Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Lake Elizabeth
Featured In:
Day Hiking: Central Cascades,
by Craig Romano.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. The way is pretty straightforward. From the trailhead, drop a few feet to the lake's outlet, Money Creek, and decide your course of circumnavigation. Left or right around the lake? Either way, it's a delightful hike. Aside from constantly having the tranquil 7-acre lake at your side, you'll pass through lovely groves of old cedar, fir, and hemlock, and cross numerous feeder creeks. You'll be granted nice views, too, of the steep, open slopes surrounding Elizabeth. The only difficulty you may encounter is that this trail, like so many others in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, is slowly deteriorating due to lack of maintenance. The bridge over Money Creek is in need of capital improvements and the trail is brushing-in at many spots. After your hike, let the forest ranger and your representative in Congress know about the trail's condition and why it's a shame to let such a recreational treasure wither away. Better yet, invite them out to see it for themselves-it'll do them some good and hopefully the trail too!
Driving Directions:
From Everett follow US 2 east for 45 miles. Just before milepost 46 turn right at the sign for "Money Creek Campground" onto the Old Cascade Highway. Proceed for 1.1 mile, turning right onto Miller River Road (Forest Road 6410). Then immediately turn right onto Money Creek Road (FR 6420) and continue 6.8 miles to the easy-to-miss trailhead on your right. The last couple of miles of road are rough. Recent Trip Reports
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Lake Elizabeth
— Jul 03, 2011
— revhawg
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Blowdowns | Bridge out | Clogged drainage | Overgrown | Mud/Rockslide | Mudholes | Washouts | Water on trail | Snow on trail | Bugs | No water source | Road to trailhead inaccessible
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Road leading to trail head is washed out at the 5 mile mark, we opted to walk in. The 2...
Road leading to trail head is washed out at the 5 mile mark, we opted to walk in. The 2 mile walk to the trail head is difficult at 2 spots because of boulders and rocks in the road.
The lake is beautiful but the hike was anything but easy, we only able to make it about 1/2 way around before having to turn back because of no trail. I would not recommend this hike for anyone with young children or physical limitation.
Lake Elizabeth
— Jun 26, 2011
— gsbarnes
Day hike
Issues:
Road to trailhead inaccessible
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Didn't actually hike Lake Elizabeth, as Money Creek Road is blocked by landslides at mile 5, and I couldn't see...
Didn't actually hike Lake Elizabeth, as Money Creek Road is blocked by landslides at mile 5, and I couldn't see adding 3+ miles to the hike with the kids. Still, I did clamber over the slide and check out the road for about half a mile past the slide, and it looks okay, so if you're willing to turn a .7 miles hike into a 3.7+ miles hike, this is probably a fine place to go. Another possibility would be to carry bikes over the slide and bike to the trailhead, but I'm guessing the road is too steep for most kids to bike up.
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Fall foliage | Ripe berries
Issues:
Blowdowns | Bridge out | Clogged drainage | Overgrown | Mudholes | Water on trail | Snow on trail | Bugs
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with photos
Trail was mostly clear except final 25%. We hike counterclockwise from the trailhead. Encountered dozens of blowdowns - mostly 4-18"...
Trail was mostly clear except final 25%. We hike counterclockwise from the trailhead. Encountered dozens of blowdowns - mostly 4-18" pines. There was some evidence that earlier blowdowns - at least the larger ones - had been cleared, but we were hard-pressed to even see the trail for about last 100-150 yards of the trail. Mudholes were abundant, perhaps due to inability to see the trail. Minor snow on trail (mostly under blowdowns)
Excellent short hike, superb scenery. Should be spectacular for fall foliage by the end of September.
Lake Elizabeth #1071
— Jul 07, 2008
— Kinderhoff
Day hike
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The road to the lake meets snow about .3 miles short of the lake. A very nice easy walk over...
The road to the lake meets snow about .3 miles short of the lake. A very nice easy walk over the snow to find the lake. What a beautiful morning with the mist/fog lifting from the lake. The trail around the lake was still not accesable as there is still plenty of snow (~ 5 feet) upto the shore. We were worried that the snowbanks may be over the water ( as was the case on the road) and undercut by the melt, an early mroning swim was not planned nor desired. Will return in the fall to check out the tree colors.
Lake Elizabeth #1071
— Jun 28, 2008
— Nagasaurus
Day hike
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The road to Lake Elizabeth has a small landslide blocking the road about 2.5 miles from the trailhead. I didn't...
The road to Lake Elizabeth has a small landslide blocking the road about 2.5 miles from the trailhead. I didn't have time to walk the road past the blockage so didn't make it to the trailhead. Check with the local ranger district before you make the drive. |
Lake Elizabeth. Photo by Tim O'Donoghue.
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