the parking lot, after we crossed the John Wayne Trail, the footprints on the trail revealed only two other hikers. They were wearing crampons. We were happy to walk in their footprints across the avalanche chutes. There were several steep icy sections in which Kazuyo’s YakTrax were really not adequate. Fortunately she made it across without incident.

Annette Lake was lovely with aquamarine water. The peaks surrounding the lake were shrouded in fog. We enjoyed having the lake to ourselves as we ate our lunch on the shelf above the lake near the beginning of the trail to Silver Peak. As we were departing the lake, the wind came up and a bit of snow fell.

On our return trip, we met one lone hiker who proudly displayed his crampons and ice ax. Wise man. Not too far from the trailhead we met a couple that were sharing one pair of YakTrax between them. We warned them about the conditions ahead. They scoffed at us and continued on. I wonder how far they got.

It was a beautiful day. The only bad thing that happened is that both our cameras went dead so we could not take our usual excessive number of photos! If you go on this hike soon I recommend crampons if you have them. Microspikes are okay too right now.

For photos: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/
Read full report with photos
Annette Lake — Dec 30, 2009 — terpene
Day hike
Issues: Snow on trail | Avalanche danger
Expand report text Hide report text
The short gravel road leading to the trailhead has a few inches of snow, as does the large parking lot....
The short gravel road leading to the trailhead has a few inches of snow, as does the large parking lot. Also, watch for some nasty potholes here.

Though snow-covered all the way, the trail is quite hikeable if you use boot traction devices and gaiters; Yaktrax worked well for me. The snow is deep enough for snowshoes only above 3000'; I carried snowshoes and didn't use them once. I don't use snowshoes if the snow is not at least a foot or so deep, as these cause a lot of damage to tree roots on the trail.

Be aware of several avalanche chutes on the lake approach - increasing snowpack is brewing up some dangerous conditions.
Read full report with photos
Annette Lake — Dec 10, 2009 — davem
Day hike
Issues: Snow on trail | Avalanche danger
Expand report text Hide report text
I hiked up to Annette Lake today. This was a very solitary hike today. I saw no one...
I hiked up to Annette Lake today. This was a very solitary hike today. I saw no one else up or down. There was 1-2 inches of snow in the parking lot. Then only a dusting of snow on the first 100 yards. There was very little snow or ice on the first mile of the trail, except for the few open spaces. The section under the power lines had a small dusting of crusty snow and was not a problem. After about 1.5 miles and just past the small everygreen that is hanging over the trail the trail is completely covered in packed snow and ice. The sides of the trail have crusting snow frozen solid. Previous hikers have been using the sides of the trail to avoid the ice and you can see the occasional post hole where they broke through back when the snow was not a solid brick of ice. I put on my crampons after I crossed a stream that had encased about 10 feet of the trail in solid ice. I had to keep them on all the way to the lake. Overall the hike was great. The Sun was out, but this trail being on the south side of I90 does not get too much Sun this time of year. But there was a few places where the Sun was able to peak around the mountains to light up the trail and forest. The last mile of this hike crosses five alvalance fields. They were frozen solid today, but if things warm up a bit and if we get more snow soon you will need to know what you are doing before you cross these. And, right now you don't want to slip on the 3rd one without an ice ax, or you will be in the valley below and in bad shape after a scary slide. So enough with the warnings and disclaimers. Overall I had a great time.
Read full report with photos
Location
Annette Lake (#1019)
Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District
3.19 out of 5
Based on 21 votes
Featured In...

Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Region
by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L. Bauer

To buy the full book, including maps, elevation profiles, photos, and more, visit:

A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails.

Information about this hike provided in partnership with Mountaineers Books. Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books

Roundtrip 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain 1400 ft
Highest Point 3600 ft
Features
Rivers
Lakes
Waterfalls
Old growth
Established campsites
Guidebooks & Maps
Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Pass (Nelson & Bauer - Mountaineers Books)
Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass No. 207

Improve or add to this guidebook entry

Driving Directions
(47.3927, -121.4744) Open in new window
Red Marker Annette Lake
47.3926666667 -121.474416667
From Seattle drive east on I-90 to exit 47 (Asahel Curtis/Denny Creek). Turn right from the off-ramp and continue 0.25 mile, then turn left on Forest Road 5590. You'll find the parking area in 0.3 mile.
Document Actions
  • Email this page
  • Print this
  • Share
Email Newsletter
Monthly trail news, hiking trips and advocacy.
Log in


Forgot your login name or password?
New user?
Sales Support WTA!
Footer

 

 
powered by Plone | site by Groundwire and served with clean energy