Trip Reports

This hike is so popular, it's hardly worth a trip report, but here are a few things to know. The trail is very muddy in spots. There is still snow at the lake, it starts just a few hundred yards before the lake. The most snow is on the far side of the lake, remains of an earlier avalanche. If you choose to go around the lake it is possible, just be careful not to posthole in the soft snow. If you want a little peace and quiet, go early. We got there about 8:30 and we were the 2nd car in the parking lot. When we got to the lake, we had the whole far side to ourselves. There were several big groups coming in as we left, and by the time we got back the lot was full and cars were lined up down the road. It's nice to see lots of families out! This was one of our family hikes, a long time ago. Flowers: skunk cabbage, trillium, salmonberry, marsh marigold and blue and yellow violets.

This was a wonderful hike. The lower trail was clear and fairly dry. The closer to the lake there was a down tree and the trail got wet and muddy. Then you run into snow. The weather was bright, sunny and warm. The view was beautiful with a little haze in the air. We counted 37 waterfalls. We saw skunk cabbage, and trillium (not yet blooming). We enjoy seeing how the forest rejuvenate itself, trees growing from trees, the large root systems from upturned trees.

Just a quick report on the Heather Lake Trail off the Mountain Loop Hwy outside of Granite Falls. Trail is completely snow free until just a very short ways before the lake. The Lake is totally thawed, with just a few pockets of slush around a few corners. The boardwalk across the outlet is also totally snow free. Around the rest of the lake is is still a few feet of snow. No bare ground around the lake, but there are some large rocks to sit on if you cross the outlet on the boardwalk and then follow a boot path around to the side of the lake.

Monday was mostly sunny and upper 60's so definitely a great day and an fairly easy 4 miles round-trip hike. Only one bad blow down near the lake and it's muddy and wet on much of the upper trail.

I hiked this both on Thursday in the rain and on Saturday in partial sunshine.
The trail is wet, snow covered at the top, and a bit hard to follow in the snow. The view was well worth it, the mountain has mostly melted.
There's a huge tree down and over trail but going around the base was easier than the other options.
Lots of people were there on Saturday, parking lot overflowing.

The trail was slightly muddy in places, but not a huge problem at all. There was still snow at the top, but it's compact and easy to walk on. We didn't post hole at all. Saw lots of people out, everyone's anxious to get out!!

Started at Heather Lake at 945am under a high overcast.

Really neat trail, lots of water, lots of rocks, make for great visual interest. After some pleasantly open second growth, dove into the old growth sections. Wow. Gotta love the megaflora. One moderately large blowdown at about 1.5 miles in, but pretty easy to negotiate. Patchy snow starts at about 1.25 miles, and the trail is fully snowed in at about 1.75 miles. Occasionally tricky to follow, even with a gps, as folks seem to have wandered a bit leaving no definite trace. But really, just head toward the clear sky. The lake itself is completely snowbound; the surface perhaps half-thawed.

This is a gorgeous lake basin, nestled under Mt. Pilchuck. I can't wait to come back and see it clear. Looks shallow enough that by August I expect a nice warm swim. The trail around the lake is completely snowed under, but that means it's easier to just sort of wander. Watch out for the downslope edges of buried boulders - there are air pockets there waiting to swallow you, and they're getting near the surface. The boardwalk is exposed on the far side of the lake, near the obvious avalanche features; some very pretty, tiny lilies blooming over there.

My gps made this 4.9 miles and 1215 feet of elevation gain in about 2.5 hours.


I then drove about a mile and a half down the road to Lake 22, just because it was close, and I was feeling good.

The trail to 22 is much better maintained, but loses a little something for that. Although it was nice since i spent so much time not looking at the trail and looking up at the massive cedars. Old growth here? Oh yeah. Less water on the trail, more of it cascading down falls and rock faces in 22 Creek, which was booming spectacularly. First snow patches at about 2 miles, full snow by about 2.4 miles. The trail here was much easier to follow, and rather less dodgy, than at Heather. Some small blowdowns, but all easily managed.

Lake 22's basin is in some respects more impressive than Heather's. The waterfalls into the lake were bigger, and Pilchuck seemed more imposing. But the lake's surround - the trees and slopes - just wasn't as affecting. I do intend on coming back to see it without snow, and to do the circuit around the lake, but it just didn't seem as wonderful, as giddy and breath-taking as Heather. But that may just have been down to mounting fatigue. Guess I'll find out later in the year. Lake's surface is at least three quarters covered still, and the evidence of past snow slides on the far end is really kind of scary.

My gps made this hike 5.1 miles, 1317 feet elevation gain, in about 2.25 hours.


Total for the day then: 10 miles, 2532 feet elevation gain in about 5 hours. And one mind refreshed. Bleeding hearts, trillium, salmonberry, false lily of the valley, false soloman's seal, bog lily all blooming along the way on both trails. No bugs yet, no sunburn, no rain, and hardly any people.
Note: mapped trailhead location situated about halfway between the two actual trailheads.

The trail was wet from the get go. you hit snow quick and the snow doesnt go away. Heather lake is all unfrozen the the snow is still there. dont bring a fishing pole

It was a beautiful day!
I drove 2 hours from Seattle to hike Mt. Philchuk but couldn't make it to the TH because last 1.2 mile was still covered with deep snow.
I could see quite a few cars parked at there but I decided not to hike Philchuk.
It was already around noon and I wasn't quite sure if I could make it to the top.

The Heather lake TH was not very far from there and, eventually, this trail was the best decision for the day for me.
The last half mile of the trail was covered with snow but not too bad.
I could make it without anything but my hiking shoes.
But, I recommend to bring gaiters if you want to hike the lake all the way round.
Actually, I didn't bring mine and got my boots and socks all wet.
(It wasn't that bad though on warm day!)

I believe Heather lake is one of the wonderful paradises day hikers can do easily from Seattle in this season.

Please find more pics with a map @ http://www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/harris/9008/

It was a gorgeous day for a hike. I was hoping with the lower elevation that there would be less snow. I should have expected the amount we came across. the last .75 mile or so was covered in a lot of snow and you could not walk around the lake without snow shoes. Still worth the trek to the lake. It was beautiful.

Fantastic weather today so I thought I should take a vacation day and get out there. I decided to do both Heather Lake and Lake 22. This wasn't my first time for either trail, it wasn't even my first time on snow for either trail, but for some reason today I just didn't feel all that comfortable.

I went up to Heather Lake first this morning. There is a lot of water running underneath the snow in the last stretch to the lake. There are also many sets of tracks running in many different directions. It's easy to lose your bearings. I started out with microspikes on the slippery/cruchy snow and then went to snowshoes for the mushy stuff. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell which is which until you are on it. I busted pretty deep into a well (up to my hips) at one point and was pretty unnerved.

Next I made an attempt on Lake 22. As Jason said in his report, similar conditions exist on the way up to Lake 22. One particularly nasty crumbling snow bridge (that I'm willing to bet won't last the weekend) pretty close to the lake gave me enough reason to turn around. If I'd had a partner with me I probably would have crossed it. Anyway, no big loss for me. Better safe than sorry.

Like Jason said, be very careful out there crossing snow bridges (or even what appears to be firm snow but isn't).

A glorious day for a hike. Forest Road 42 is easy to find, but very potholed with some rather large holes. We left the trailhead at 9:30am and there was already another car there. The trail is relatively clear- maybe 2 trees one has to skirt around or under. Lots of water on the trail and beside it- doesn't impede your route at all. At about 2200 feet the snow starts. One of our party used microspikes, but one can so it without. The Lake is all but frozen over. Some hikers ( actually a liftie from Stevens pass) were skiing on the south side of Pilchuk. It was very warm in the sun, on the snow, and the sky was oh so blue! Sunglasses are a must!
The way down gets slippery with all the water- one of our party had a bad fall on some loose rocks. Passed more hikers taking ski's up.
Worth the hike-the parking lot had about 8 cars when we got back to the car.

my pervious post was for lake 22 my mistake

hiked heather lake for the third time but was by far the best time ever! myself an to hiking partners hiked the trail lots of water on the trail due to creek runoff ran into snow probably a mile an a half away from the lake which got very deep really fast once to the lake there was over 6ft of snow on the ground we were at the lake for maybe 20 min before we saw our first avalanche of the day across the lake. we were their for probably 2 and a half hours an witnessed over 100 small avalanches . we decided to try an get closer to the other side of the frozen lake an while standing on the side of the mountain probably 50 or so yards up away from the lake we had an small avalanche come down behind us which stopped only 25ft away awesome day of hiking to say the least .

The path was pretty snowy higher up I would have reached the top but I didn't want to fall on the way down on the snowy path if my dog pulled me a little too hard, this is the second time have done this hike and I enjoy it. Going this early in the water falls and water ways are much higher and stronger flowing then later in the season so be prepared for that aspect of it. And I recommend hiking poles if you are going there this week or next.

Getting to the trail head was no problem with snow and ice on the road. Watch for potholes. Arrived around 10:30am and the parking lot was covered in compact snow and ice. When I left in the early afernoon the ice was gone.

The trail was covered in snow and there was still lots of snow at the lake. I did not us snowshoes although they would be nice if you planned any exploring at the lake. I used microspikes and they were helpful I was glad I brought the along.

For more pictures check out http://survivingurban.com/heather-lake-snowbound/

An early snowy spring hike up to Heather Lake on a sunny day is a hike I look forward to each year. Today's forecast of sun invited my Boston Terrier and me up to stretch our legs and catch some rays.

The road to the trailhead was doable in front-wheel drive car. The combo of snow and potholes makes for a fun and thankfully short run up.

About 90% of the trail is snow -- so I put on my Microspikes from the car and used them up until the approach to the lake where I switched to my snowshoes. Some folks make it up there with sneakers, but postholed a lot near the lake. There was about 6 inches of fresh powder, so the snowshoes were great.

The snow on the trail is manageable; earlier in the morning it was crusty, but by mid-day it was becoming more slushy. Again, with adequate footwear, it's fine. I had poles to help balance in the snow, too, but they're just nice-to-haves.

Otherwise the trail was no trouble -- I saw a total of about 30 people by the time I returned to my car just after 1PM.

This is a very accessible and doable hike. It's a fun hike to introduce newcomers to the beauty of a snowy lake beneath Mt. Pilchuck.

First off, THANK YOU to the good samaritan who found and saved my iphone from certain snowy death!

Second, DO THIS HIKE. Now is a gorgeous time for this hike, and as others have noted, it is an excellent winter hike. Road is clear, with punctuated potholes, but otherwise in good shape and any car can make it to the TH. First 1/2 of hike is through beautiful forest; many small streams cross the trail at this time but the route is excellent and hardly muddy. A few small blowdowns. About halfway up, the snow begins in earnest. Trekking poles and traction devices (we had microspikes, and they were perfect) are highly recommended, although most folks seemed to do OK without these. Snowshoes not needed-- trail is packed down all the way up to the lake. Lake is beautiful, and still covered in snow. Fantastic basin with Pilchuck in the background, all covered in snow.

On a great sunny day like today, I decided to strap on the hiking boots and head up to the Mountain Loop Highway, just outside of Granite Falls. My girlfriend and I explored Heather Lake, an alpine lake resting at the foot of the north face of Mount Pilchuck.

The trail starts off with a slight climb through a heavily wooded forest. Along the way, there are plenty of small waterfalls and streams from the snow melting away at the top. Later on, the trail becomes covered in slick, icy snow. Gaiters or trekking poles are highly recommended.

We reached the lake a bit before 10am. Because of the snow and ice, it took us nearly two hours to get there. The views of the mountains high above were breathtaking. The sun was out in full force, making the snow around us glimmer brightly. The trail continues all around the lake, but we decided to just hang out right in front.

Photos and details can be found at my blog:
http://www.urban-trailseeke[…]ip-report-heather-lake.html

This is an excellent winter hike. I picked a great day and time. The weather was outstanding.

The road to the TH has a plethora of potholes, but it's only one mile. There is water on the trail many times for the first half of the hike and a some minor blowdowns. The second half of the trail is covered with compacted, frozen snow that required spikes. I noticed several places where people had slipped and skidded on the trail. Take traction devices and poles. I met six hikers coming out and none of them had either. Snowshoes are not required, but I took mine just in case.

The snow, ice, and mountains at the lake are spectacular. The light was excellent when I arrived at the lake, but within 20 minutes fog started to form over the lake when sunlight reached it. Go early.

This was fun!

I ended up hiking Heather Lake quite on accident- the hike that my party had planned to do was inaccessible due to snow.

We took snowshoes but were able to post-hole our way to the top without them. Most of the trail was fairly clear of snow. Do pay attention to where you're going as there are a couple of forks in the trail that could prove confusing. We ran across one couple who had walked from another trailhead and were lost as they had missed the lake entirely.

When the sun revealed itself, peaking over the surrounding mountains, I found myself in awe. I definitely recommend checking out Heather Lake. Enjoy!

Water on trail first half, snow on trail last half, post holing it last 15 minutes to lake.

The mountain loop highway is in great shape. mt. pilchuck road to heather lake trailhead Is in ok shape. It was plowed, icy and has a few pot holes. 2 wheel drives vehicles may have a little trouble. The trail head has good parking spaces and was crowded when we arrived around 9:00am. The road is closed at this point also.

The trail to the lake is in great shape. It is pretty much snow covered the whole way and has some really icy spots. Snow shoes are not needed but you might want to use some other traction devices to ensure a better grip! The trail is well packed and easy to follow at this point. I used no poles or traction devices and had no big problems. Just watch your step.

Thursday Morning. My Friend, His Father & I Geared Up At The Trail Head Around 8am. Road To MtPilchuck Closed, Lots Of Snow At The Heather Lake Trail Head. 2 Cars At Trail Head One Looked To Have Been There Overnight. Yak Tracks From The Start Really Helped Me Out, But A Few Folks, A Pair On The Way Down And Later On A Few Folks On Their Way Up, Seemed To Be Ok With Just Boots/Shoes. Patchy Snow All The Way Up To The Lake, Last Quarter Or So The Snow Was Deeper, But Manageable Without Much More Than The Tracks. Two Or Three Small Blowdowns (Under Or Over)

The Lake Was Totally Frozen Over, Crisp And Cold Up There. Heard The Campers Somewhere On The Other Side Of The Lake. Everyone Was Accounted For. Had Some Cocoa And Took Off.

Excellent Hike!

We arrived at the trailhead around 11:00 AM to find that there were quite a few cars there, however we ran into only a few people on the way up and down. Several people had their dogs, who seemed to make it up quite easily.

There are several downed trees within about a mile of the trailhead. The trail started out as a mix of mud with patches of slushy snow. We used traction devices from the start and were glad we had them.

We packed our snowshoes but ended up not needing them until we reached the lake, the trail was compact snow the entire way. Once at the lake, it was gorgeous and just lightly snowing while we ate lunch.

Arrived at trail head at 12:30. We were the last group (three of us) to head up. Thanks to everyone ahead of us we found a great trail, mostly packed snow. Two of us used our snow shoes and one used micro spikes after about half mile in. It rained most of the way up, bit we didn't mind. One has to work harder with snow shoes. Took us almost 2 hours to make it to the lake. Once we arrived we made a snow bench to sit on and have a delicious lunch, thats when it started to snow. So we had our wish fulfilled..a white Chnristmas...And we only had to drive 44 miles to trailhead and hike 2 miles to get to it. When we got back to parking lot it started to get dark at 4:30 and there was only one car left and we assumed they went up to Pilchuck trail. Would highly recommend this trail.

We planned to go to Mt Pilchuck today. But the drive way is covered with snow and the parking lot is sliding. So we changed our mind to go Heather Lake. The view is very beautiful. The lake is frozen and the round mountain is covered with thin snow. It's a little slippery on the last half mile of the trail and it's very cold by the lake. But the view is really worth it.

My dad traveled out from Illinois to spend some time in beautiful Washington State and got plenty of beauty on this hike. The sunlight and blue sky were poking through the transient clouds around Mt. Pilchuk and the forest was beautiful as well. After checking out the scene for 20-30 minutes, we were getting cold and headed back down to the car, meeting a lot of ascending hikers on the way.

The view is beautiful when the clouds break open. At the lake we saw water running down the rocks and heard the sound of falling water but did not see any cascading waterfalls. It was much cooler around the lake than it was at the trailhead and there was a slight dusting of snow at the lake in addition to a thick frost. We admired the crystals of the frost in a few different places. There was a dude in hunters orange across the lake building a fire and we thought that looked like a great idea, and we had trekking poles which was also a great idea: the bridges and wooden steps are slick.

Excellent day for a hike, and this hike was vertical enough to get me out of breath a few times, but we were ready for another hike after finishing this one.

From the trailhead to Heather Lake, there was non-stop water. It was either running down the trail, running across the trail or in huge puddles. Make sure you wear waterproof boots and use a walking stick; it's that bad.

Throughout the hike, there are areas of trail creep, which WTA might want to address.

Many of the culverts were plugged, but I cleaned some of them out which helped re-route water off the trail.

The last half mile had multiple large puddles with no place for the water to go.

At the lake, there was no signs of snow and minimal puddles. I counted more then a dozen beautiful waterfalls cascading down the mountainside. THAT made the hike! ^_^

Trail up to Heather Lake is in good condition. Small creeks flowing over the trail are very low. The temp drops rapidly towards the south side of the lake with some frost beginning to form just off the trail. Be careful on the wood walkway towards the southeast side of the lake. The frost is sticking here making for some slippery wood. A few small fish jumping. Enjoyable hike as always!

We got up to the parking area around 2:30 had a quick bite to eat and started on the trail. Going up is pretty rough for a beginner like me, lots of switchbacks, going up a mountain. Along the way we came across some small water falls, splashed our faces and cooled off. It took just over an hour and a half to get to the lake, and we walked all the way around the lake, very beautiful still a little bit of snow on the mountain. The lake was freezing. The hike back took exactly one hour. It was very fun, the weather wasn't too hot, but still worked up a sweat. Enjoy!

Went for a late afternoon hike to Heather Lake. Parking lot was about 1/3 full when we arrived around 2pm. There was a lot of traffic of cars coming down from Mt.Pilchuck - one of them almost ran me over as I was getting out of the car - be careful as I guess it is hard to see the parking lot of Heather Lake as folks drive down from the higher up hike.

The hike itself was very pleasant - a decent amount of elevation gain. A lot of the hike is on rocks which slowed us down because they were quite slippery with the light rain. Be careful especially on the way down - many rocks on the trail are not firmly in the ground and turn when stepped on.

The lake is still clear - the boardwalks have some parts that are broken but easily traversable. There were clouds on the cliffs above the lake which actually made it quite magical. Lots of spots for a (bit of a wet) picnic. There was one spot that had signs that somebody had a campfire there.

Relaxing hike - recommended for a short hike as it will likely get snow much later than the rest of the mountain loop highway.

First Washington hike. fun, easy and beautiful.

First make sure that you have good directions because there are not that many signs that lead to the trail. Once you take a right on to the road 42, you need to travel around 2 miles.

The trail is in a good condition. very rocky, but very manageable.
Sometimes slippery. Ware good shoes.

The lake itself is not that spectacular, but good scenery all over
and offers a good views of the mountains that are around. You can walk around the lake and you can see a distant waterfall.

There are mosquitos so take your bug spray.

Overall, I am not super impressed with the late, the waters are a little muddy and not much to talk about.

The weather was perfect for this hike today.There was not a cloud in the sky this morning. Cold crisp late summer morning, not to many people on the trail at 8:30 on a Saturday morning.Coming back down though was crowded.
The trail was mostly dry and clear with only a few wet spots where the permanent streams ran. The lake was beautiful and serene. A few campers up there. Lots of berries ripening up by the lake.
I saw a pika on the south side of the lake busy gathering plants to build his den. I walked all around the lake and found a little patch of snow still on the ground by the trail and a bigger patch in the shadow of the mountain. Several birds were singing up by the lake but the forest was pretty quiet.

The trail up to and around Heather Lake is in great condition. There was minimal mud or water on the trail.

On the loop trail around the lake, lots of berries were ripening, but I would say it will be another week or so before they are at their peak. Many wildflowers were blooming, too.

Although this is an extremely popular trail, there are plenty of places for people to spread out around the lake.

We got to the trailhead around 8:30 and enjoyed a quiet hike up to the lake before the crowds showed up. The trail is in great shape but it will keep your eyes down due to all the rocks and roots. Watch your footing. There is also some supports on the long woodin bridge at the lake that have failed and caused the bridge to sag. It is stable overall but does have some loose boards. The trail around the lake is also in good shape. The bugs were out in force so don't forget your repellant. This is a popular, easy hike and always draws alot of people so if your looking for solitude leave early.

Had a nice half-day trip up to Heather Lake. I have driven by the trailhead many times on the way to Mount Pilchuck (which is also a great hike) but have never been to the lake until today. I took a friend who had not hiked in a while, and it is a good warm-up for the season.

I was immediately surprised with how rocky and root-clogged the trail was at times, and I didn't remember reading much about this in descriptions of the trail. It had rained earlier in the day and some of the trail was pretty wet and slippery at times. Most very popular trails like this are a bit more tame and level, but it was actually nice to have a bit of challenge on the way up, and it never got unreasonably rocky or slippery.

The lake itself was nice, though there were quite a few bugs. Lots of fish jumping to eat those bugs, and lots of green foliage all around the lake. Some nice scenery up toward the mountain, and still quite a bit of avalanche debris yet to melt out.

This was a good half-day venture, one that may be crowded on the weekend but worth the drive if you have a few hours to get out there.

If you want solitude on this hike start early. We began hiking at 8:30 am with only one group a head of us. Pretty quiet all the way up. A nice easy hike for an overcast morning. The rocks and the roots, as mentioned in other trail reports, keep you on your toes and alert. A few muddy spots where the trail levels out but not too bad. Beautiful, big trees, line the trail. The lake itself is beautiful and crystal clear. The path around it pretty much snow free, only one spot left to crunch over the snow.
On our return trip we met many families heading up with fishing poles. Hope the fish are biting today. I know the mosquitoes were. Don't forget your bug spray.
All in all a pleasant morning. Great forest, beautiful lake, wild flowers. Can't ask for much more.

Plenty of cars at the trailhead when we got there at 11am, but it didn't feel too crowded on the trails or at the lake. Some mud and water on the trail, especially higher up. Though the hike wasn't too long, it felt like a bit of work walking over rooty and rocky ground. Trekking poles would be useful if you're backpacking.

The lake was absolutely gorgeous, with a snow field near one part of the shore and several waterfalls above that. But very buggy! We seriously wished we had brought bug repellent spray or clothing. Fortunately it was a lot less buggy near the snowfield, where the water was deep and clear and there were plenty of big boulders on which to sit a while, eat lunch, and enjoy the scenery and convivial social atmosphere with other hikers and dogs.

Me and some buddies just started getting into backpack day hikes. This was our 2nd ever hike, and we wanted to go check out a lake. This place was gorgeous. There were a lot of bugs, but honestly there is no way around that!

Perfect day! The trail goes through gorgeous old growth forest. It's very rooty and rocky and there was water/mud of the trail. The snow is almost gone around the lake, there's only one big patch and it's on the right side of the lake. What a beautiful beautiful lake! And there were no bugs :-)

relatively easy dayhike which ascends through the dense forest. The narrow path twists and turns, so if you meet other hikers on your way, it can be hard to pass one another. The forest in itself is pretty common and does not offer anything out of the oridinary but the hike is well worth it, once you get to the plateau and reach heather lake. The area is beautiful with mountains surrounding the lake. You can walk all the way around and even stop in the middle for a bite to eat. We had some snacks with us and found some rocks to sit on, overlooking the lake. The water is clear and the snow is still covering the mountain summits. It was an easy descent through the same forest we came from, down to the parking lot. Not many people this day, so we were lucky.

Perfect day for a hike!. Arrived at Heather Lake TH at 7:15-first car of the day! The trail to Heather Lake is quite rocky and muddy, and still has a few small patches of snow near the lake- definitely a hike where boots are an asset. The lake gorgeous. After heading down, we made it a twofer and headed over to Lake 22, barely squeezing into the crammed TH parking lot at 10:45. The 22 trail was a little less rocky and muddy, but quite enchanting with waterfalls around almost every corner. 22 still has a fair amount of ice on it and there is a still snow on parts of the boardwalk around the lake. Both lakes were like glass, reflecting the snowfields on the mountainsides above.

The trail is mostly muddy and wet. With all the rain in the past month the trail has become a path of least resistance for water running off the mountain. Just the same, low top boots do just fine.

The last few yards to the lake has snow on the trail and we noticed that there are several patches that have been hollowed out undeneath causing some unstable bridges to be formed. We went along the east side of the lake as far as where the the snapped off trees are, just before the deep snow below the north wall.

There are are a few bugs out but the cool temperatures today kept them at bay.

Road Closed!
Notice of Temporary Closure: Heather Lake Trail and Mt. Pilchuck Road 42 will be closed at mile 1.5 for trail maintenance blasting July 3, 7 am-5 pm.

Although the trail is in good condition, there is a lot of water on the trail. Two parallel trees are down across the trail, but are easy to step over. The upper portion of the trail is very muddy, and patchy snow starts just before the lake. The trail around the lake is partially snow-free.

Just before the lake, a bunch of skunk cabbage is just beginning to bloom, and lots of marsh marigolds and false hellebore surround the lake. A few trillium were also along the trail around the lake, mostly drooped over from the weight of the rain that had accumulated on their petals.

We had been away from hiking for a month due to illness and needed an easy hike to get us started again. Heather Lake filled the bill. While the trail is somewhat rocky and rooty, it's only two miles each way, although it feels a bit longer, and has a modest elevation gain of only 1000 feet.

Not long after we started out, we heard winter wrens and varied thrushes and saw vanilla leaf and the last of bleeding hearts. The lower trail is snow free all the way to where the trail levels out at the elevation of the lake, and then the snow was a little dicey and patchy with meltouts, skunk cabbage, and trillium. We were glad we had brought our poles! We saw people who were woefully unprepared, some in sneakers and even in flip-flops and one guy in shorts and sneakers carrying a shirt and nothing else, not even water.

Not far from the outlet, we heard baby birds and saw two redheaded sapsuckers going in and out of a hole in a snag, busily feeding their young. We walked around to the far side of the lake and were pleasantly surprised that the boardwalk and the marshy area were clear, the latter dotted with marsh marigolds among which a robin was exploring and frogs were croaking. We sat on the boardwalk a couple of hours eating, reading, and enjoying the bright, warm day and the ambience as numerous groups of people came by.

Definitely worth the walk!!! There were quite a few people on this hike today. The last little bit of the trail had snow that was melting and easy to step through.

A nice short walk in the woods! No snow until the top, then patches on the trail until you reach the far end. There are 2 large snowbanks, larger than they look from the outlet stream. Rough soft snow, lots of postholing. We did OK with poles. The debris from the Sat storm is all over the snow, it smelled like a Christmas tree lot. We were the only car at the trailhead and had the lake to ourselves when we got there. We met a few groups going in as we were coming out, including the trail crew. Weather was better than expected.

This was the companion hike to our foray to Lake 22 last month. We arrived at 11:15 am, with plenty of space for parking. Weather conditions were cloudy skies and drizzle upon our arrival. The forest gave us cover from the drizzle, and we ascended through second growth and then old growth forest. We marveled at the giant Douglas firs and the occasional stumps. The trail was in good condition, but many sections had water due to creek crossings and the rainy day. A literal "highlight" was one of the brightest yellow banana slugs I had ever seen!

There was snow for the last quarter-mile leading to the lake, with some slippery sections. Boots and poles are helpful. As we reached the lake, the rain turned up a notch or two. Approaching the lake, one needs to take care with the channels of water between the melting snow patches. Pilchuck was shrouded in clouds. We turned back to get out of the inclement conditions, only to be greeted by a brief sunbreak on the way down. Total time: 3 hours.

Was overcast as we parked at trailhead, with light showers. Less than five minutes into hike we were removing jackets, and memerized by the size of the stumps that were logged many years ago. The trail was pretty good, even with the fresh run off. We made it to the lake in just under two hours. Sat on a rock had lunch and soaked in the beauty of our wondeerful state. This was an awesome hike and the scenery throughout the trail to lake is magnificent.

Started out around 9am for a hike with the Mountaineer's Basic Wildernes Travel class. The road to the trail head is a well maintained gravel road with only a few potholes. When we arrived at the trailhead there was about 4 other cars in the parking lot. We had 10 people in our party and keep a slow to medium-slow pace which was good because the trail was very wet and also muddy in places. Lots of waterflow across the trail in places. Also, there were several stream crossings. There was snow on the the last 1/4 mile of the trail before and at the lake. I was glad to have my hiking poles.

This may be a popular hike most of the time, but with an overcast day and snow at the top, we only saw 2 other parties, including 2 dogs (we didn't have a dog). The hike is mostly woodsy and there is quite a bit of snow when you get near the lake, but my Raichle boots negated the need for gaitors for me. We didn't make it around the lake (I'm honestly not sure we could have), but it was a great day to get out and hike!

Very nice day for a moderate hike... a bit of rain but tree cover was enough that we didn't get soaked. Parking lot dry and no pot holes. Multiple small "waterfalls"/"streams" that flow across trail but they don't cause holes or too much mud. Beautiful old growth forest and plenty of beautiful photo opportunities. A bit steep in some places towards the mid point of hike but the lake is worth the trip. About .2 miles from the lake we encountered a snow covered trail.

We got a teeny bit lost when we tried to take a "short cut" by following what we thought were the freshest footprints but we doubled back and followed the dog prints as we had just passed a family with a dog and knew they made it to the lake. Be careful of footing in some spaces but in general the snow was very packed and easy to walk through... WEAR SOCKS &/OR BOOTS!

View of Heather Lake was spectacular, water was crystal clear where it flowed to Heather Creek, 1/3 of lake covered in snow still, but nearly 8 waterfalls cascaded down from the mountain above... AMAZING hike, well worth the moderate trek up.

Started at 9:25 a.m. A bit damp with sprinkles. The trail was very wet. Plan on wet feet. Highly recommend wool socks! Beautiful surroundings! Once you hit the snow, which was about 1/4 of a mile from the lake, the trail basically disappears. Though it was fun to adventure through the snow and reach the lake, I don't advise it unless you are prepared. The snow will just cave in. When you reach the lake you can walk the wood bridges to the right for a bit and get great scenic shots. No bugs! Great friends! Amazing views! Tried finding the trail from the lake to hike back, even then we got lost. A little sketchy on keeping on the trail. More snow here than Lake Serene last week or Lake 22. Have fun!

  We hit the trail at 8 on a beautifully sunny day. The air was cool, the traffic was light, and the mosquitos were still sleeping, a perfect start. My 4 year old son loved splashing in the mud and puddles on the way, and was ecstatic when we reached the snow. To my surprise there was a good five feet of snow packed in the higher areas, more in some places, but getting quite slushy. The trail wasn't too difficult to follow, as it was dirtier than the other pure white snow around. Expect some slips and falls for the little ones; I failed to bring the right shoes for my son. Many spring flowers are starting to poke their way out into the dappled sunlight to bring yet another smile to our faces. I recommend arriving early as there were at least 30 cars parked when we left, and only one other when we started. I highly value this trail and think it's a wonderful step into Spring.

Great early spring hike up to Heather Lake. If you have done this hike in the summer, it's worth going back now in the spring to see all the snow.

2 Mile hike to the lake...snow starts at 2,175 feet on the trail. Once you make it to the top there are many foot paths in the snow towards the lake. The snow is deep (6-10 feet) depending on the area your at. Make sure your path is safe...if not choose a different foot path, as the snow is melting fast.

Part of the boardwalk is clear, but other parts are still 5 feet deep in the snow. Amazing views all around with around 10 plus water falls.

80% of the lake is still covered in snow and ice

Some photos of the hike:
http://www.flickr.com/[…]/

This is a nice hike with a beautiful lake at the end of it. There's still a lot of snow on the last 1/2 mile or so but the snowy lake looks spectacular on a sunny day like today.

There are no specific issues with the trail other than it's very wet and snow as you get further up. A word of warning though: When we got back down to the parking at the trailhead a car's driver's window was smashed and the trunk open. Almost looked like someone had been observing people there and saw them put something into the trunk. You expect this sort of stuff to happen in the city but not when you're hiking. So make sure you don't leave any valuables in the car.

Decided to take advantage of the great weather this weekend, and opted to hike both Heather Lake and Lake 22, as I had the previous weekend as well.

The trail is, as is often the case, a bit muddy, even well below the snow. The last quarter mile or so is still covered in snow, though it's not too precarious. Hiking sticks aren't required, but do help a bit. The foot bridge across the lake outlet appeared to be snow-free, judging by the number of people I saw over there through the trees, though it was still deep under snow last weekend.

Bugs weren't yet much of an issue, but likely will be with warmer weather ahead.

There are often many hikers on this trail with dogs, and many of those off-leash. If you're wary of dogs, or have one that doesn't play well with others, this should be taken into consideration.

Side note: the road past the trailhead up to Pilchuck's peak was open this weekend (was closed last week). A slide about a half mile past Heather's trailhead was repaired. The road is in pretty good shape, including some monster potholes below the Heather trailhead.

Short, pretty hike. There's still snow the last half mile, and the last quarter mile has some slippery ups and downs. I was wearing IceTrekkers and was still slipping a bit due to the slushiness of the snow, so I would highly recommend either traction devices or poles. I didn't have too much of an issue with postholing but was intentionally walking lightly in some areas that were kind of sketchy-looking. Getting to the far side of the lake required crossing a snow bridge, which looked sturdy at the time but might become less reliable with the warm weather this weekend.

Like nearby Lake 22, a gorgeous alpine lake accessible far sooner than the I-90 similars. It was a foggy sunday so couldn't see the mountains rimming the lake but I'm told they are gorgeous. 3 blowdowns en route that were easy to hop over. Lots of water on the trail and a few water crossings so waterproof boots are recommended, although I saw some people in sneakers. The last half mile or so is on top of much snow but fairly level; the trail is simple to follow, well traveled. The bridge over the output stream is clear and a nice place to sit. The lake is mostly frozen over.

A friend an I headed up to Heather Lake off the Mountain Loop Highway on Saturday. The trail is quite manageable at this point. The hike is two miles in, and I'd say the first 1.5 miles is snow free, but there are a few streams running across and on the trail that have to be navigated, with some rock hopping. Old growth on the lower portions of the trail. The last .5 miles has up to about 7 or 8 feet of snow, but the way through the snow is clear, and we didn't need snowshoes. The lake itself still has a sheet of ice, but it is melting. We saw a few small avalanches up high, above the far end of the lake. We got to the trailhead early, and yet there were already three cars, and many more people were coming up as we headed down. I came away thinking next year I want to do this one earlier, with snowshoes. The lake and basin are beautiful.

For a few more pics and my blog writeup:

http://scottyruns.blogspot.[…]ked-up-to-heather-lake.html

The trail was in good shape. There were a couple of blowdowns, including one that required you to break your stride to cross it.

There was a lot of water flowing across the trail, but there was almost no mud. There was one 15 foot long section where I'm not sure it would have been possible to stay dry without waterproof boots.

The last little bit of the trail was through snow. The snow was hard packed, and I didn't have any problems post-holing as long as I stayed on the trail. The snow off of the trail was much softer, and you could sink in quite a bit. There was a layer of slush on the trail, so microspikes were really nice to have.

The snow at the lake was a little sketchy. Be careful stepping onto and off of the wooden bridges. Also, don't get too close to the edge of the creek - the snow there is breaking away from the shore.

I was hoping to see an avalanche at the lake, but wasn't that lucky. I heard plenty of movement, but didn't see more than a few globs of snow falling off the mountain. There's definitely evidence of avalanches though, so I'd suggest not hiking all the way around the lake.

Lots of running water over and on the trail at lower elevations. Lots of snow cone-type snow covering upper third of trail where it parallels the creek, causing various detours. Some danger of snow collapsing underfoot and dumping hikers into creek.

I don't have too much to add to the report by Ebenezer Hikers from yesterday. I hit the trail at 5:35 AM. Snow was consistent starting about 2100 feet. I used microspikes and that was fine. There are a couple of places that water seems to be running under or alongside the snow on the trail. There were some wells in these locations that if one were to fall in they'd have a very hard time getting out of. I had my snowshoes but only used them to explore around the lake after I was there. The small bridge is pretty buried and the longer bridge is almost melted out but getting down to it doesn't appear too safe yet. There is one 2-tree blowdown below the snow line and it is no problem to get over.

Pictures here:
http://www.lemarts.com/2/post/2012/04/heather-lake.html

Today was supposed to be beautiful with a few clouds and lots of sun. It was
We planned to do a bit of snowshoeing so we were a bit surprised when we had no snow at the trailhead. We were even more surprised when our snowshoes stayed on our packs the entire time. The snow we walked on was deep by the time we got to the lake, but it was firm and we didn’t posthole much. The lake is as beautiful as always, about 90% covered with snow. While we were there we were treated to a nice avalanche dumping onto the far side of the lake. We then saw something that amazed us. Two climbers on our right ascending a different but steep avalanche shoot. They were crossing from one side of it to another and climbing it toward the summit. This was without ropes and it looked really steep. I suspect they felt their genes weren’t needed in the pool.

No bugs, no mud, and the water on the trail was shallow. There were only a couple of easy blow downs. Near the lake the snow was around 5 or 6 feet deep. This trail is 2 miles each way with elevation around 800 or 900 feet. We left the car around 9 am, hung out a bit at the lake, and were back at the car by noon. We’re not fast hikers. This hike has some old notched stumps, but up higher it has some huge oldgrowth. The visual payoff from this hike is great compared with the effort to get there. I highly recommend this trail.

This was our first time to Heather Lake. The road was clear to the trailhead. The last 40% of the hike was on snow. The snow was well compacted and snowshoes were not necessary unless you decided to leave the trail. The location under the snow covered peaks with the lake below was beautiful. There was probably 6 feet of snow by the lake. I was very happy to be wearing the microspikes, especially on the trip down, though many people made it to the lake with light if a bit damp footwear.

Hoping to take advantage of the sunny weather to catch some of the avalanches off the east side of Mt. Pilchuck, my Boston Terriers and I waited a while for the clouds to clear a bit and headed up from the trailhead at about 10:30AM.

Getting to the trailhead wasn't bad, other than the slushy road and the usual potholes. Parking is a bit catch-as-catch-can with the lingering snow. There were about 15 cars when I arrived and about 20 or so when I left later.

The trail was snowy -- hey, it's March of a very snowy 'spring'. The bottom third of the trail is mostly bare with some extended snowy spots. The top two-thirds of the trail is completely snowed. It's well-trampled, but traction devices and/or poles are highly recommended. I saw a few groups with sneakers which I'm sure were a tough and wet go of it. I'm sure they'll be sliding their way down....

Once at the lake, you can wander around the northeast shore, but expect to post-hole up to your hip frequently. The snow is at least 8 feet deep. There is a snowshoe trail around the lake, but I would stay away from the southern shore near Pilchuck and its ridge, especially if the sun is out. Evidence of some big avalanches is quite apparent.

As you approach the lake from the trail and woods, there are several trails that meander through the deep snow; it can be confusing to find your way to the lake and back to the main trail if headed to/from the west side of the lake. But if you just head downhill you'll eventually meet up with the main trail as you head downward. The path to the north side of the lake is more obvious.

Unfortunately the sun was mostly obscured, but it did come out briefly a few times around 1PM. The lucky folks who arrived at Heather Lake later in mid-afternoon were greeted by what I was seeking and enjoyed last April -- a beautiful and frozen alpine lake, with avalanches rumbling down and enough warmth to lie back and take in the elusive sun we've missed in Seattle. Unfortunately I was back at my car by then...

If you want to have some snow fun without having to use snow shoes, this is one to go to. A very easy 2 miles to the lake. Snow starts a little over a mile in. But it's compacted. Just stay on the compact snow and you won't sink. Fresh clean snow at the lake. Use caution as it's still deep enough to get trapped in. STAY OFF THE LAKE!!!

No problems with snow until closer to the parking lot. Parking lot full of snow and would be hard to navigate without 4x4. But not a ton of snow on the trail itself! Many places were trekked across gravel in snowshoes. Passed two hikers in snowshoes and two without (one with just boots and the other with crampons).

Beautiful old growth towards top of trail - left too late to make it to the lake. Great hike nonetheless!

Forest Road up to parking lot was in great condition. Parking lot itself has a lot of snow and was difficult to navigate even with 4x4. We arrived around 10:30am and made it to the lake around 1:00pm. Snowshoes probably weren't really required until after the first mile. From that point to the lake snowshoes were useful. It was our first snowshoe hike and we loved it. Lake was beautiful and was a great hike for our first time.

Trip was uneventful until Quarry Road outside Granite Falls; roads were entirely covered in snow that had frozen the night before. Only slipped twice in the rig, but drove mostly 25-30 mph up the loop. Used 4wd to get up Mt. Pilchuck Road and drove to the parking area, which had 2 rigs ahead of us by 9:45am. There was probably 3-4 inches of snow compacted in the lot.

15 minutes later, we (1 adult, 1 6.5 yo) started up the trail. We had the snowshoes strapped to the packs, as they were not needed until about 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 miles up the trail.

The trail is in good condition; only 3-4 blowdowns to navigate up/under/around/through :) We 'shoed around the left side of the lake about halfway and had a cup of cocoa and tea. It was snowing pretty good during the 45 minutes we were at the lake (probably 2" or so).

We ran into 4-5 small groups during the day, and were back down the trail by 2:15pm.

A great snowshoe. Some running water, lots of snow, decent grade climb, great for kids, dogs and families. Fun afternoon!

Left early from Seattle and battled snow showers and sketchy road conditions all the way there. The roads in Granite Falls were bad. Mountain Hwy is also bad. Forest Road 42 is only accesible with 4wd. Be careful on Forest Rd 42. On my way out going down one of the switch backs I slide for a couple of hundred feet. GO SLOW.

The trail is in good shape. Above 2000 ft it was snowing very hard and there was alot of snow. Snow shoes are deffinetly needed if you want to try and hike around the lake. I made it about half of the way around the lake and then lost the trail. I doubled back and my foot printe were already completly covered. Below 2000ft under the fresh snow is alot of slush.

All in all a fantastic hike. Views of Mt Pilchuck were non existent because it was snowing so hard.

This hike felt more like a hike in the November Northwest. No snow in the parking lot or on the trail until you get close to the lake. The trail around the lake is snow covered with the only challenge being when you cross the foot bridges, poles help. Found it a little tricky climbing over the downed tree, more so if you have dogs with you. We did see hikers carrying their snowshoes so unless it snows a bunch you won’t need snowshoes or crampons.

Flickr: http://bit.ly/heather-lake

Heather Lake would be our last middle-of-the-week hike for a while. I will return to the corporate world tomorrow, hooray!

Trail was free of snow until just before the lake. We ran into four parties on the way in and there was no one at the lake when we arrived. As per usual, it got windy just as we got there, but it wasn't unbearably cold. At one point, the sky showed some blue and it looked as though it was going to clear up, but it was just a tease. It started to drizzle just as I was setting up the camera for our Kodak moment.

Beautiful lake, a short and relaxing hike.

No better way to start the New Years than a quick hike up to Heather Lake. We arrived at the trailhead at 11:30am. Temperature was 45F and overcast. There was no snow up the forest road and a few potholes. The road was in good condition and low clearance 2WD would make it just fine. There were about 5 cars parked at the trailehead. There is trail permit drop box at the trailhead near the privy so you don't need to stop at Verlot Ranger station to pay.

The trail itself was fairly dry the first .5 miles and then got slightly muddy in places but nothing more than a couple inches of mud. About 1 mile up, there is a blowdown on the trail and our dog (St. Bernard) made it over the log without being carried. At about 1.50 miles, the trail has snow on it and its primarily compact slush and ice. No need for snow shoes or even microspikes. The temperature at the top was about 40F so there wasn't much ice. Perhaps if you hiked early AM there would be more ice forming overnight. The lake itself was 90% covered with snow and ice and no I wouldn't recommend walking on it. I did wander off the trail and close to shore and in some places I postholed a foot or two. Other than that there was no problems walking on the trail by the lake as it was packed down well. We didn't walk around the lake just headed back down the trail. Our total hiking time was 2.5 hours (1 hour up, 30 min rest at the lake and then 1 hour down). This was a brisk hike (2mph) otherwise we would have arrived at trailhead earlier.

The Heather Lake trail was in good condition for a New Years Day hike. The first mile was clear of brush and obstacles. At 1.04 miles, there is a large tree that has fallen over and is laying across the trail. It's not impassable, but you'll have to climb over it to continue.

If you have a dog with you (we did), you'll need to carry him/her over the downed tree with some "creative" maneuvering. From that point on, the trail is clear. You'll encounter snow at about mile 1.7 and throughout the remainder of the hike. The temp during our hike was in the low 40s, so the snow was well-packed. Once you get to Heather Lake, you'll find a great view of the lake and surrounding mountain cliffs. A majority of the lake is frozen (we went out about 1/3 of the way to the center).

CAUTION--- it was very warm, so use caution and judgement if you decide to venture onto the ice. The southern side of the lake is less frozen, and the smaller deep "pool" on the southern side isn't frozen at all. So be careful!
The trail around the lake was in good condition, with about a foot of packed snow on the actual trail.

We had brought our snowshoes, but they weren't necessary at all for the Heather Lake trail.

Great hike on a beautiful day. Previous report dated 12/9/11 is very accurate. Crunchy snow up at the lake. We walked around the side of the lake on the lake, a few spots with water running into the lake had thin ice - otherwise quite frozen. Lots of frozen water on trail but able to navigate ok.

Crusty Snow and sketchy ice starts about 1/2 mile from lake. 2 passable blow downs. Lake ice 8 inches deep in the center. A beautiful winter wonderland up at the top with about 1 foot of crusty snow only in exposed areas. No need for snowshoes until more snow hits which should be soon. Also beware of car break-ins at night; last March during an overnighter my stereo was stolen and headlights blasted out.

The road and parking area is still totally snow free, though there was a heavy layer of frost on the ground at 8am when I got to the trail head. The trail is in great condition near the trail head, but as you ascend things get a little icy. Around mid-way up the steps on the trail are iced over, making things quite slippery (I didn't have trekking poles with me and I wish I had). Up near the lake there's a decent layer of snow that provides traction and going around the lake itself is lovely. Other than a few slippery bits (I fell once on my way down), it's great.

So my Mom and Dad decided to take me and my brother Bandit up there this last thursday. The weather was sunny and the Hike was not to bad. My brother Bandit (Siberian Husky) got to carry the dog pack up the mountain while my Dad carried it back down for us. I think they now do not believe I am a rottweiler/border collie mix but actually part mountain goat. I had fun jumping up the rocks and tromping through the couple of mud holes. The trail was nice but a little wet with a few sinking mud holes along the way. My parents thought there was alot of mosquito's at the lake but I didnt mind it to much. We passed a couple of other groups which I loved becasue most of them wanted to pet me and my brother ( I love to be petted) but it was very quiet and not crowded what so ever. All in all it was a great day of hiking. I cant wait to go out again for one more hike before Winter.

 Vehicle break-ins are occurring on an irregular basis,coinciding with the presence of valuables (car stereos with their removable face-plates in them,GPS units and Satelite Radios on the dash on console,binoculars,high-end sunglasses,garage door openers (along with your registration makes for easy home access at a later time)wallets,purses,and other bags with enclosed,unknown contents (put the contents out where they can be seen if they cannot be completely locked in the trunk (not a vehicle with a retractable or roll-top type trunk lid. With a flashlight it is very easy to see items stored inside through the cracks/openings around the edges of them.

BRING ONLY THOSE ITEMS WITH YOU THAT YOU INTEND TO PACK WITH YOU ON YOUR HIKE! LEAVE THE REST AT HOME FOR THE DAY.

4-Day weekends (LABOR DAY THIS COMING WEEKEND) and sunny days attract more of the criminal types.

Follow the above suggestions and you WILL have a safe, and care-free day in the
forest.

Enjoy you outing and visit us again soon.

Hiked to Heather Lake on a beautiful Sunday morning. We arrived at the trailhead around 10:30 and surprisingly, there were only five cars in the parking lot. You will need a US Forest Service Pass to park here.

The trail to the lake is basically obstacle free with one big caveat. There is a lot of exposed rock and roots on ths trail. When the rocks become wet, they are very slippery and great care should be taken in these areas to avoid slipping. Two members of my party slipped and fell on the trail and we were wearing boots with good tread. Like others who wrote previous trip reports for this trail, I saw a number of people hiking in tennis shoes and one person with open toed sandals. I started counting the number of people I saw wearing tennis shoes and lost count around 25 or so. You need good boots with a good tread on this trail, especially when it is wet.

There is plenty to look at while you are making your way to the lake, including a little waterfall where Heather Creek crosses the trail. This area is very slippery so take care! The lake is beautiful but the bugs are making up for lost time right now. If you are going to be at the lake longer than five minutes some bug spray would be helpful to have. There is no snow on the trail around the lake at this point and waterfalls can be heard crashing down the mountain behind you. There are plenty of places around the lake to sit down and picnic. We saw some people beating the heat by jumping in the small swimming hole near the south end of the lake as well.

Trail Conditions: Well maintained for majority of trail, however some of the boardwalks are getting older and starting to buckle.
Must bring with: Lots of water, bug spray and perhaps a towel in case you want to take a dip.
Trail best suited for: Families, kids, dogs
Trail congestion: 10 groups registered on a Wednesday - would be overrun on a weekend.

In my tour of the Mt. Loop Highway this summer, I have been taking on hikes that I loved in highschool first. Heather Lake is one of those favorites for many reasons.

The trail to the lake is surrounded by lots of young trees. You can see the stumps of old growth trees that were cut down a long time ago. Many of these gigantic stumps still show the springboard holes, which make for neat teaching points if you bring along kids (I didn't this time, but have in the past). Don't let your eyes get stuck on the ground as there are tons of amazing sights in the tops of the trees!

There are many points where the trail is crossed by small creeks and waterfalls, which helps to keep things interesting. Most of the trailbed is lined with pine needles and hard-pack dirt; both extremely easy on bad knees like mine and tender paws like my fat, elderly dogs'.

While most of the trail is a gentle incline, there are many spots where suddenly you are hiking up, up and away. These are made easier by roots, rocks, and steps. Just be careful! A lot of these are made quite slippery by running water. It's a good workout without feeling like the trail beat you up at the end! It was not too difficult for my elderly dog, however our adolescent dog wanted more action and challenge.

At the top of the trail, there are two branches you can choose to go on. Either is great as it is simply a loop around the lake. To the right, you will find the main camping area with several campfire pits that can be used when there isn't a burn ban in effect. Just beyond the camping area, a large number of trees have been blown down, however they are passable. If you plan to camp here, make sure you have plenty of bug repellent and/or citronella. Like most of the other Alpine Lakes in the area, there tons of tons of gnats, biting flies, and more bugs.

On the left branch, there are several areas where you can access the lakeshore and wade into the crystal clear, cold water. From here you can see views of the remaining glacier ice, surrounding peaks, and waterfalls. Keep following the trail and you will walk across boardwalks and old boulder fields. There are butterflies everywhere, some blooming wildflowers, and more to take pictures of.

The first mile or so was a nice gradual hike up some switchbacks. We meandored through a cedar tree forest that had been logged decades ago. There are some really nice cedar stumps that offer a glimpse of the past. You can see where loggers would insert pieces of wood to stand on to saw the log. It’s rather impressive even though the area was heavily logged.

After completing the middle section of the logging road, the second mile becomes a bit more challenging. The trail is heavily used and eroded from rain runoff. There are a lot of exposed roots and rocks, some wet, making it difficult for Ethan to maneuver some areas. On a couple steps he would put his hands on the ground to make the step up. There were areas we had to hold his hand or just carry him. After a series of stops to allow him to rest we made it to the lake in about 2.5 hours.

We stayed at the lake for about 30 minutes and enjoyed the views while eating lunch. The clouds never burned off so we didn’t get any view of the mountain peaks. While eating lunch I remember I had my Blackberry with a camera on it. All the pictures we took are on the Blackberry so the quality is okay.


Seriously? Not even a hint of smile you two?????
Our hike down the trail went just fine. I carried Ethan a lot of the upper portion just so we didn’t lose the little guy on a fall. He enjoyed “flying” down the trail. When he was hiking in this area, he would stop at wet and bad trail sections, blink his eyes (he said those were his emergency lights going off) and I’d pick him up. We made a fun game out of it.

We made it back to the car after 5.5 hours. The kids quickly settled into their seats so we could grab a milkshake in nearby Lake Stevens. Though the trail was in okay condition, it was a great family hike.

More about our hike, along with photos, can be found at http://www.brettandlaura.com/[…]/

Arrived at the trailhead around 0900 and there were already 4 cars there. Met a lot more people coming down though. Bugs not that bad. Some wildflowers blooming. Lake gorgeous. Crystal clear blue skies. Awesome views - mountain peaks, waterfalls. Still a big patch of snow on the trail around the lake. Minor water and mud on the trail.

The trail around the lake is finally passable save one snow field that is easily negotiated. However, with the thaw come the bugs--they were fierce. The trail was also very muddy so leave the white sneakers in the car and put on the boots (no gaitors needed though). The "falls" on the face were beautiful and the sound of cascading water amazing. Lots of places to swim but that water is pretty dang cold. Lots of wildflowers dotting the landscape.

Note: I must say I have trouble on this particular trail with parents who bring their young children up with cotton/canvas shoes, no water, no food, no jackets--two families today. Perhaps I over do it but after a spill on my hike yesterday (dang roots just seem to jump out on the trails at times) it affirmed why I overdo it.

It was rather gray outside when I arrived at the trail head. There were about 12 cars there as I didn't arrive until around 12pm. Lots of mud on the way up. The snow is pretty much gone with the exception of the far side of the lake. It's pretty wet on the ground so the bugs are out but not horrible. I have been on this trail many times. Its a great hike to do when you don't have much time to spare. I would like to thank the gal I saw on my way up picking up trash on her way down. She had almost half a large garbage bag full when I passed her. Nicely done! I have one complaint and I really hate being a complainer. Especially when it comes to our four legged friends ( dogs ). I am a dog lover, I have a dog myself. I really wish people would think about their dogs behavior if they are going to have them off leash ( which they are not supposed to do anyway). A family with 2 dogs off leash had one of their dogs rushing and barking at people as they came up the trail. Not ok. A child would have been knocked over and scared half out of their wits. They didn't have much control of their dogs. All in all I had a great day! The sun came out once I reached the lake and quite alot of wild flowers were out. It was a perfect day for a hike!

We decided to bet against Mother Nature today and tackle this trail - we lost. Lake was completely fogged in. :-( Not much has changed from the last report - upper trail was extremely muddy as snow continues to melt this late into the season. I know this trail is rated easy and extremely popular, but at this point I would strongly caution families with small children. Once you're past the initial climb and casual stroll down the "old woods road", the trail in my opinion becomes extremely difficult with lots a rocks and roots and large stairs to deal with on top of the muddy areas. We didn't try the loop around the lake due to the fog.

Rooty, rocky, wet and muddy on way up. Snow as approaching lake. Trail around lake was doable with caution as there is still avalanche danger on large snow field as well as chance of punching through. I stuck to rocks as much as possible. Awesome views around basin of waterfalls and snowy cliffs. You can really see the power of the avalanches in whole areas where trees have just been plowed over.

I was thinking of my report as I was coming down from the lake with mud-soaked dogs, gaitors, and boots and thought this is not the time to come up here with pristine, white tennis shoes. Not five minutes later, up comes a family in pristine, white tennis shoes.

Although there was no need for traction devices, the trail is full of mud from the late thaw and a bit of slippery snow toward the top. The dogs and I did not venture around the lake as the face still looks a bit dangerous. However, there were great spots for dogs to splash and also roll in the snow.

This is such a nice, quick hike anytime of year and especially during the week to avoid crowds in pristine, white tennis shoes...

We got a later start than we planned on our now "tradition" of a 4th of July hike, and arrived at to a full parking area around 11:30 am. The old growth forest was just stunning, with many interesting things to stop and attempt to capture in a photo along the way, including a lovely little waterfall where we had to navigate through slightly rushing water over rocks. As we had heard (and hoped!) the snow coverage began just after the switchbacks and slight elevation gain, not far before the lake appeared. We were amazed at the coverage and depth, and it was quite slippery in many parts! We even saw some beautiful blue ice under the crystal clear surface of a pool of water to the left of the lake. Also saw beautiful blooming trillium, bright skunk cabbage and several other pretty little wildflowers. We trudged upwards aways in the deep but fairly sturdy snow on the north face of Mt.Pilchuk to climb onto some of the large boulders & soak up the sun, and listen to the crashing of the many waterfalls behind/above us. It was just magical! The trail continuing around the lake is partially under snow but not a problem to navigate. It was about 5 miles total roundtrip (including the lake circumfrance) and we only came into contact with about 25 people (and 10 or so dogs!) total during the 4 hours we spent there(maybe due to the holiday?). All in all, it is a lovely, moderate hike with beauty every step of the way as well as the added fun bonus of getting to play in the snow with the warm sun shining on you!

Beautiful! arrived at trailhead a little after 6 am first ones there! trail is a little muddy and lots of runoff. probably one of my most favorite hikes since i started hiking. views are incredible! forest , streams , and then the lake! speechless. warning we were pleasantly surprised with the amount of snow the last quarter mile to the lake . be careful on way back out and follow pink flagging tape. also caution about random holes in the snow , saw a gentle man walking then disapear up to his waist!

A previous hiker posted a good description of the trail so I thought I would just add a few comments and pictures. We got to the trailhead about 9am and got to the lake at 10 without taking a break. The streams are running full but crossing them posed no problem. The snow is not bad, fairly well packed so we never postholed, and only around the lake itself. Sections of the boardwalk are clear, and we didn't observe any avalanches in the hour we spent at the lake. When you hike around the lake the backside still has a large snowfield, but you can scramble around the bare rocks at the lake edge if you want. Also on the backside we saw a mother duck with about 7 chicks out on the rock. The lake was very clear with excellent reflections. We saw several other groups of people, including some smaller kids which seemed to handling the snow just fine.

I decided to hike to Heather Lake at the base of Mt Pilchuck. I got at the trail head about 9:30 and reached the lake by about 11:30. Water was on the trail in numerous places but posed little problems for hiking. Snow completely covered the trail for the last 100 yards or so short of the lake. However, the board walk at the lake was exposed for a good viewing and resting spot. I enjoyed watching the cascading water falls from snow fields on the north face of Pilchuck and sparkling Heather Lake before me as I rested and ate a snack.
The trail works its way though a contrast of forests. It begins in a thick second growth forest with trees from 10 to 20 inch in diameter. Some of these trees have sprouted from the stumps of the original old growth forest, up to 10 feet or more in diameter. The upper canopy is thick and there is little or no under story plant life in many areas. At about 1.5 miles the trail moves into old growth forest and the change is dramatic. Now there 10 feet diameter trees and an open upper canopy that allows a great diversity of life on the forest floor. No wonder the Spotted Owl only lives in the old growth forests!

Our group of seven was the first to head up to the Lake Sunday morning. The forecasted 30% rain that lasted the entire hike may have had something to do with that. Just the same, the forest was beautiful in the fog and the intense wet greens. The trail is in good shape with the expected muddy areas and water that ran down the trail in places. At about a hundred yards from the lake we had difficulty finding the route through the snow. We did make it to the lake and sat on the board walk bridge that goes over the outlet on the north side. We saw a few Trillium and Skunk Cabbage but I expect that in a couple more weeks much of the snow will uncover more areas of flowers. When we returned to the parking lot around 1 pm the lot was nearly full of cars

Arrived at the trailhead around 11:00am. Was kind of surprised to only see about a dozen or so cars at the trailhead. (Not the same when we came out)

First off, thank you to whatever group has repaired this trail. Dunno if it was WTA, USFS, or another group, but it looked great. All the downed trees were cut, and several washouts had been shored up.

The trail was very muddy the whole distance, and the last half mile had a lot of snow on it. The beaten path as it were didn't follow the regular trail, but it definitely got us there. We walked around the lakeshore to the left from the outlet stream all the way across the boardwalk. We turned back there, as we saw an avalanche coming down on the far side of the lake.

Snow was anywhere from 3-20' deep in places, with the most at the backside where the snow slides down. About half of the lake was frozen and still had snow packed on it, it was the most beautiful I have ever seen the basin.

Just a side note, if you insist on picking up and bagging your dog's droppings, TAKE THEM OUT!! We saw several bags discarded on the side of the trail. If you won't pack it out, them leave it natural, just like the deer, and bears and every other critter does.

We arrived for a Sunday hike on a cloudy day around 11:00 a.m. Trailhead parking was filling up quickly but still available. We immediately noticed that the hike was much less crowded than during the height of last summer. There were definitely multiple groups on the trail, but it wasn't quite the circus it usually it.

The trail was damp, muddy, rocky, and rooty. Water trickled down the trail in several places, and there was one real stream crossing. We were nipped by a few mosquitoes on the way up.

About 1/4 mile from the lake the snow began. I'm not talking a little sprinkling here or there, but a serious winter wonderland. Poles and traction devices would be helpful, but we managed in sneakers and even FiveFingers (not recommend if you want to feel your toes). I would suggest hiking boots at a minimum. We had a few falls but nothing major.

We noticed several post holes around the edge of the "trail". I recommend walking where the trailblazers have already trod. There's at least one large mud hole in the snow area that looks much shallower than it actually is.

Once you get to the lake, head right. Part of the boardwalk is not covered by snow, and makes a decent lunch spot overlooking the lake. I don't recommend attempting to go all the way around the lake. We heard at least one avalanche.

As long as you don't mind walking in slippery snow for a bit, and you're moderately careful, I'd say this hike is quite doable right now.

A bit gray and damp but nice to get out for a walk. Gravel portion of road (only a mile and a half or so) was in good shape. Lots of parking when I arrived around 930am but pretty full when I left a little after noon. Trail was wet and muddy in places and one small shallow stream to cross. Nothing to speak about. Trail has lots of rocks and roots. boots would be good, I expect gym shoes would result in wet and sore feet. Nothing down blocking the trail. No bugs. Snow free till close to the lake. then yeow, tons of snow. Slippery - hiking poles would come in handy. Lake starting to thaw but still mostly ice/snow covered. the normal summer trail around lake covered with 3-4 feet of snow. Went to the right to almost the opposite end of the lake where I came across a snow field that was result of avalanche not too long ago. I did not see or hear anything coming down off the cliffs but was cautious and turned around at that point. Lots of water coming down the cliffs. It was a great view and I am sure spectacular on a sunny day. cheers

Only a few cars when we got to the trailhead at 9:30. There was so good water crossing the trail at a few places but mostly the trail was dry and solid. Lots of roots and rock... a surprise since we had last done the trail in February when it was covered in snow. The snow was yet to come. About a half mile from the lake the snow started but it was packed and easy to hike on. We had on micro spikes but they weren't absolutely necessary.

When we got to the lake it was gorgeous. A combination of iced, melting soft blue spots and lots of sparkling water. We had a wonderful lunch sitting in the sun and enjoying the day.

The snow was thick all the way around the lake but we bravely struck out to make it around. On the far end of the lake you could see the tumble of snow from a series of avalanches. It looked relatively safe, though it was hard walking. Surprising voids under the snow and a certain amount of postholing up to the thigh. Half way around we heard the rumble of a small avalanche high on the cliff. Not even close to where we were but enough to make us hurry and think maybe we weren't as safe as we thought. We'll think twice about it next time.

We made it to the trees and enjoyed the last hike in the snow till we were back around. On the way down we saw lots of people coming up in all levels of preparedness, not realizing the snow ahead.