I had time for a quick hike, so my Beagle and I headed up to Lodge Lake. It was a fun hike, crossing under the chair lifts. Soon we were in the trees and enjoyed the cool breeze. The lake was calm and quiet. This was a good calm quiet hike, which we needed. Relatively easy and few people on the trail.

As we were driving by the ski area parking lots to the trailhead, a PCT through hiker was coming off the trail. When we started the hike to the lake, it was only 58 degrees at Snoqualmie Pass. The first 1/4 mile of the trail goes through forest before breaking out into the ski area where we hiked under chair lifts. This part of the trail is some what rocky as it is used as a creek bed during the snow melt. With a good breeze blowing, it felt more like an early fall trip. Once past Beaver Lake, the trail heads down hill to Lodge Lake. Some drainage work has been down in this section. There is a PCT Through Hikers registration book on a tree just south of Beaver Lake. We check it out. Three through hikers had come by, with the first one for 2012 on August 6th. He was from Virginia. Before getting to Lodge Lake, three fisherman passed us. Once at the lake we found a good log to sit on for lunch and watch small trout jumping out of the water to eat bugs. No flies or skeeters at the lake, only a few dragon flies and some water bugs.

There was once a lodge at Lodge Lake. The Mountaineers built the Snoqualmie Lodge in 1914 and it was used until 1944 when it burned down. During the summer you'd hike up from Denny Creek Campground 1 - 1/4 miles or go 1 - 2/3 miles in the winter from the train depot at the pass.

After taking a few photos and eatting lunch we headed back as the fisherman were trying to catch the big one. Along the way we met two bus loads of kids from the Preston YMCA day camp. As we passed by Beaver Lake, we got a nice view of Snoqualmie Mtn. Guye Peak, Red Mtn. and Kendall Peak. Another nice day in the mountains.

My teenager and I just wanted to get out for an easy overnighter, so Lodge Lake sounded perfect. A short, doable-even-for-the-not-so-sporty hike that covered it all - blooming meadows, forest, waterfall, lake. No crowds at all. Lodge Lake, however, was a bit disappointing. Nice little lake, no doubt, but very muddy and since there already was someone else camping, to get to the lake we had to traipse right through their tarped-off campsite. There was another campsite a bit to the right, also already taken, so we pitched tent on an over-flow spot. Being out in the forest sure was nice, but that was about it- even without rain, a camp fire at that spot would not have been possible. Should you also plan to stay overnight, arrive early, there are only three camp sites.

As for a day hike- it really is a nice, comparably easy hike close to Seattle. Just do not plan on a scenic picnic spot at the lake where kids can frolic around in the water.

Arrived late in the afternoon and still found a nearly empty parking lot. This hike does not draw the crowds as other nearby hikes do. Trail was in very good condition with recent trail maintenance evident. Some minor biting insects to deal with, but not bad. Lots of wildflowers starting to make their appearance on the ski slopes.