Little Joe Lake
Oct 10, 2009
by
TK (Tall Kid)
—
last modified
Oct 13, 2009 06:57 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Joe Lake
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Wenatchee Okanogan National Forest, Cle Elum Ranger District
- Trails: Joe Lake (#1314)
- Avg Rating: 4.40
- Why You Should Go Now
- Fall foliage
- Ripe berries
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
PCT and Huckleberry Mountain from Joe Lake
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.
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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Joe Lake and Alaska Mountain
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Kendall Catwalk
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Alaska Lake from PCT
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