Marten Lake
Jun 16, 2012
by
Brad Allen (middleforkgiants)
—
last modified
Jun 16, 2012 04:44 PM
- Type of Outing
- Overnight
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Marten Lake
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass
- Trails: Marten Lake (#1006)
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Overgrown
- Mudholes
- Water on trail
- Snow on trail
- Bugs
Enjoying some solitude at Marten Lake
Marten Lake is a hidden gem and well worth the effort to get to. Terpene's report from June 11th is worth the read and isn't far off. That being said, for those who are used to abandoned and informal trails or even cross country work, this trail is not bad.
There are a couple of good campsites along the way. The first is right by the bridge over Marten Creek. It's a nice site and you can then day hike up to the lake. A few hundred feet up there is another site along the trail, just above the big Cedars. There is also a nice site at the lake.
The trail is always present, you just have to look for it. The hardest part to follow is the first up through the old cedar grove (look around here, these are some of the biggest cedars in Washington). Take some time just past the big boulder to enjoy the view of the waterfall below you (BTW: don't go all the way around the boulder, the trail drops to a flag halfway around).
It is steep as you approach the lake and you do some root grabbing and scrambling. There was snow in the final few hundred feet to the lake but the campsite was clear (although wet).
You aren't going to find yourself alone at an Alpine lake unless you work for it a little. This is one of the few (Rainy Lake is another) that isn't too far away but is not regularly visited because you have to know what you are doing. Be prepared to work for it, know how to use a map, compass and altimeter just in case, be careful, and find some solitude.
There are a couple of good campsites along the way. The first is right by the bridge over Marten Creek. It's a nice site and you can then day hike up to the lake. A few hundred feet up there is another site along the trail, just above the big Cedars. There is also a nice site at the lake.
The trail is always present, you just have to look for it. The hardest part to follow is the first up through the old cedar grove (look around here, these are some of the biggest cedars in Washington). Take some time just past the big boulder to enjoy the view of the waterfall below you (BTW: don't go all the way around the boulder, the trail drops to a flag halfway around).
It is steep as you approach the lake and you do some root grabbing and scrambling. There was snow in the final few hundred feet to the lake but the campsite was clear (although wet).
You aren't going to find yourself alone at an Alpine lake unless you work for it a little. This is one of the few (Rainy Lake is another) that isn't too far away but is not regularly visited because you have to know what you are doing. Be prepared to work for it, know how to use a map, compass and altimeter just in case, be careful, and find some solitude.
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