Melakwa Lake, Denny Creek
Nov 30, 2008
by
GaliWalker
—
last modified
Dec 02, 2008 10:02 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Melakwa Lake
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Mount Baker -Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District, North Bend office
- Trails: Melakwa Lake (#1011)
- Avg Rating: 3.96
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Denny Creek
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
- Agency: Snoqualmie Ranger District (425) 888-1421
- Trails: Denny Creek to Melakwa Lake (#1014)
- Avg Rating: 3.89
- Be Aware Of
- Mudholes
- Water on trail
- Snow on trail
Denny Creek
Nov 30th, 2008: Melakwa Lakes
The onset of Winter, and it felt like Spring. An unseasonably warm, sunny day in the Pacific Northwest, meant that hibernation could be delayed for a bit. Melakwa Lakes have been on my to-do list for just such an occasion: a relatively nearby hike of only moderate difficulty. It turned out to be an extremely pretty hike, one in which the act of getting there was just as much fun as the final payoff.
A relatively leisurely 8:30am start had me hiking from the Denny Creek trailhead under clear blue skies. As I crossed under I-90 I marveled at how out-of-place it seemed – a thin ribbon, floating high up in the sky. Denny Creek was a rushing, chattering companion, and would provide good company almost all the way to Melakwa Lakes.
Soon, I moved out of forest and cut across open avalanche-cleared slopes. At the head of the clearing was beautiful Keekwulee Falls, a worthy destination in its own right. I remained lost in its wonders for a bit, before breaking free of its spell and reentering sparse forest. The trail switch-backed up a steep slope. Peek-a-boo views of Snowshoe Falls were on offer – unfortunately there were just too many trees in the way to get a good look.
Open meadows carried me to 4,650ft Hemlock Pass after which I dropped down to Melakwa Lake. Melakwa Lake was quite pretty, made even prettier by a delicate sheet of glassy ice covering most of its surface. I wandered around the main Melakwa Lake for a bit and then continued on to nearby Upper Melakwa Lake: another pretty lake ringed by inviting slopes and peaks. On another day I would have spent more time exploring, but I had to get home by 3:00pm so called it a day here.
Additional photos: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/72157610544923633
Cumulative stats:
- Distance: 9.5mi
- Elevation gain: 2,300ft
- Hiking time: 6hrs
Trail conditions:
- Some snow on the trail but currently not an issue
- A few icy patches but not too bad
- A log bridge across Denny Creek was icy, so had to employ the butt-scootch method to cross it.
- Lots of water flowing across the trail due to recent snow-melt
The onset of Winter, and it felt like Spring. An unseasonably warm, sunny day in the Pacific Northwest, meant that hibernation could be delayed for a bit. Melakwa Lakes have been on my to-do list for just such an occasion: a relatively nearby hike of only moderate difficulty. It turned out to be an extremely pretty hike, one in which the act of getting there was just as much fun as the final payoff.
A relatively leisurely 8:30am start had me hiking from the Denny Creek trailhead under clear blue skies. As I crossed under I-90 I marveled at how out-of-place it seemed – a thin ribbon, floating high up in the sky. Denny Creek was a rushing, chattering companion, and would provide good company almost all the way to Melakwa Lakes.
Soon, I moved out of forest and cut across open avalanche-cleared slopes. At the head of the clearing was beautiful Keekwulee Falls, a worthy destination in its own right. I remained lost in its wonders for a bit, before breaking free of its spell and reentering sparse forest. The trail switch-backed up a steep slope. Peek-a-boo views of Snowshoe Falls were on offer – unfortunately there were just too many trees in the way to get a good look.
Open meadows carried me to 4,650ft Hemlock Pass after which I dropped down to Melakwa Lake. Melakwa Lake was quite pretty, made even prettier by a delicate sheet of glassy ice covering most of its surface. I wandered around the main Melakwa Lake for a bit and then continued on to nearby Upper Melakwa Lake: another pretty lake ringed by inviting slopes and peaks. On another day I would have spent more time exploring, but I had to get home by 3:00pm so called it a day here.
Additional photos: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/72157610544923633
Cumulative stats:
- Distance: 9.5mi
- Elevation gain: 2,300ft
- Hiking time: 6hrs
Trail conditions:
- Some snow on the trail but currently not an issue
- A few icy patches but not too bad
- A log bridge across Denny Creek was icy, so had to employ the butt-scootch method to cross it.
- Lots of water flowing across the trail due to recent snow-melt
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Keekwulee Falls
|
Cloudy ice on Melakwa Lake
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Melakwa Lake
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