Lodge Lake

My teenager and I just wanted to get out for an easy overnighter, so Lodge Lake sounded perfect. A short, doable-even-for-the-not-so-sporty hike that covered it all - blooming meadows, forest, waterfall, lake. No crowds at all. Lodge Lake, however, was a bit disappointing. Nice little lake, no doubt, but very muddy and since there already was someone else camping, to get to the lake we had to traipse right through their tarped-off campsite. There was another campsite a bit to the right, also already taken, so we pitched tent on an over-flow spot. Being out in the forest sure was nice, but that was about it- even without rain, a camp fire at that spot would not have been possible. Should you also plan to stay overnight, arrive early, there are only three camp sites.

As for a day hike- it really is a nice, comparably easy hike close to Seattle. Just do not plan on a scenic picnic spot at the lake where kids can frolic around in the water.