Joe Lake

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This hike has a little bit of everything.

To reach Little Joe Lake, hike Gold Creek Trail with gradual ups and downs to the Alaska Lake turnoff at about 5 miles. The main trail goes left and uphill to Alaska Lake. Take the other way.

The Joe Lake trail starts here and goes straight ahead into the open meadows of slide alder and vine maple. This is where the work begins. Follow this rough trail around Alaska Mountain paying careful attention to where the main trail is. You will have to duck, crawl, climb, and plow your way through this tangle of brush and the occasional downed log. (Tip: wear a small backpack.)

After about a mile, you will hit the Joe Lake outlet stream. Look for cairns, ribbons, and small fisherman’s trails (all faint). The trail is no nonsense and goes straight up. There are various initial routes up, but you eventually need to cross the creek so that you are on the right side when going up. Numerous waterfalls abound, including a large one near the top.

Once you have made it to the top, a plethora of campsites await you and if you are there in midsummer, squadrons of mosquitoes. Aside from the lake and meadows surrounding the lake, there are also several small ponds surrounding the lake.

-Side trip 1, at the Alaska Lake trail, there is an abandoned gold mine about 500' above the valley bottom. Look for it to the right of the Alaska Lake Trail. You can only see it from the bottom of the hill. Take a good look at where it is and then look for a faint trail that leads that direction off the Alaska Lake Trail. The mine has about 6" of water in it during the summer and can be explored without flashlights.

-Side trip 2, once at Joe Lake, the crest trail is a few hundred feet above the lake, the short route up is at the opposite end of the lake through the trees, but the no nonsense route up is right up the steep meadow or chute at the base of Huckleberry mountain. To the North of the lake on the PCT, there are numerous meadows and ponds to explore. Views are pretty good too.

Driving Directions:

I-90 east to exit 54, Hyak. Turn left, go under freeway and follow frontage road (Gold Creek) for 0.9 mile, turn left and go 0.5 mile to the Gold Creek Pond parking lot.

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There are 9 trip reports for this hike. See all trip reports for this hike.

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Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section J - Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass - East, Joe Lake, Spectacle Lake, Pete Lake, Kendall Katwalk — Sep 03, 2011 — TRAILer Trash

Multi-night backpack

Features: Wildflowers blooming | Ripe berries

Issues: Blowdowns | Bridge out | Bugs

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We headed out from Snoqualmie Pass in a group of 5 following the pct. Labor Day weekend was perfect as...

We headed out from Snoqualmie Pass in a group of 5 following the pct. Labor Day weekend was perfect as far as the weather goes! The trail ascended fairly gradual with few downed trees on the way up to Kendall Katwalk. After the katwalk there were a few patches of snow, but nothing sketchy at all; the snow was about 100ft wide.
We decided to stop at Joe Lake to call it a night, not realizing that the lake is fairly far away and you have to bushwack through heavy underbrush down a steep hill. Luckily we found a snow patch close to the trail with water running out of it (the stream is marked by orange markers).
The way from Joe Lake to Spectacle Lake was snow free and BEAUTIFUL! There are wild flowers for miles and the view is spectacular! At Spectacle Lake the bugs were a little heavy at times and we got pretty bit up, but it's worth the torment to experience the beauty of the lake.
After Staying at Spectacle Lake we headed down the pct and took the junction toward pete lake. The trail to the trail head was extremely flat and was a great way to end our nearly 30 mile trip.
DO THIS TRIP! IT IS AWESOME!

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Kendall Katwalk, Joe Lake, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section J - Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass - East — Aug 14, 2011 — HDThoreau

Overnight

Features: Wildflowers blooming

Issues: Snow on trail

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I did this hike to assess whether I thought Section J of the PCT was passable this time of year...

I did this hike to assess whether I thought Section J of the PCT was passable this time of year with more snow on trails than usual. The answer I came up with is yes; bring an ice axe as back up, or be confident that you are sure-footed on small, steep pitches of snow.

Kendall Katwalk is easily passable, though on the way there are logs to walk on top of and two mild snow patches. No snow on Katwalk (it gets loads of sun). After that, there is snow that I did not consider sketchy, though stepping through is certainly something to be aware of. The trip to Gravel Lake and Ridge Lake is safe, and it is clear where the trail is.
After Ridge Lake, beware of two gullies with snow in them. It is only twenty to thirty feet to cross, and it is worth slowing down to kick into each step in order to ensure good footing. One guy went fast and slid about thirty feet onto a pile of rocks, got banged up and I'm sure scared and humbled by the experience. Key word; pause. Survey a scene before entering it. Proceed with caution and all should be fine. After that, there is snow on the trail on the way to Joseph Lake, but nothing gnarly. The trail is easy to pick back up. God, it's beautiful out there.
I went all the way to Chikaman Peak (or close). I found one pitch of snow with no rocks beneath it and stopped, because I had no ice axe and I was tired. I really didn't have trouble with mud or bugs or downed logs, but that's what people are saying. Whatever. Suck it up and enjoy what nature has to offer! Safety first, get the job done second, and have fun! That's my plan. Nature's in charge and I'm the guest.

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Little Joe Lake — Aug 15, 2010 — woutervw

Day hike

Features: Wildflowers blooming

Issues: Blowdowns | Overgrown | Bugs

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Scorching temperatures were expected, so I opted for something with a reasonable amount of shade and along a creek. Gold...

Scorching temperatures were expected, so I opted for something with a reasonable amount of shade and along a creek. Gold creel seemed to fit the bill. I've been there snowshoeing, but never in the summer. And what would be better than a little lake at the end. So Joe Lake it was.

My book of hikes still has a separate trailhead for the Gold Creek trail, but that has been combined with the Pond Loop. Which adds 3/4 mile each way. The beginning is uneventful, just forest road. The real trail is beautiful. Great shape, fun things to look at. That is, until you get to the huge area with the fallen trees. This is where I had a huge problem finding my way this winter. But the WTA volunteers were working hard and a path was cleared through most of the trees. A new bypass was being constructed to get around some other problem areas. Thank you, volunteers!

After that it is on to the creek crossing. Not much water now, so that was easy. Do make sure you resume the trail exactly on the other side of the creek. It goes up steep and if you choose a different place to cross, you might miss the trail. Two more creek crossings (silver creek and the outlet of Alaska Lake) and you get to the junction for Alaska Lake to your left, or Joe Lake straight ahead. I opted for the longer trail to Joe Lake.

Soon you'll realize that trail is a misnomer. It is more something where someone else has put their feet before you. That might have been today, last week, or last year. It is so overgrown that you don't see where you put down your feet. And there are all sorts of holes and branches waiting for you down there. Be very careful. It goes up and down with no rhyme or reason. But eventually you get out of the lush growth and into some trees. The trail is a lot easier to follow here. Thanks to the pink tape along the harder to follow part it is not completely lost.

And after one more (empty) creek crossing, it goes up. And then more up. So steep, I had to carry my dog up one scramble. Just before the last steep part you're treated to a view of a gorgeous waterfall. Then soon it levels off. And you see first the little lake and behind it Joe Lake. Absolutely beautiful. Lots of good places to camp.

I only saw two other hikers on the trail. And a couple at the lake that had spend the night there. There was also a larger party at the lake that had come down from the PCT.

A beautiful hike, although rather long.

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Little Joe Lake — Oct 10, 2009 — TK (Tall Kid)

Day hike

Features: Fall foliage | Ripe berries

Issues: Blowdowns

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Hiked in on a cold Saturday morning from Gold Creek Trailhead, to Joe lake and out the PCT to Snoquamlie...

Hiked in on a cold Saturday morning from Gold Creek Trailhead, to Joe lake and out the PCT to Snoquamlie Pass. Great loop trail, close to Seattle. Only 2 cars in parking lot on a cold October morning. Trail was pretty clear except for blowdown at the 3-4 mile point. Follow flagging through blowdown area to stay on trail. At 5.4 mile junction trail hits Alaska Lake cutoff. Stay to your right for the Joe Lake Trail. From this point it is un-maintained, so allow some extra time. Pretty easy to follow, but brushy all the way to Joe lake. Use caution during the final very steep climb into Joe Lake Basin along waterfall. There are very few switchbacks, making for a vertical scramble. From Joe lake a few campsites are available and the PCT is about 500 feet to the north above the lake.
On second day, hiked up to PCT from Joe Lake. This is a scramble to the north of the lake, but doable if you watch your footing. Also, be aware of fragile areas and stay in the rocks as you climb up. Following the PCT, out Ridge and Gravel lakes was easy cruising. Some snow already on trail at high points, so watch you footing and use hiking poles to avoid slipping. Kendall Catwalk down was busy with 30-40 people enjoying the fall weather. Finished at PCT trail head at Snoqualmie pass, full parking lot of day hikers. This is a great loop hike totalling 17-18 miles. It is 7 miles to Joe Lake and 10 Miles out Snoqualmie pass.

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Little Joe Lake #1330.1,Red Mountain #1330,Kachess Ridge #1315,Thorp Creek #1316 — Jul 11, 2005 — Whitebark

Day hike

Issues: Blowdowns | Bugs

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Starting with the Thorp Creek Trail, you can assemble various paths into an enjoyable 10 mile loop touring the...

Starting with the Thorp Creek Trail, you can assemble various paths into an enjoyable 10 mile loop touring the heights of Kachess Ridge. The scenery is not of the alpine stunner variety-- in fact, Kachess Ridge is not in protected wilderness and clearcuts are visible everywhere-- but the flower show right now is **fabulous** in the many meadows traversed by the route. It's also nice that the trails here tend to be more lightly used compared to the more glamorous wilderness areas. Some skeeters were out, but not enough to make me use repellant.

I started by following the Thorp Creek Trail, which is in good condition although a little overgrown with knee-high brush. I was glad to see signs of recent trail work activity: new signs, cut logs, drain dips, and such. The grade starts out easy, then becomes steep near Thorp Lake, reached via a quarter mile spur which I didn't do. Beyond the lake, the trail rapidly climbed a meadowy slope to a junction. Here I went right onto the Kachess Ridge Trail, whose decent tread took an up-and-down course first on the side of the ridge, then on top of it. There were potentially good views on the ridgeline in spots, although I don't know for sure because clouds and drizzle got in the way.

At the next junction, I went right on to the Red Mountain Trail. This path is also of the up-and-down variety, giving me plenty of exercise while I admired the flower-strewn meadows and the views. There are some confusing spots in places: a poorly marked junction with an unmapped trail and a spot where the trail has been wiped out by a logging road. But if you pay attention and have a map, the route is not difficult to follow. With this trail, oversteep grades and slumped tread suggest that some treadwork and reroutes are in order.

Eventually, the trail crossed one last ridge and plunged down a slope to arrive at Little Joe Lake, a marshy pond in a peaceful wooded basin. At a junction next to the lake, I left the Red Mountain Trail and headed downhill on the Little Joe Lake Trail, which sports some rather steep grades. Rerouting and regrading of this trail would be beneficial. A few logs on the trail need removal.

After one final knee-busting dive to the bottom of the valley, where the trail was doing its best to imitate the Mailbox Peak path, the Little Joe Trail ended at a logging road not far from the Thorp Creek trailhead. A final easy stroll on the road brought me back to my car. Despite Sunday's clouds and showers, the loop hike made for a nice day in the woods.

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