Surprise and Glacier Lakes
Jul 18, 2010
by
Scotty22
—
last modified
Jul 18, 2010 05:05 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Surprise and Glacier Lakes
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
- Agency: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
- Trails: Surprise Lake (#1060)
- Avg Rating: 3.38
Lunch stop at Surprise lake
Thanks to "easy does it" report, I decided to check out "Surprise Lake". This is a nice 8 mile hike deep into the woods up to wonderful alpine lakes. The trail is free of snow and should be great the rest of the summer. In a few places you will find the trail is starting to get overgrown. A nice weedwacker would do the trick.
The first 1.2 miles is a walk in the park as you slowly gain elevation up nice wood steps. As you work your way up you start to hear the roar of "surprise creek". One of the great things about this hike is that the creek is in view or ear shot most of the way.
You cross the creek at 1.2 mile and continue up. You will continue to climb but nothing difficult. At around 3 miles the trail starts to gain lots of elevation. (around 1,000 feet in 1 mile) You'll notice many tight switchbacks as you make your way up the east side of the mountain. The tight switchbacks give way to longer ones. Finally after you make a few uphill turns you'll make your way to the top.
Hike the next .2 miles along the creek and back over it again. You'll see the lake just after you cross the creek. There are many places for a lunch stop and camping as well. Looks like this is a big overnight camping spot as I passed about 10 groups coming down who had full overnight gear.
2 hours to the top with a good pace...have fun hiking
The first 1.2 miles is a walk in the park as you slowly gain elevation up nice wood steps. As you work your way up you start to hear the roar of "surprise creek". One of the great things about this hike is that the creek is in view or ear shot most of the way.
You cross the creek at 1.2 mile and continue up. You will continue to climb but nothing difficult. At around 3 miles the trail starts to gain lots of elevation. (around 1,000 feet in 1 mile) You'll notice many tight switchbacks as you make your way up the east side of the mountain. The tight switchbacks give way to longer ones. Finally after you make a few uphill turns you'll make your way to the top.
Hike the next .2 miles along the creek and back over it again. You'll see the lake just after you cross the creek. There are many places for a lunch stop and camping as well. Looks like this is a big overnight camping spot as I passed about 10 groups coming down who had full overnight gear.
2 hours to the top with a good pace...have fun hiking
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Looking at the north end of the lake
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Flat meadows with running water just before the Lake
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Surprise Creek
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