Lake Serene — Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025

Bottom Line:

The first ~1 mile of the trail has areas with a frozen creek running down the center of the trail. You can walk to the side, so I did not put on my microspikes, but it was definitely slippery early (~09:30am). The middle section of trail through the end of the switchbacks has running water and less frost (artifact of temperature inversions I think). The top of the trail is basically a skating rink, and microspikes are required (and poles suggested). The lake is frozen and safe for walking today, but conditions can change, and coming rain might bring that on. As it was, there were areas with ice cracks stretching 50 yards or so across the lake. Plenty of rock/ice fall off the peaks around the lake, and evidence of avalanche activity. Very little snow for this time of year - none until you are within ~1/4 mile of the lake. BEAUTIFUL to explore the area from the lake surface - last time with this vantage was a spring packraft.

Stats:

• Distance: 11 miles (including walking on the frozen lake - see map)
• Duration: ~5 hours
• Vertical: 2810 ft
• Road/Parking: No ice or snow on the access road, or the trailhead parking lot. Northwest Forest Pass required. Toilets. Very quiet - one other car on arrival, and maybe 4 cars on departure. Prowl area - do not leave valuables in your car ;)
• Weather: Partly sunny with fog to mainly cloudy; 30-40Fs, no wind; the sun sets behind the peaks at the lake around 12:30pm, so best to get an early start otherwise the lake basin can be quite dark in the winter
• Avalanche Danger: Low. NOTE: There are avalanche chutes on the west side of the lake under Index Peak
• Trail: ICE - lots of it. Beautiful for sure, and very slippery. Suggest microspikes and poles. There is very little snow - just a bit at the lake. Very unusual to be able to do this kind of vertical in January without snow! The trail has two parts - the relatively flat approach to the Bridal Veil Falls junction, and then the very steep switchbacks up to the lake (with lots of stairs to help with the steepness). The microspikes went on when the trail rounded the last switchback and made the traverse west towards the lake - ice 5" thick all over the trail in places. Bridal Veil has some ice, and I made the detour on the return, but I found Franklin Falls more interesting recently. There is a landside with a LARGE, uprooted tree just after the waterfall next to the trail, and before the switchbacks begin. It is a little challenging to climb over with the ice and frost - a pet would definitely need to be carried over. But past that, the trail is pretty clear, except from some blowdowns that one can simply step over. The lake is frozen with ice thick enough to walk on (your mileage may vary!). Exploring the lake was really fun - thus the 5-hour hike! I do need to figure out my winter layering - I was soaked through at the top and changed into a completely different set of clothes - jacket and all. But I am always a bit of a barn-yard animal in that department :) I was alone at the lake and only saw 2 other folks beyond the Bridal Veil Falls junction all day. Like it! There was cell reception throughout the hike.
• Takeaway: Hope to return in the spring when the ice breaks up into bergs, and I can pretend I am packrafting in Glacier Bay :)

I have attached a short video showing the ice on the trail, and the exploration around the lake.

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://www.instagram.com/wta_alpinewanderer/reels/
• https://nwac.us/avalanche-forecast/#/west-slopes-central