Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake
Featured In:
Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Region,
by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L. Bauer.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. Start up the road and in just 0.5 mile cross Mason Creek. You'll enjoy a couple of miles of walking on this old roadbed-turned-trail, giving you ample time to stretch and loosen up muscles before starting the real climbing. The road ends at around 2 miles, and the new trail leads upward into the forest. You'll find a trail junction near the Alpine Lakes Wilderness boundary at 2.25 miles out. Stay left here and continue climbing through the dense, young forest (regrowth that sprouted after a fire many decades ago). In just 0.5 mile you'll crest the ridge (elev. 4750 ft) and start a short but steep descent (losing 500 feet in elevation) to the forested basin of Mason Lake. Mason Lake is a deep pool, home to some fine--though hard to hook--trout. Enjoy a dip in the cool waters, if you don't want to try your angling skills, and then relax under the shady forest fringe and reflect on the man who helped save these mountains for hikers.
Driving Directions:
From Seattle drive east on I-90 to exit 45 (Forest Road 9030). Drive north, then stay left on FR 9030. About 1 mile from the freeway, you'll encounter a fork. Stay left again, now on Mason Lake Road (FR 9031). At about 3.9 miles from the freeway, park where the road is blocked--the road continues on the other side, but only for foot traffic. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Mudholes | Snow on trail
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Headed out for a snow shoeing hike with a meetup group. However, we didn't encounter snow till halfway up. Had...
Headed out for a snow shoeing hike with a meetup group. However, we didn't encounter snow till halfway up. Had heard that the new trail had icy conditions and therefore opted to take the old trail which followed up a creek with beautiful waterfalls. Conditions were such that we didn't need snowshoes, but we did use microspikes and poles which absolutely are a must at higher altitudes. Would not advise beginners on this hike. Overall, a great hike with weather cooperating and fairly mild for this time of the year. Great views of Mt. Rainier, McClellan butte from the top of the ridge above the lake. Mason lake itself was covered in snow, but we did not dare tread on it, as the ice probably fairly thin.
Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake
— Dec 31, 2011
— hikergirl
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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The road to the trail head is 100% open as of today. There are a couple of blow downs...
The road to the trail head is 100% open as of today. There are a couple of blow downs that you have to drive around but our Toyota Tundra made it around them with no fear of driving off the edge of the road. There are pot holes so a low clearance car may have a little bit of a tough time.
The trail starts with about an inch of snow on the ground and after about a mile and a half or so becomes over a foot or more. The trail is fine without snowshoes or microspikes untill about 2-2.5 miles. The trail dispears and it becomes trail blazing conditions. At which point the trail looks like it needs to go straight up. The snow is soft and snowshoes are needed. after going straight up for about 15 minutes we called it quites as i was having a tough time staying on my feet. A quick glissade down to the trail and we returned back to just boots and poles. We didn't make the lake and it looks like to make the lake, knowledge of the trail is required, snowshoes/microspikes and poles are needed. Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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A friend has been trying to get me on an alternate "trail" to or in this case toward Mason Lake....
A friend has been trying to get me on an alternate "trail" to or in this case toward Mason Lake. It is a boot-beaten tread that takes off, more or less from Exit 42 along the north side of I-90. It climbs about 600 vertical feet intersecting the road to the Ira Spring trailhead just shy of the parking area. Nice soft forest duff but roots and faint tread here and there. Some log over and unders along the way. As noted in the other recent report, a tree blocks access to the lot and cars were parked on the road. Then up the old road to the Old Mason Lake trail. We opted for the old trail and going was good for a ways but as the trail swings into the creek drainage, the snow was packed and icy. It continues that way until the snow deepens and footing is better.
We followed other tracks and did the under log routine necessary on this classic hike. The creek area is really quite scenic with cascades although the lovely moss was now white snow in the main. We followed with a posthole or two or three up to and into the boulder field where at around 3,800 feet we called it a day. The tracks we had been following turned to snowshoe tracks and we did not have any. Besides, there were things awaiting back in Seattle. There is patchy snow from the trailhead all the way with some icy spots. Patchy snow on the old trail yields to full snow. It was a rather nice outing. Whether I'd be willing to always start this hike 600 feet lower remains an open question. But the creek crossings, deep moss and rather mellow angle were a pleasant departure from the ordinary.
Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake
— Dec 02, 2011
— binliu.seattle
Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Snow on trail
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Blowdown tree blocked road to trail head, but only ~200 yards away. No visible tracks above 3000 feet. Snowshoes and...
Blowdown tree blocked road to trail head, but only ~200 yards away. No visible tracks above 3000 feet. Snowshoes and ice ax are must-haves.
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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We arrived at the trailhead around 08:30 to find only two other cars. The road in was clear the...
We arrived at the trailhead around 08:30 to find only two other cars. The road in was clear the entire way, but there some stretches of pretty bad potholes. We started hiking by 08:45 and about the time we passed Mason Creek, we started to encounter a layer of slush, getting covered by small ice pellets. We were following only one set of tracks though, and we ran into this person at the portion of the trail where it veers off from the old logging road and heads up the hill. The snow was starting to get a bit deeper here, around 4-6 inches. Right after the first switchback, we ran into the owner of the other vehicle, who had spent a cold and wet night at Mason Lake. Isn’t it odd though, that despite the rain, cold, and the snow you keep brushing off your tent throughout the night…you still have a great time?
By the time we reached the junction with the trail to Bandera, the snow was probably 14-16 inches deep, but the two folks before us had cut a good trail through the snow, so it wasn’t too bad. There was a good stiff breeze blowing as we headed for the saddle, and we reached that in no time. What a difference it was dropping down the other side towards the lake, as there was virtually no wind, and the snow was good and compact. Made it in to the lake, found the campsite that was used the night before and decided that was a good spot to have our lunch. There are sections of the lake where a layer of slush is building, and it shouldn’t be too much longer before it is entirely frozen over. Naturally, the breeze picked up and the clouds dropped into the lake so the views were few. It was just cold enough that we needed to start moving again, so we packed up and headed out. Ran into a large party at the outlet of the lake who had done a good job of packing down the trail, so our trip out went pretty quick and we were back at the trailhead by around 1:30. The snow at the lake is around 18-20 inches in places. But that will get deeper as the next few weather systems move through. Winter has definitely arrived, so be prepared out there! |
Mason Lake. Photo by NWFly Guy.
2010
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