Trip Reports

Left around 3pm and only saw about a dozen people. There is stil snow by the lake and on the boardwalk. There was too much snow to do the loop around the lake for us though. Temperatures are a lot cooler by the lake, so don't make the same mistake I did by not bringing a jacket! Overall it was a beautiful hike.

Just a brief note to point out that there is still snow on the trail the last 100 yards or so. Based on the cooling temperatures as we approached the lake, I suspect it will be there a while. It is easy enough to get over, but there are a couple of places where people have punched thru it. With good boots and care, you should be fine. A large section of the board walk is clear, providing a great place to sit and admire the many waterfalls coming down the side of Mt Pilchuck.

While hiking up, we saw about a dozen people go back down and once on top there was a dozen or so people still there--it's a pretty busy trail. Of course, parking lot was full, but we got there fairly late at 12:20pm. The trail itself had 2-3 fallen trees (all easy to step over or crawl under), several springs to jump over (one little bridge is no longer in place) and finally, there is some snow at the very top of the trail and on the lake's boardwalk too. Saw lots of little ones and hikers with dogs too. Amazing views!

This hike is very popular, so there were plenty of people on the trail. We had to move over and make passes where we could to keep moving steadily. If you're looking for solitude, skip this trail. It starts off mostly flat and climbs only slightly up until the Lake Twenty Two creek bridge.

The next mile or so is a steady climb on a well-kept trail. Though it is steep in places, there are spots where the trail levels off. The forest provided shade from the sun for most of the way, but there is a point where the trail opens up as it switches back along the mountain. The views on this stretch of the trail are spectacular!

During the last half mile to the lake, there was snow in spots. After wandering through a small valley, the forest opens up to views of Mount Pilchuck towering high above and Lake Twenty Two sparkling at its base.

Full trip report and photos: http://www.urban-trailseeke[…]report-lake-twenty-two.html

Minor blowdowns, but the trail is in generally great shape. The trail around the lake is mostly covered in snow.

Clouds and a bit of rain couldn't take away the awesome impact of trekking out of the forest, and through 5 minutes of snow, to see the sheer rock face climbing up from the other side of the lake. Waterfalls were scattered across the face, adding a primeval effect. Well, well worth the 90 minute climb up!

A partly cloudy Monday - turned into a beautiful hike. The water of Creek 22 burbles and flows all along this well maintained trail. Beautiful waterfalls and views of the distant peaks make the uphill climb more than worthwhile. There are a few yards of snow just before the lake, but it is very accessible. The lake itself is still about 50% iced over, but so very beautiful in its basin beneath the cliffs. Wildflowers were blooming all along the way, and the beautiful old growth cedars are spectacular. Bring your bug repellent, as all that water is also good habitat for the mosquitos. Once we sprayed - they were not a problem.

We may have gotten our distances mixed up - but it seemed much further than 11 miles from Granite Falls to the Verlot ranger station. Once you've passed that though, the trailhead is easy to find and well marked. Nice gravel parking area for quite a few cars and a privy too!

Began the trek at 10am. Not too many people on the trail, probably passed or were passed by about 8-10 people going up, 5 going down.
The main waterfall was in full force! The wildflowers are blooming, and the scenery was gorgeous. Lots of water draining across the trail through trail wall seeps. Also several tree blow downs. One group of 4 ahead of us cut up and pushed a tree off the trail. I think that one was described in a previous report with a description of "take the high side around", now there is no need due to these good samaritans clearing the trail! Still, there is one tree you have to bend under (not a big deal, I was wearing my child on my back and did it without problem), and one tree you have to climb over, which I was able to do by sitting on it (short legs). At the top of the trail there is a lot of snow, which is not as firmly packed as it may have been last week, at one point I did sink through a hole up to my hip. There were usually places to walk around the snow where it looked a little less than stable. At the lake the trails were covered with snow except for right next to where the trail met the lake. Still, there were enough decent places to stop and relax for a breathtaking lunch. We noticed a lot more people on the way down, and the snow was even more slushy. The parking lot was completely full and people were parked on the side of the roads. I recommend trekking in the early morning both to avoid crowds and have firmer packed snow beneath you. Returned to car by 2:30pm.

Pretty full parking lot at 2:30pm, although a number of people were on the way out.

Definitely muddy and wet patches on the trail. Only a few snow patches getting to the lake. The trail around the lake is still almost completely covered. In the soft afternoon snow, post-holing through some of the avalanche debris is possible.

7:15am
Trail Head
One Car At Trail Head.
Hike Up Is Clear Over 3/4 The Way From Snow.
A Few Blow Downs (Completely Manageable)
Snow At End Of Trail Also Not A Big Deal.
Group Of 4 With Dog At The Lake.
Lake 22 Looked Awesome In The Early Morning Light, A Bit Chilly.
Had A Snack.

Heading Back Ran into Numerous Small Groups Heading Up.
A Few "Hello"s And Smiles Later We Were Back To The Trail Head.
10:40am

The late Spring thaw is in evidence on the trail up to the lake with lots of water coming down Twenty Two Creek and water and mud on the trail. There is one tricky obstacle about three quarters of the way up where a tree or two is across the trail as well as mud and snow. If you take the high side to get around the obstruction, watch out for the Devils Club.

The last hundred yards of the trail to the lake is still covered with snow and there are several snow bridges undermined by water. At the lake, the bridge over the outflow is now snow free but the trails going to the left and right are still covered with snow.

The weather was perfect for hiking with a nice breeze through the forest and warm up at the lake.

Great hike! The trail was in great condition. Just 2 down trees that were easily avoidable. This hike isn't easy and wouldn't recommend it for young kids, but definitely great for hikers with a little more endurance! The scenery is beautiful and I would definitely recommend this hike. Enjoy!

The trail is in great shape until you hit the snow where you'll find a mess of downed trees and snow. We went straight up the snow a bit and found the trail was on the left. The upper section is still very snowy, slushy snow that seems ready to collapse in spots.
The lower forest is lush and green with waterfalls, big trees and more.
Much of the lake is covered in snow and so pretty.

This was a great hike for a Saturday on Memorial Day weekend. We encountered a couple of blown down trees on the trail but they were easily passable. There is a lot of snow on the trail the last 1/2 mile or so. We had yaktraks so the going was made a little bit easier on the snow. Be sure to bring treking poles too.

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 hike was about a week ago. I parked by a fellow from new mexico thqt looked like he stole mufflers out of his van.We didnt catch snow until the very top but the trail is wet. The water is great to look at and to taste. Enjoy the hike and hope your muffler doesn't get stolen

Did this hike with two other gals and 3 dogs. We got off to a late start and didn't get going on the trail till 10:50am. The parking lot was extremely full by then, but we all kind of dispersed along the trail eventually. We warmed up and very quickly removed layers we came with, as it was quite cloudy that day. Towards the end of the trail there was a ton of snow, but the trail had many footprints leading the way so it wasn't a problem. There were some holes in the snow to look out for, and the lake was mostly covered with snow. The fog cleared up a bit while we were up there, it was cold, but a beautiful sight nonetheless.

A truly memorable hike to Lake Twenty Two near Mt.Pilchuck on the North Cascades.
There was snow on the trail as we reached closer to the lake.
The scene up there is quite spectacular with lots of snow and couple of water falls trickling down.

This hike is in rapid transition from winter to summer conditions, which have changed already since Hiker Jim's thorough May 6 report.
There is a recent blowdown, easy to get around, but it was at the beginning of snow, and right around there several people, including us, initially lost the trail. Follow the bootprints towards the left.
Plenty of watery creek crossings, but they were shallow and trivial, and snow traction wasn't necessary. Boots were definitely in order though.
What snow bridges remain are pretty rotted out. Watch out for postholing risks.
The lake is almost completely melted but the snow on the perimeter still creates a high bank.
Didn't see or hear any avalanches today. The waterfalls were spectacular, and the old-growth trees always are.

I had to be home by mid afternoon so I chose a close in destination and a short easy hike. It would also be the warmest day of the year so far. I left early cruising along the Mountain Loop Highway to the trailhead. I was on the trail by 8:30 am. There were already more than half a dozen cars in the lot. It was a little cold for a short sleeve shirt so early but shorts were fine. The day warmed up rapidly. I expected snow at the lake but did not know where it would begin. I did not bring snowshoes but did pack Yaktrax. I did not use them. There was more skunk cabbage down low than I ever recall seeing. At the bridge there was a lot of water in Twenty Two Creek.

The big trees are one one of the best features of this trail. The area was set aside in 1947 and holds some of the easiest to find old grown near Seattle. There are no logs down across the trail making for fast and easy travel. At the last switchback before the trail enters the open rock field, I took the short way trail over to Twin Falls. These side by side beauties were gushing plenty of water. The early morning light was especially good. I took a medium long break enjoying the falls and playing with exposures for photos.

Back on trail I quickly entered the rock field. It was only 9:20 am but it was already heating up. No longer any need for long sleeves. From the last switchbacks I had nice views to snowy peaks beyond the ridge to the north. Then it was back into forest for the last bit to the lake. Patchy snow immediately giving way to patches of dirt then all snow. There are a few creeks to cross. I had heavier boots, put on gaiters and kept dry feet all day. Folks with lighter boots or sneakers had wet feet immediately. The open forest with broken trees shows the spot of a deadly avalanche several years ago. The low angle terrain close by belies the steep slopes behind that were previously hidden by trees. Upon nearing the creek and turning into the lake basin the snow went from 6 inches to 3 feet deep and more. There is one problem spot where a creek is crossed.

The drop down is at least 7 feet. Tracks drop downhill to the left and cross on a snow bridge. It is holding now but is getting thin. There will be quite a drop to the creek when it goes. With the warm weather we are having the snow will melt enough before too long to be able to climb down and back up. Just be a little careful with that snow bridge in the short term. The last bit went quickly and I was soon at Lake 22. Bright white snow, blue sky, and that near vertical back wall made for a beautiful sight. To my surprise, There was nobody at the lake outlet. I took a look at the bridge over the outlet. It is a good seven feet from the snow down to the bridge deck. As was demonstrated to me just before I left, some folks are jumping down to the hand rail and then to the bridge deck. Not for me.

The lake is still snow covered except for near the outlet. While I saw footprints out on the lake it is getting thin enough on the edges that it is way to risky for me. I brought a very wide angle lens and for the first time I was able to get the lake and back wall into a photo. I had hoped to go part way around the left side of the lake with the sun behind me. Instead, I started around the right side of the lake. There were a few footprints but not many. I think I was on or near the summer trail much of the way. The snow was pretty well consolidated though soft in some spots when out in the sunshine. It was not a big deal to sink in knee deep in a few spots. I went bout 80% of the way around the right. side. I did see two folks across from me on the left side. There were footprints near the shore at the back end of the lake.

I saw several big avalanches coming down the back wall. One was huge and loud. It did not appear that the snow had made it to near the lake itself. Still, I would not press my luck by passing under those big avalanches. I had lunch in the sunshine admiring the views. After a nice long break I headed back. At the outlet there were now lots of people. I arrived at the lake at 10:00 am and left just after 11:00 am. There must have been twenty folks at the lake.

Starting down I immediately passed groups coming up. One was more than a dozen. Lots of others were 5-8 people. I did not could but I would guess I passed about 90 folks coming up in the 75 minutes I was on the trail coming down. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. I'm sure some were not expecting the five feet of snow still at the lake. I took a short break at Twin Falls but the light was not nearly as good as it had been in the morning. Even with stepping off the trail dozens of times to allow folks to pass I was down quickly. By 12:30 I was ready to drive home. The lot was packed as I knew it would be.

This turned out to be an excellent morning trip. With an early start I saw few folks on the way up. The morning light was outstanding at the falls and the lake. By gong part way around the lake I had close up views of the avalanches and again avoided the crowds. For the day I logged about 6 miles with 1400' of gain. A fine way to spent a spring time morning at a snow covered lake.

I have posted 30 annotated photos on my website located at: http://www.hikingnorthwest.com. Go to "Trips - 2013" on the left margin.

Absolutely perfect day! The snow up at the lake cooled off the warm sun nicely.. Waterfalls were raging and beautiful. The lake was about 2/3 snowed/iced over. Trail was mostly dry except for a handful of small spots with water crossing the trail. Ran into snow up near the top. I did spot several snow bridges forming due to the water flow under the snow. A hiker before me fell through up to her thigh with one leg. As it stays warm over the next week, be sure to take extra caution once you hit the snow areas as there will be more melt off and some of the snow may lose strength to support human weight. Some of the snow bridges I saw had a pretty good sized fall under them if they broke. Still avoid the circuit around the lake.. Didn't see it, but heard a rock fall/avalanche on the far side of the lake basin.

A late start and our lack of condition meant we only went about half way to the lake. Still worth it. There were a number of small waterfalls to admire along the way. And the spring growth contrasted nicely with the old growth. Met a number of hikers coming back from the lake including quite a few small children. The trail was not crowded at all but it looked like the parking area had been full earlier in the day.

Witnessed two small slides. First was very minor, second was much bigger but wouldn't have harmed anyone below. Still, be VERY careful when hiking around the top of the lake. Each slide was proceeded by large booms, rocks falling, etc. The second slide start at the top of the ridge and slide down about 100 yards above the lake. By the time i got my phone out i was only able to capture the last 1/3.

Video link here: https://www.youtube.com/wat[…]eature=youtube_gdata_player

Some of the aprons, lookers left from the bridge, are very skiable and there looks to be some fun chute skiing assuming you vet the avi danger. Current conditions not great for small children due to snow. Snow on upper 1/3 of hike. Be careful on snowbridges as melt continues.

If you plan on going around the lake bring snowshoes to avoid post-holing.

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 friend of mine and I hiked this trail yesterday. It was a beautiful hike and their were lots of opportunities for pictures. Some water over the trail, not much of an issue, one tree that was easy enough to get around, and a lot of snow at the top of the trail. Definitely make sure you have waterproof boots and good traction.

Gorgeous day spent hiking up to Lake Twenty-Two and back. The trail leading to the lake is clear and mostly dry until the last maybe quarter mile or so below the lake. Snow thickens quickly to 6-8ft with a lot of water running underneath of it on the trail.

A couple of crossings will become particularly treacherous as the thaw carries on, people should be very careful crossing the snow-bridges over meltwaters as much of the snow and ice is becoming (or already is) rotten.

The bridge across Twentytwo Creek at the lake itself still has snow encroaching all the way up to the railed section making for a dangerous descent about 6-7 feet down onto the bridge deck. Most people are using the railing to descend which isn't safe. My hiking partner and I used our ice axes to knock down a particularly bad section of ice that people were walking across/standing on to get down onto the bridge.

Getting to the other side of the lake will be a chore, and is potentially dangerous with snow melting around the various boulders and creating the possibility for breaking through and falling onto a boulder. We made it about halfway across the west side before turning back. The trail is not exposed.

Anyway, great hike, trail looks good even with snow. I'd recommend at least bringing traction devices with you, and potentially ice axes. Oh yeah -- there are a lot of avalanches on the west side of the lake, hence the avalanche danger tag.

The road to Big Four Picnic Area is closed. Thus, we could not do Dickerman. We decided to hike to Lake 22. It was a great sunny day. Only met two other people on the trail.

Trail is in great condition. Snow is on the trail but melting fast. The lake is mostly frozen and you will hear/see avalanches high up in the surrounding mountains.

My black lab could not resist swimming in the water.

What a gorgeous May Day for a hike!! My partners and I set off around 9am, and were glad we got out early. When we encountered the snow, it was still crunchy and okay to walk on. I used traction devices, and they did just fine. My partners brought their snowshoes and had fun trekking around the lake. This trail was mostly free of mud, and the spring runoff was minimal. Please be aware that the snow will melt more as spring continues forth, and it will get squished in places. Though I only post holed a few times, I'm betting its going to happen a lot more in the future. One of my partners was able to get through the snow in tennis shoes just fine. No bugs yet, and we enjoyed seeing the lake covered with snow which was different. : )

The route up hits snow around 2000' roughly 3/4 of the way up. The hike up wasn't too crowded.. maybe a eight cars when I showed up at the trailhead and twenty when I left. The lake loop hasn't been blazed but the snow isn't completely stable and avalanches on the far side of the lake keep it off limits to the reasonably sane. Many people were hiking in hiking shoes but I feel that was a poor decision in a few spots up high; a little slip on unstable snow could really put you in a bad place in a few places. Your favorite shoes traction devices are recommended. Plenty of snow bridges and tree wells to keep you on your toes but a lunch sitting on a snow beach was well worth it.

Went on this hike with my wife and dog in the afternoon. Perfect weather! Got some great pictures, my dog had a blast exploring, and the whole hike took less than 4 hours round-trip.

This wasn't the most strenuous hike I've been on, but we did have to take a couple breaks on the way up, which provided good opportunities to take more pictures. There were a few mini-waterfalls that flowed over the trail early on, a bridge was down but there was a way to get around it anyway, and there was a lot of snow up near the top of the trail.

This would be a great beginner-intermediate hiking trail for anybody who is interested in experiencing the snow still and wants to see an awesome landscape of a snowy lake with more mountain behind it.

The lower part of the trail was basically a creek bed--running water everywhere. Snow started appearing about 1/3 of the way up, and got really heavy about 2/3 of the way to the lake. Snow at the lake was in excess of eight feet, and avalanches were happening on the far side of the lake. The lake itself was still mostly frozen.

There was only one blow down at about the 1/2 way mark.

hiked lake 22 for the 3rd time with myself an two hiking buddies an this was by far the very best hike yet there was lots of water on the trail do to creek runoff wasn't that bad though we ran into snow probably a mile an a half away from the lake which got deep quick once to the lake the snow was over 6ft deep. we sat for lunch an after 20 min we heard an saw our first avalanche we were at the lake for probably 2 an a half hours an counted over 100 avalanches . we decided to try an get to the other side of the frozen lake we were almost straight across the lake an 50 yards or so up the side of the mountain when a avalanche came right down behind us which stopped only 25ft away this time hiking lake 22 was by far the best time ever!

As there is a lot of snow on the higher elevation hikes Lake 22 will no doubt be a popular choice for hikers this month. Just be aware that there is still a lot of snow on this trail as well. Many hikers today were unprepared, dressed for summer, and wearing everyday tennis shoes.

The hike starts out easy enough as stays that way all the way to the falls. There are a few spots where walking through several inches of water is inevitable. Wear boots! This was the destination for many as everything changes shortly after that point.

Once to the switchbacks in the clearing after the falls the path goes through some deep snow. And at one point the route goes straight up once again through surprisingly soft snow. Lots of post holing. If you aren't wearing good high top boots you will get plenty of cold wet stuff in your shoes.

As you leave the strangely shaped maple trees on the last leg to the lake the snow is just deep, and soft, and hard to walk through. So I called it quits before I got to the lake and will come back in a week or two. I did talk with a group who made it to the lake so it is possible. Good workout for those who make it all the way.

Got to the trailhead at 11:20PM after work and headed up through crunchy snow in the rain. There was pretty minimal post holing for the first mile and a half or so. There is a large fallen tree that covers the trail at roughly the 1.5 mile mark. We ended up climbing over it, not seeing an impromptu trail someone had made to the left of the tree (headlamp hiking side effect). From about 100 feet past the tree we were breaking new trail in a 12-16" of fresh powder, and opted to put on the snowshoes from here on out. There were a 5-6 gaps in the snow where you have to cross mini streams. There was another tree down after a couple of the crossings. We opted to go to the right of the tree again. We arrived at the lake a little before 1AM. The sky was clear and the silhouette of the ridge-line was visible, making a beautiful site, even in the dark. The way back was smooth sailing and much faster, thanks to the now packed down snow.

What a beautiful hike! Lake 22 isn't a particularly challenging hike; it's one you do for the views. Anyway, there was snow starting about one mile before the ranger station. After the ranger station, there was a solid 1/4-1/3" on the road, but nothing too bad. I got there fine in FWD.

The trail itself had patchy snow cover in the forest, with the more exposed parts maxing out at just a few inches. Once the hike trail opens up to the talus, the snow was atleast half a foot deep, and by the time I reached the top the talus, before entering the forest again, the snow was atleast a foot deep. The Talus was easy enough to get over, the snow has smoothed out the ankle twisting surface so the hike up this part was quite easy. Once back into the forest, the the snow only got deeper. From the top of the slope, it went from a foot, 2 feet, and towards the last quarter mile of the hike the snow was easily 4 feet. I dragged my feet in a few places to make a deeper trench to make the trail more obvious. The trail is easy enough to follow... but basic route finding skills would be very helpful (especially if boot tracks get filled in with snow). Waterproof boots and gaiters are a must, snowshoes and/or traction optional. The snow is deep and will go straight into your boots. I wore mountaineering boots for traction, but others got up fine in regular hiking boots w/o any traction.
 
Anyhow, the lake is almost all the way frozen over. I didn't walk around the lake because I didn't bring snowshoes and there's avalanche danger on the far side of the lake. I heard a couple of avalanches but couldn't see anything because of fog cloaking the mountain. Overall, very beautiful hike when everything is caked in snow!

Lake 22 is an easy, short hike that gains only 1200 ft in 2.7 miles from trailhead to lake. It is a fun winter hike because the parking lot is just off the Mountain Loop Highway so even if the snowplows pile a wall of snow across the entrance, hikers can park on the side of the road and still only add 50 yards to their hike.

The trail is broad, well graded and demonstrates some of the best crib ladder work in the Cascades. There is lots of water on the trail from melting snow and winter rains and many drainages and culvers are clogged. However there are no washouts or blowdowns. Snow begins at the open slope about 3/4 mile from the lake and is currently about a foot deep. It is compact - even crusty - and the trail is well stomped. Snowshoes would be a nuisance but trax are helpful.

Note: the broad open slope is notorious for avalanches. It took the life of a teenager a few years ago Snow is compact and light now, but always check avalanche conditions before using this trail in winter.

At the lake the footprint of the trail narrows between high birms of snow going either direction from the bridge. It is not advised to circumnavigate the lake as avalanches are very active on the western shore. As we sat eating our lunch we witnessed many loud tumbles of snow crashing down from the heights.

Back in Granite Falls, stop in at the Happy Coffee stand across the street from the schools. The coffee is good, not very expensive, and the barrista is very happy!

What beautiful weather for our hike up today. After some rain and snow when I left the house this morning it was perfect. We arrived at the trailhead in dry weather and it continued throughout our hike. The trail is very wet for the first half and covered in snow the second half. You should have waterproof boots and maybe some gaiters but we even saw a few people in tennis shoes. The upper trail in the snow was very nice to navigate. The snow was not slippery and was well compacted.We tried to circle the lake but the snow was too deep. Alot of postholing and my dog was not enjoying this area either.We returned to the bridge area and cooked up some hot chow and just enjoyed the view for about an hour and headed back down.Obviously these conditions can change overnight so just be careful! Happy winter hiking!!!

I arrived to the trailhead at about 10:45am on a Wednesday. There were a few other cars there, but the trail was pretty quiet and for the vast majority of the hike I didn't see anybody. There was water pretty much everywhere, I don't think there was a spot on the trail you couldn't either hear, see, or be standing in water. There were many waterfalls both big and small. Water running over the trail was a pretty frequent thing, but none of it was difficult to cross. The trail is in good shape, with very few muddy areas. There's a bit of snow for the last quarter mile or so leading up to the lake, but otherwise it's snow free. The boardwalk around the lake was covered in snow, and the lake was mostly frozen over except the outlet. I was the only one at the lake when I was there.

Gorgeous hike as always. There is a lot of water on the trail, as is typical for this time of year, but no muddy spots. The only snow on the trail starts just as you reach the lake, other than that it's clear all the way.

We wanted to go to Goat Lake, but because of the snow on the road, we stopped to do Lake 22 hike.
Less than 2 hours to go to the lake, the trail is easy and crosses the river (use water-proof boots!). The lake was almost entirely frozen, with snow on the trail around it.

After ice caves we picked this trail, it was my first time. Trail was lush green and lots of water flowing over trail in many places. Nothing our boots couldn't handle. You could hear and see watefalls along the way, mostly obstructed views but still very beautiful. Trail seems very well designed and maintained. I'm sure this is a popular one for good reason. It's also very moderate climb makes it easy to reach the lake. Which was spectacular right now not completely frozen so we were treated to beautiful relfections and about 3 inches of snow around the lake, we walked the boardwalks all the way around in awe of the massive granite rocks and waterfalls. So glad i picked this one today! Exceeded my expectations. Lots of people coming up the trail with kids as we were done around 3.

Buoyed by our success last week hiking to Talapus and Olallie, we decided to join our hiking friends again this week for a trip up to Lake 22. It had been 8 or 9 years since I was there; I didn’t enjoy the hike the first time. I had a toddler Gabriel on my back, and I think the trip was too much at the time. I was interested to see the lake with a different perspective.

We woke up to frosty temps but clear skies, and purposely beat our friends to the trailhead. I wanted to get a head start up to the lake, since we had an event to attend in the evening, and I knew it would get dark early with the recent time change. It was freezing at the trailhead, and we futzed around adjusting layers and putting duct tape on feet. Immediately as we started up the trail I knew the impression I had over the past decade was skewed. The moss and greenery were soothing, and I really enjoyed hiking next to the burbling creek. We soon encountered our first obstacle in an iced over boardwalk. Gabe skimmed right over it, but Annika became paralyzed partway along, and it took me several minutes to coax her step by step. (When my friends eventually caught up with us, we learned that one of them had slipped and fallen on that section.)

With that conquered, the kids immediately started bickering about who would be the leader. Annika wanted to lead, but she kept stopping and struggling over rocks and stream crossings, and Gabriel had no patience to be behind his slow little sister. He’d get frustrated and push past us, going out of sight around a corner and giving Annika fits. I figured it would be a miracle if we finished this hike intact. We only walked for about a half an hour before the kids were complaining and asking to stop for a snack. I agreed we needed to pull out the food, sit down and regroup. We sat our stuff down and rested for a few minutes, and then who should be coming up the trail but our friends and their two dogs. Boy was I happy to see some friendly faces, some backup for me and entertainment and encouragement for my children.

We quickly repacked our stuff, hoisted our packs, and began hiking again. I was amazed by some of the huge old cedars along this path. There were multiple water crossings that were beautiful and fun to cross. (Annika had a hard time with some of these; she found it difficult to pick her way through the moving water and figure out safe footing.) What a difference it made having other people and dogs along! No more bickering or complaining! Gabe went up front with the boys again and Annika and I kept the gals company at the end.

The grade of this trail is steadily up, with some steps and some rocks and roots to negotiate. It switchbacks upward through the forest, occasionally coming close to rushing waterfalls. Eventually we reached the talus slope, and stopped for another break and snacks. It felt much cooler out here in the open, the breeze funneling down from the basin up above. We could see down to the valley below, marveling at how high we’d hiked already. The tops of the mountains across the valley were mostly covered in clouds, but the few that poked through were dusted with snow.
Pretty soon we continued our trek up the switchbacks through the talus. Giant big-leaf maple leaves covered the rocks, posing challenges to footing. Annika had some struggles through this portion, and her vertigo troubled her here due to the exposure. But my friends K and C and the dogs kept encouraging and distracting her, and slowly she made her way higher and higher. We knew once we made it back into the forest, we would be almost to the lake. We got excited when we saw some traces of earlier snow, some icicles and heavy hoarfrost.

Soon enough we were back in the forest and onto more level ground again. We passed through a former avalanche site, wondering at how far up in the clouds the damaging snow had come from. The outlet creek area looked so lovely, even in late autumn’s garb. Then at last we popped out of the forest and onto the lake shore. What joy! The severe peaks surrounding the lake were softened by a dusting of snow, reflecting onto the glassy surface of the lake. We traversed the muddiest section right there at the lake, stepped carefully on the slick boardwalk, and gawked awhile at the lake. Then we found a spot on the boardwalk to sit and rest and eat.

It was quiet and peaceful there at the lake. We munched on snacks and fed the dogs. It was real cold, and we put our layers on to stay warm. I got my stove out and made hot cocoa for the kids. I was excited to use my brand new windproof lighter, but I got it out, flicked it, and promptly dropped it in the water running at my feet. It didn’t light after that. Jeff had another lighter with him, so he helped me get my stove going (my fingers were getting cold and I was fumbling even with that one.) While we were heating the water, we found a sluggish frog under the boardwalk. I thought it was a bit late to be finding frogs, but I’m sure it knows what it’s doing.

Soon it started to snow, tiny fine flakes, forming perfect shapes. The lake was so glassy that the reflection of the snow falling made it look like it was falling up and down at the same time. It gave the area a magical feeling, and we were all thrilled by the chance to experience winter. Several other hikers passed us here and along the rest of the hike. One couple was dressed as if for a casual walk in a park, not even carrying a pack between the two of them. The clouds made interesting shapes up at the crest of the peaks, the sun breaking through in brief glory.

We sat there maybe an hour, enjoying the surroundings and resting. Then we thought we’d better start back down the trail. But first we had to check out the trail around the lake. We stepped carefully along the frozen sections of boardwalk. We enjoyed the various ice and frost formations. Gabe started grumbling; he didn’t want to “waste energy” walking around the lake. Too bad, everyone else wanted to go. It was cool to see the lake from all different angles, and to see the environment at the base of the cliffs. The ice caves on the slopes were interesting to observe from up close. Boulders were covered with frost. The trail winds up and down, in and out, and eventually makes its way back to the main trail. We realized it was getting pretty late, and we thought we’d better hurry the best we could without hurrying.

Going down was slow, though. Annika had trouble with the uneven terrain, and one of our friends has vision problems, too, so they both were going about the same pace. (This wasn’t my first hike this year where we made a joke about the blind leading the blind.) She did start to get the hang of using trekking poles, and they helped her quite a bit. It started snowing again, making a festive feel in the evening light. We stopped for a rest and more snacks at the end of the talus, and got headlamps ready in case we needed them on the way down. It was getting dim and we were heading back under the trees. We slowly picked our way back down all the steps and rocks and creek crossings. It got darker and darker. Our friend with the vision problem also has a bum knee, and was in a lot of pain, so we were taking our sweet time coming down. It got pitch black – it felt like it was late, but it was only dinner time. Annika kept thinking she was seeing bears in the shapes of the fallen logs and shrubs. We walked down through a layer of fog, our headlamps refracting off the water droplets. Then we were below the fog, and finally back to the cars. It was 6:20. We were the last cars in the lot and we were going to miss our evening class.

There may have been some tears – wailing – by some children when their mom said they couldn’t join the others for dinner, but we were all so tired and needed to get up early the next morning. We got our wet gear off and buttoned everything up as quickly as we could, and drove the winding road back to civilization. Over pizza that night, Gabe said his favorite part was hiking in the dark. Annika said hers was the snow and the dogs. This was our longest hike yet, and I was real proud of the kids for tackling all the obstacles in our way. What a difference it makes to have a fun group to hike with, too. We’re already planning our next outing. We’ll make sure we have spare headlamp batteries, too.

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I've got lots of photos over on my blog - http://thehikermama.com/blog

Lake 22 is always a pleasant hike. Today was no exception. We arrived late (noon) to find a surprising number of cars in the parking lot.
The trail is in great shape. There was just a dusting of snow at the lake while temperatures were below freezing during what should have been the warmest part of the day. The leaves were mostly off the branches affording some views of the creek and surrounding hills that you won’t see in the summer. A few snowflakes drifted down giving a fresh feeling to the whole trip. The boardwalk at the lake wasn't slippery when we arrived despite the ice on it, but by the time we left it required some care.

We started back toward the parking lot around 3:30 and were surprised to see folks still heading up to the lake. They will certainly be making their way to the car in the dark. We even saw a young woman with no backpacks, water, light, or warm clothes heading up. We spoke to another couple on their way up who assured they would check on her well being.

Sorry about the cell phone photos, I forgot the camera.

We didn’t have much company on this hike since it was pouring rain. It was a pleasant hike, very rarely muddy, although there was substantial water on the trail. I recommend either waterproof boots or wool socks to keep warm. The lower part of the hike has lost the fall colors; it was mostly evergreens. When we got to an open switchback which usually gives a good view into the valley, I found I didn’t miss the long distance view (which was obstructed with haze & clouds) because there were so many beautiful fall leaves packed on the trail.

We had expected from the previous trip reports to reach some snow, and we were a little disappointed to find that it had all melted away. I guess we will have to wait for the temperature to drop a little more to start the season of snow ball fights.

Even though we missed the snow, the view of the lake was gorgeous! I haven’t been up to that lake since the boardwalks around to the left of the lake were constructed, and it made for a pleasant stroll with great views. The waterfalls on the opposite side of the lake were huge from the heavy downpour. We stopped for lunch and cooked up some hot apple cider, which was a delicious way to stay warm since most of our rain gear was saturated.

All in all a great day hike!

Our geezer patrol made this hike our fallback after foolishly thinking we could hike to Independence Lake only to find we couldn't even motor to the trailhead thru the foot of snow. The Lake 22 trailhead sign says this is a 5.4 mile RT hike but our trusty IPAD/GPS navigator claimed it at 6.3. No matter - its a fine hike except for a few boring switchbacks thru an old rockslide. Still some Fall color around and some really sweet gigantrous trees to admire. In the last 200' of elevation gain, we went from zero to 10" of snow. With no winds, the lake, snow and rock cliffs all blended nicely into a classic Winter scene a mere two months early. Go do it !

I've shied away from this hike due to the popularity. Since it was a weekday and someone reported snow, I thought this would be my chance to check it out. There was STILL 5 cars when I arrived this morning, but as I ascended to the lake, I ran into most of these people coming down.

The walk through the forest is fantastic. Water is a concern on the trail, but there wasn't any snow until after you passed the talus slope. After the talus slope, the trail had about a half inch of snow that was wet and slushy. I highly recommend boots or water proof shoes and a walking stick.

At the lake itself, there was about a foot of snow, but the trail to the left was compacted so you weren't sinking. The trail to the right only had one set of foot prints, and I didn't feel like making my own trail. The mountain is still snow covered and you can hear avalanches (Yeah I know, this early?), so I wouldn't advise walking the whole 1.2 mile trail around the lake.

I felt that the trek through the forest and viewing the many waterfalls along the way, was the highlight of this hike. I recommend the first 2 miles for families but the actual trek to the lake for adults. ^_^

This is a nice quiet fall hike, now that the stampeding summer hordes have disappeared. The first snow has fallen and the fall color is almost past. There are multiple streams crossing and running down the trail at the beginning, shallow and easily waded with boots. There is snow at the lake, a few inches at the outlet and more at the other end, about 6 inches. We saw a deer and a few fat pikas, but no one else was up there. A few people were coming in as we were on our way out, around 3:00. We didn't get wet until we started down.

Trail is in great shape. A little mud at beginning. The only drag about this hike is where it opens up about halfway in and you have to switchback for a while in tons of rocks, it's tough on feet and ankles, more so on way down. Didn't use poles.
The trail around the lake was open and clear. Still remains of snow with two nice snowcaves, we kept our distance.
WTA seems to have done a lot of work on this trail installing logs and bridging.Thanks

Lake is a bit low at the outlet, need rain I guess. Foliage is just starting. Some frost at back of lake even in middle of the day.

Leave nothing in your car and according to Snohomish police, leave car unlocked. Break in's happen regularly. The first 2 cars at trail head (mine and one other) were broken into on the 5th. The hike is beautiful and well maintained.

Lake 22 is accessible from the Mountain Loop Highway just east of the Verlot visitor center. We arrived at around 11:30 and the parking lot was full so we parked in the Hemple Creek day use area just across the highway. A US Forest Service pass is required to park in either area.

The trail to the lake is in great shape at this time. It is a moderately steep trail but features stairs in some of the steeper areas. Near the lake there is a section of the trail that is mainly loose rock but it is hikable with proper footwear. There are also areas of water on the trail which can make the flat rock slippery, but again if you are wearing proper footwear, these areas should not pose a problem.

The trail around the lake is fully accessible and features spur trails to small areas of snow along the south side of the lake. From this area you can hear waterfalls cascading down the slopes of Mount Pilchuck. We also observed wildflowers and fish jumping out of the lake while we ate lunch on the lakeshore. There were a few bugs around but none seemed bothersome.

There appear to be ice caves forming along the south side of the lake. We saw several parties climbing to them and going inside. I have to say that this is very risky as I have seen similar caves collapse with little to no warning. Please be cautious if you decide to climb on the loose rock around the ice caves.

This was a beautiful day for this hike. Very crisp morning air greeted me when I got out of my car. I was surprised to share the trail with three other people most of the way even though I got there at 8 am. It was much more crowded later on in the morning as I was descending though.

The trail was absolutely gorgeous! It was dry and clean the whole way. I just hiked Heather Lake the previous Saturday so it was fun to compare the two trails. I think I enjoyed Lake 22 more even though Heather Lake is prettier at the summit, Lake 22 is prettier on the way up.

There were several different species of wildflowers blooming at the lake and lots of ripe huckleberries to snack on. I saw a Pika in the rockfall on the far side of the lake.

Okay, not very environmental but I had promised a friend a hike to Lake Twenty-Two for Sunday but could not pass up the weather for Mt Dickerman on Saturday. So two separate trips to Verlot and beyond. And as I had never been to Lake Twenty-Two on many years of driving past the trailhead, it turned out to be a treat and actually, the crowds were not overwhelming.

The trail climbs steadily through nice old growth forest (I did not know it was a Natural Area set aside since 1947). There are small creeks flowing in from the sides and the main Twenty-Two Creek providing background sounds and views of some nice waterfalls through gaps in trees.

There is now a trail boardwalk around the lake allowing folks to get close to an on the snow field created under a shoulder of Mt Pilchuck.

The trail definitely has its rocky stretches as it crosses back and forth on a talus slope. Lots of log steps along the trail as shown in the photo.

No bugs.

A second great day in the Verlot area.

I read that this was a great hike to take out of town visitors on, and it is absolutely true. This hike has it all--cascading waterfalls, ancient cedars that tower over the forest, mountain landscapes along the way, ripe huckleberries and a beautiful lake with a wall of mountain to top it off. It's almost surreal that all of such great things--each of which has been the sole reason to seek a hiking route--can culminate in one hike.

Of course, with an epic beautiful hike comes epic-sized crowds too. My .02? Worth it.

Beautiful weather for a hike so we headed off to lake 22. It's always busy but we have not been up there for several years. We got to the trailhead at 9:00am to avoid the crowds and enjoyed a quiet hike up. The trail is in great shape and overall an easy hike. There is a trail completely around the lake and on hot days like today it allowed us easy access to the snow at the far end of the lake. There was a much needed cool breeze blowing over the snow. Please dog owners pick up after your dog. We were suprised how much stuff was left right on the trail.

Revisiting one of our standard off-season hikes, we were impressed with the extensive trail improvements. Unfortunately, as mentioned by other trip reporters, easier access often brings an influx of untrained back-country stewards; the trash and feces were ubiquitous.

Nevertheless, in this early-morning solitude we listened to an agitated Varied Thrush scold Junior away from us, watched an American dipper feeding and a pika scurrying. The flowers are profuse and this place still holds plenty of magic if you time your visit right.

This is my first hike to Lake 22. I reached the trailhead around 10am and there already some car in the parking area, on weekdays this is always a good indication of a good hiking spot.

I went up quickly through the woods and met with the first grandiose view just after the clearing out the trees. With blue skies, the sun is out on full force today warming up the rocky stretch. There was little water on trail, not enough to make the hike any more difficult. I finally reached the lake just before noon, walked a little on the boardwalk to find a good spot to grab lunch and just enjoy the scenery.

Overall, I'm very impressed on the trail condition. The rocky stretch is the hardest but it is far from dangerous. Wildflowers are blooming everywhere around the lake, and I can't remember any bug problem. There is still some snow south of the lake and it cools down the breeze. The boardwalk around the lake is in perfect condition.

During the hike down, I met a good number of hikers (a lot of them with kids). Go early if you want to avoid the crowd.

I am definitely a newbie to hiking! It was a great hike! The rocky parts were a bit tough going both up and down. Beautiful lake!! I was a little disappointed in the amount of trash that was left on the trail, water bottles, chip bags, candy wrappers and of course the many many spots of TP. The biting flies were out in force today! Bring bug spray! Otherwise a beautiful hike, the waterfalls alone are worth the hike!

I am new to hiking and this was my 3 hike this summer. There were a few challenging spots were the terrain was rocky and steep, felt like I was back on the stairstepper at the gym.. but it was such a great surprise to see the lake, enjoy the scenary, meet some other hikers, it was all worth it.
I came down feeling a sense of accomplishment!
I recommend to all level of hikers, even saw some kids on the trail.

This was our first summer visit to Lake 22, which meant we had to go swimming. The temperature was surprisingly pleasant, an excellent Hike-a-Thon baptism.

Lots of cars in the parking lot, but it never felt crowded. There are so many places to sit around the lake that we still found solitude (but I can imagine the crowds are intense on the weekend). The trail is in great shape and there were hardly any bugs, so go now before the mosquitoes start their annual blood drive!

Skål ~ The Hiking Vikings

This hike is an absolute jewel. For beginners or intermediates it offers great views on one of the most well-maintained trails I've been on in Washington. Two of my pictures show the immense amount of work that went into maintaining the trail and the very elaborate boardwalk that encircles about half the lake. For as much use as this hike gets, the trail is in very good condition.

Today was nearly perfect. Temperature was good, clear skies, and a cool breeze that popped up right when we were sweating the switchbacks. Snow is limited to a few big patches on the far side of the lake that must be navigated if you want to walk around it. A lot of the snow is melting from underneath though so take care when crossing.

Lake 22 is one of my favorites, and it's my go-to hike for taking out of town visitors. I went with my friend Mike, who was in town from Chicago and had literally never been on a hike in his entire life. He definitely got some funny looks on the trail -- he was in khakis, a button up blue cotton oxford, sharp black glasses, and his winter boots. Other folks joked that we were headed to a board meeting up at the lake.

The trail is in good shape, much less water on trail than I've seen at other times. In the first mile, the blueberries and salmon berries are ripe. Most of the wildflowers have gone by, but I did see a bit of creeping dogwood and a few bleeding hearts. The snow is largely melted out at the lake. We made it all the way around to the far side and had planned to go all the way around, but there are some dicy snow caves developing under the far snow field. I saw other people crossing them, but decided that Mike probably didn't need that kind of adventure, should something go wrong.

All in all, a great day, and I think I've made a new convert! We finished our day by having a leisurely snack of chocolate and cherries at the Big Four picnic area.

The Trail is mostly dry. The trek needs a lot of water. It is not so steep, but at times, the rocks make it seem a bit steep. The Water fountains along the trail keep the track cool. At the very end there is a bit of snow left. We hiked in regular sneakers (No Boots required). Happy trekking

Couldn't have asked for a better day to go on a hike! It seemed as if you could see forever. The lake is crystal clear and freezing! We found a large rock on the far end which you can jump from. Along the way we saw a small fish, frog and a salamander. Aside from a few beer cans sunk in the water and bathroom door that someone shot up, it was a very pleasant experience.

Headed up, with hundreds of others who had the same idea, to Lake 22 on Sunday. Gorgeous day but trail was crowded and it took a lot longer than it should have--about an hour and 15 minutes.

The lake was still a bit frozen over on half and there was snow surrounded it.

Great view of the surrounding cliffs from the bridge.

Slightly less than 1.5 hours from Seattle, it's an easy drive out to a pretty hike. Variety, gradual climb, streams on the trail (waterproof is better than tennis shoes, although it is navigable with just tennis shoes).

Lots of people, several dogs (many small).

Perfect for just after the snow melt, early season prep for later more strenuous hikes.

Awesome hike.

It is short(5.4 miles round trip), but there's an elevation of 1500 feet in just 2 miles and thus it is a decent workout. The trail is really pretty due to the Research Natural Area. But the real reward is at the end. The lake was spectacular, half covered in snow and fog creating magic. And to think that this was the same weekend as the heat wave in the rest of the country.

Pacific NorthWest, i love you so much in Summer :)

Started at 2:30 pm in the afternoon. Plenty of cars still in the parking lot. Weather is typically bit cold up there so always carry an extra layer. Trail was muddy but not too much to make hiking difficult. Snow only at the lake. Top of the mountain was covered in clouds and visibility was low. We reached at the top at 4 pm, started down at 4:30 pm and reached at the parking lot by 5:45 pm. It was a great hike!

We hit the trail in light rain at about 7 AM this morning. It took us a little under 90 minutes to the lake and just over an hour back down.

I was amazed at the condition of the trail. Its in great shape and has obviously seen a lot of love. Some water and some mud but nothing big. No snow until right at the lake. We followed the path around to the left but stopped before there was snow above us.

Everything appears to be melting fast.

I really enjoyed this quick hike and I can see why it is so popular. With the early start and the rain and clouds we only saw 3 other hiking parties and we only saw them when we were almost back to the car.

A few pictures here:

http://www.lemarts.com/2/post/2012/06/lake-22.html

A wet day for a great short hike to Lake 22. Oh the memories, my first hike to the lake I went up an avalanche chute to reach the lake (back in the early 70's), memories of hiking there with Ome Daiber and friends.

The trail is in good shape with some mud at the beginning with turns to rocky scree toward the top (near the lake). Snow lingers near the lake and must be crossed but it will not be around much longer.

The lake is still about 3/4 covered with ice but the board walk has significantly melted out and offers a place to eat lunch and hang your boots over the side.

Some wildflowers (Trillium) are in bloom and offered a nice contrast to the forest.

Took us old folks about 1.5 hours up and 1.0 hours down.

Arrived at trailhead around 9:30am with members from the Mountaineers Basic Wilderness Travel course. The trailhead is right off the Mountain Loop Highway, so easy in and out. There is a nice size parking lot and a privy. There was about 10 other cars when we arrived.

This was a fun hike but beware that there is a lot of water on the trail with many easy little creeks to cross. So it is a bit muddy in places.

There are some amazing waterfalls along the trail. The sound of the rushing water can be heard most of the hike and is quite relaxing.

We got to the lake around noon. The ascent wasn't that difficult with a few areas with some steep switchbacks. But the trail is well maintained so it isn't bad.

There is snow the last 1/8 of mile of the trail and on much of the trail around the lake. However, we were able to find a nice spot between snow patches to stop and have lunch.

We got stuck in a thunderstorm on the way back down with heavier than usual rain for the PNW. I was glad I had my rain gear and that we were more than half way down when it hit.

There was downed trees and electric wires back to Granite Falls on the Mountain Loop Highway. Although we didn't get the full blunt of the thunderstorm while hiking in the woods, it apparently was a strong one, strong enough to put a Douglas fir across the road. Luckily, by the time we reached it, we only had to wait a short time for the road to get cleared.

This is a great hike. I'd like to return on a sunnier day when I can see the mountains above the lake and enjoy walking around the length of the lake.

Awesome day for this trail! It's pretty muddy on the way, and there's snow on the trail the last 50 meters or so. Lots of little creeks to see on the way. Waterfalls at the top going into Lake 22.

The snow on the trail is passable. You don't really need trekking poles for it, but they could help. There is about 3 feet or so of snow covering the boardwalk all the way around the lake.

The lake 22 hike is a really good hike for kids,it is about 5.4 miles long.At the starting it is slushy and wet.There are huge rocks all along the way.You might want to be watchful of wide streams and loose rocks.As you get nearer to the top you will see snow.From late november to early july the lake is frozen.At spring the layer of ice on the lake is very thin so be careful.Caution!there is no board walk bordering the lake from early winter to spring because it is covered with snow.enjoy!!


Kartik & Mahi

     We arrived at the trail head about 8:30 am just a couple of cars already there. Very overcast and foggy day which may explain the lack of people today.
     It was a great hike in spite of the weather. Big, tall trees, many waterfalls along the way. Views were minimal because of the fog, but it did begin to lift as we had a snack at the lake.
     Trail is in great condition other than the multiple small stream crossings which were easy to get across. Snow starts as you near the lake, but easy to find your way, although it is starting to get soft.
     I enjoyed this hike very much and will have to revisit it on a clear day and experience the crowds I hear it attracts.
     

very wet, snow last 1/2 mile, lake still frozen

There is another trip report from today. I am putting this up to add more photos. I was on the trail at about the same time as the other trip report. Headed up the trail about 8:15am. We pasted a couple of people on the way up and only saw three other people at the top. The snow on the trial is only on the final quarter mile. Watch for post holing when you get near the streams under the snow. This will be more of a problem over the next few days and weeks as the weather warms.
The rest of the trail is in great shape. There is a lot of water on the trail, but always flowing on rocks. So it is good to wear hiking boots right now. Tennis shoes may get wet. Oh, and on the way down we saw about 75 people coming up, and maybe 10 dogs.

This was perhaps the most awful hike yet, on par with climbing to the top of Mount Pilchuck on a clear summer day. The trail was in quite walkable condition, forcing us to drag ourselves along, despite the auditory assault of the Stillagaumish River at the outset of the trail, followed by the rapids and unending waterfalls, both large and small, of 22 Creek and its tributary system. We could not escape from the rushing waters, occasionally exposing us to droplets of water that caught the sun or powerful waterfalls that exuded a sinister, aqueous mist. Ancient giant cedars (Thuja plicata, actually a cypress species) ominously loomed over us.

As we ascended, our eyes were offended by snowcaps and moutain peaks such as Three Fingers. Climbing farther along the trail, where we reached somewhat mushy but packed snow (poles were helpful) over the last quarter-mile, we averted our eyes from the snow-covered hillsides, intermittent wildflowers, and skunk cabbage that marred the trail. We reached the lake, and stopped for a few moments at the bridge across 22 Creek to use our cameras to document the visual insult afforded by the eastern flank of Mount Pilchuck towering over the partially snow-covered lake. We were witnesses to avalanches on the flank of Pilchuck, marked by thunderous booms followed by cascading spouts of snow. As the boardwalk was covered by several feet of snow, we were mercifully spared the loop around the lake.

To summarize: no buildings, odorless air, no sirens, no car horns, no yelling, no traffic lights, hideous views, and even worse company. At least there were cars in the parking lot (we did this in the afternoon, starting at 3 pm, and parking was available). We'll have to go back sometime this summer to see if Heather Lake is as bad as this one. The photos bear witness to the nature of our experiences. Other reports from May 26 provide the image of Pilchuck rising above and reflected in the lake, so I omitted it here. Gluttons for punishment, check out Thuja plicata in the May 2012 photo gallery: http://www.wta.org/[…]/view

Arrived a little bit after 8am and there were only five other cars in the parking lot. For the first 1.5 miles I did not see anyone else, which was very enjoyable with the constant flow of the water near the trail. As I was going up, there were frequent spots of water flowing down from the snow melt. Because of this, expect to get your shoes a little wet as you trek up. The trail was snow free until the last half mile, but even then it was pretty easy to hike, I did not have any hiking poles and made it fine.

The view was fantastic and the lake is still almost completely covered with snow. On the way back down, the bugs started to arrive but they were not to bad. There were at 30-40 groups going up, many with dogs even though THIS IS A NO DOG TRAIL. Many were letting their dogs run around free, very annoying and disrespectful.

Finishing the hike around 1030, the parking lot was full and cars were almost parked to the main road.

I got to the trail head early in hopes of beating the crowd on this popular trail and I was not disappointed. I was car number 4 when I arrived shortly after 9 am and 2 more cars arrived while I was getting ready to go. On the way up I saw only one person and had the trail to myself. At the lake there was a small group and a few more arrived while I was there. The trail was busy on my way back down so don't expect any solitude unless you go early.

It was a great morning for a hike on this mossy, green trail with lots of sunshine filtering between the trees. Twenty-two Creek was loud and full with runoff and its many waterfalls were a sight to be seen. Further up the clear skies offered great views across the valley on the switch backs and the lake basin was bright with lots of snow still lingering. The lake remains mostly frozen but is somewhat thawed near the outlet. I was glad to have my sunglasses at the top. The trail presents no major hazards at this time but there are creek crossings and a few feet of snow cover the last 1/2 mile or so to the lake. The snow is soft and I did post hole a couple times going up and once going down. My poles were handy on the snow but you could make due without. I love this beautiful trail and all its big trees, a great hike and close to home in Lake Stevens.

Another early morning hike and glad we did it early as it started to sprinkle just as we finished around 10:30am. The trail is in great condition. The waterfalls are in full force. Last 1/4 mile is still under snow as is most of the lake. We used Yaktrax to go over the snow. Pilchuck stands majestically over the lake. We also saw some waterfalls trickling from the mountain face. That was quite a sight. Probably another month before the whole lake melts out.

Stats:
Time to Lake: 1:20
Car to Car: 2:25
Elevation Gain: 1350ft
Distance: 5.4 Miles (RT)

This fantastic Spring hike should be an annual event. It’s less than 2 1/2 miles to the lake and most of that trek is through ancient forest with giantic Red Cedars. At 2 miles you do exit the forest and traverse an open slope with great views. Today the hummingbirds entertained us with their courtship ritual of climbing steeply into the air then diving rapidly back down to the ground, making this walk through the Vine Maples a delight. 4 feet of snow surround the lake and snow is still present the last 1/4 mile to and from the lake so hiking poles are recommended. Marshmallow pillows of snow still remain on Lake Twentytwo creek as it exits the lake, reminding me that summer hikes are just around the corner along with campfires and s’mores.

We headed out pretty early to get to Independence Lake, it is a pretty decent drive out. We got to the dirt road and went about 3.5 miles and then there was snow covering the road. It was pretty deep and my little car couldn't make it over it. I would have parked my car on the side but the road is VERY narrow and wouldn't have left room for others cars to pass. We then back tracked down to the highway and tried Deer Creek, got about 2 or so miles in and same thing lots of snow covering the road. Same thing with Boardman Lake and Ashland Lake. We then gave up on doing a new trail and went to Lake Twenty Two. It is a lovely trail but very busy with other people and their pets. There is still snow on the trail, trekking poles and yaktraks highly recommended. Overall it was a great day to hike, and at least we got to see the beautiful lake once again. It was nice seeing the difference of what two weeks of sunshine had done to the snow.

 The hike itself was beautiful with snow at the last 1/4 mile and at the lake. At the lake, we passed 5 young men (early 20's) with a small black dog smoking marijuana. The bummer was when we returned to our car, we found the backseat window smashed in with a rock. Nothing was missing other than an empty bag I had hidden under the driver's seat. While I'd like to say the joke was on them, the amount of damage to my car was significant. I'm not sure if it was that group of guys who vandalized my car, but it does seem coincidental that we were the only people on the trail.

As my workload has been light, I've been trying to go on midweek hikes to avoid the crowds. Last Tuesday, I hiked Wallace Falls and my dog (who was on leash) was attacked by a very large off leash Boxer. I'm wondering if anyone has had similar mid-week hike experiences and if perhaps dealing with the crowds is safer than seeking solitude.

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.

As usual, this trail is enjoyable, moreso than the nearby Heather Lake (in my opinion). The last quarter mile plus is still under snow, but it's not too difficult to navigate. Hiking sticks aren't a must, but they do help. The bridge across the lake outlet is free of snow, a great place to chill & have a snack before heading back down the trail. The whole lake's banks are still under of plenty of snow, so hiking around it is possible, though perhaps not advisable -- plenty of snow was still tumbling down off Pilchuck when I was there last weekend. About 3/4 of the lake is still under snow.

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. Get to the trailhead early on warm days -- it fills up with cars fast.

Lots of snow on the trail about the last 1/4 of a mile and its definitely hikeable. It was worth the trip. Everyone should do this hike at least once! The lake was frozen over except maybe 5% of it near the outlet. The avalanche field was full, and all the larbe rocks were buried. The waterfall was raging.

Relatively close to Seattle, this is a great hike. There is a variety to the trail, including some views of snow-peaked mountains, forest hiking, sunny hiking, and a stunningly beautiful lake graced by a 2500 cliff on one side. There was, indeed, snow on the last 1/2 mile or so, but hiking boots were sufficient (I did see tennis shoes and was not jealous!), gaiters would be a good idea if you plan on hiking around the lake much. Sito's trip report from May 6 is still accurate and offers some great photos. Very dog friendly. Although I didn't hike with kids, I saw a couple of troopers out there.

The Mountain Loop Highway is still closed 11 past Verlot, so our destination (Mount Dickerman) was out. We opted for Lake 22 instead. The views of the surrounding peaks on the way up were great with the recent snow and blue skies. The trail is in great shape. Snow last 1/4 mile with occasional snow bridge over stream. There is about 4 feet of snow at the lake, maybe 4 inches new. The lake is frozen and snow covered with some areas melting out on the perimeter. Views at the lake were beautiful (I rarely go to lakes on clear days). We watched and listened to rock and snow fall from the high ridges and peaks which were tremendous since the recent heavy snow. The avy forecast was high above 5,000 ft for soft snow and slab avalanches. In the warm sun there were slides approaching the lake shores which helped with our decision not to snow shoe around the lake. With all the evidence of slides, Dickerman was probably not the best choice today after all.

Updated image gallery of this hike: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/

Ok, after I did not make it to the top last weekend (see previous trip report) I had to come back today and finally see the lake. I could not have picked a better day, it was spectacular. There is still a lot of snow at the lake and on this sunny day the scene was amazing, we also had some great views of some other snow-covered peaks from the trail. This is such a great trail. Conditions were still pretty much the same as I wrote in last week's trip report, I'd recommend trekking poles for the snow on the last half-mile or so but, as usual, I did even see a person in canvas sneakers :-)

Some pictures from the hike: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/

This is a great hike but unfortunately we did not make it all the way to the lake because my friend was wearing sneakers and once we ran into snow we decided to turn around. I was wearing boots and had no problem at all but then you don't want your friends to fall down some rock. The trail is quite rocky with lots of water everywhere but other parts are really nicely maintained. Definitely wear boots but if you do you should be ok. I reckon we were maybe half a mile or so form the lake when the snow started but it's definitely doable if you wear the right shoes and maybe use poles as well. The old growth forest is beautiful and once the fog cleared so were the views along the trail, I'll definitely be back here soon!

This is perhaps the most beautiful alpine lake I have ever encountered and I've been to many. Very accessible this early in the year, while those along I-90 are still well snowed in. Great views in an open portion that was after the majority of the altitude gain. The lake is frozen over w/ a small portion open, the shores snow covered. Many great waterfalls. One warning. The last half mile or so is snow covered with many water crossings and water on the trail. Although I did see more than a few people hiking in sneakers, waterproof boots and gaters along w/ treking poles are highly recommended. I did not use any traction devices since it was fairly level where there was snow. The lake basin is all snowed in so bring something to sit on but the bridge is now clear for the most part. We made a small packed down area and sat on jackets and it was wonderful. My first time here, and it is now very high on my list.

Hiked Lake 22 today. It was a great day with sun and temps in the 60s. When we first started out we saw a lot of waterfalls--and the waterfalls are really running right now from all the snow melt. In some places the water can be several inches deep on the trail, particularly near the waterfalls, so keep this in mind. Nothing major, just FYI.

As we got higher we didn't hit snow until about the time of the ridge top views. We started hitting patchy snow just before the first ridge top views, but the snow didn't become consistant until the end of the ridge top views at which point it was a very slushy snow, a little slippery but well packed by previous hikers and so nothing too dangerous. The ridge views were great...the mountains you can see from the ridges have lots of snow on them right now and so are really pretty.

The last part of the high had a lot of snow but is well compacted and one can tell there hasn't been any fresh snow in a long time. There is probably still about 4 feet of snow at the lake, but you won't sink because it is compacted.

Today, we were the first ones to go around the lake. We weren't able to use the boardwalk as it is still obscured by the snow. We could hear the thundering of avalanches coming down from Mt Pilchuck and the surrounding mountains but the avalanches were high enough up to not constitute any real danger down at the lake.

Again it was a beautiful day, and the mountains around the lake and the waterfall and mountain views on the way up are breath-taking!

There is still a bunch of slushy snow on the majority of this trail. Microspikes are key - snowshoes are overkill.

Very easy and quick hike - round trip plus 30 min rest at the top = 4 hours total. Very nice afternoon nature stroll. :)

Went up Lake Twenty-Two on Saturday. Trail was clear for the first 2/3, after which it is was all snow. The snow is melting fast. We packed snowshoes, but didn't use them, as the path was rather clear.

The first two-thirds is terrific, with huge cedars and waterfalls. This hike though was special because of the snow, typically 8 feet or more deep. It was soft, as it was a warm day. We punched through a few times. There was one melted ice bridge near the lake, which required negotiations. The melting snow along the creek bed looked like the cuts of water worn canyons.

The lake itself was frozen, except by the outlet. Absolutely gorgeous, with the back mountain wall forming a white cirque above the lake.

The trip was a success. I understand many people hike this lake during the summer. Highly recommend going at this time of year, or earlier. Particularly cool to be the first to arrive, as we did see some 50 people or so coming up as we were going down.

My blog write-up, with a few more details:

http://scottyruns.blogspot.com/2012/04/lake-twenty-two.html

We took advantage of the beautiful day to hike up this favorite trail.

The parking lot is nearly clear of snow. We put on gaiters knowing the upper half of the trail is all snow.

The lower half of the trail has some snowy patches and it's all easily managed. About halfway up we put on our much-appreciated Microspikes as the trail turned completely over to snow.

Beautiful vistas of Liberty Mountain and Three Fingers are apparent across the valley as you cross the open area and its switchbacks. The relatively even snow is easy to navigate with the added traction, in fact it's almost easier to hike than the rocky trail a few feet beneath the snow.

As you transition out of the clearing you will cross over some seasonal avalanches -- so be aware that you are hiking through active avalanche areas.

The trail gets a little confusing as you enter the final outlet funnel toward the lake, 2 miles from the trailhead. It's clear that many hikers got turned around, so much so that there are many trampled path options to confuse you. Just bear to the east and you should be able to find the right track.

The lake is mostly frozen except near the outlet. When the sun comes out you'll probably see and hear some good-sized avalanches on the far side of the lake. Definitely would not want to risk a hike around those areas. The bridge across the outlet stream has 8 feet of snow on it, and it's too precipitous to consider crossing right now.

Lake 22 is beautiful and very accessible this time of year, just like neighboring Heather Lake. But I'd pick 22 over Heather any day -- it offers old-growth trees, several waterfalls, vistas, and a good-sized alpine lake to sit and enjoy. Bring something waterproof and warm to sit on because you will definitely want to sit and enjoy it for a while.

We have a cabin a little ways up the road from the trailhead and we allways drive by the trail but I finally found an open day to actually hike it.

The parking lot had some snow in it, but there were still some open parking spaces. Me and a buddy got there around 10am and there was only one other car there. Although we did see a few more people coming up on our way down.

The Lake 22 trail really is a fantastic hike. There are tons of huge trees and 3 or 4 big waterfalls to gawk at. The trail is never too steep or harsh, very well maintained. The view at the end is VERY well worth it, it has a huge verticle cliff soaring over 100 feet high at one side of the lake, very beautiful with snow. Cool factor; avalanches run down the cliff face and you can see and hear them, its amazing! This haoppened twice while we were up there which was only about 22 minuets.

The hike started out with very minimal snow but got to over 6 feet deep at the top. Luckily it was hard packed so it was easy to walk on. It is melting very fast though and will most likly be gone soon. Also, the lake is still 95% frozen so you dont have to bring a fishing pole.

If you plan to hike here any time soon, bring extra socks! I was wearing water-proof boots but my feet still got soaked because of the wet snow filling up the boots from the top when I sank down in it, despite my best efforts to keep that from happening.

This hike is well worth the mere 2.7 miles to the top, the view of the surrounding mountain peaks on one part of the trail is fantastic and the end is equally as amazing. Even though this was my first time on this hike, it turned out to be one of my favourites, I will definatly be back to Lake 22, hopfully once the lake unfreezes, and I will be sure to bring my fishing pole.

 This was an excellent way to start off this year's hiking season. Clear skies, clean snow, and a cacophony of wonderful bird chatter. Having hiked this trail at least a dozen times I was not expecting a whole lot, however I've never done it this early in the season, only one set of boots before the 2 of us, it was an absolutely serene winter wonderland, much of the cliffs of the cirque Lake 22 resides in are still covered in snow and at least 95% of the lake frozen over, (along with the entire trail), this was a great new way to experience an "old" hike. Snowshoes could have helped, hiked from 4pm to 8pm and had very soft snow underfoot. Great hike! Walking ontop of 6 feet of snow on top of the bridge and cooking up some "Great Value" ravioli in such a peaceful environment sure was incredible.

Not one to waste a sunny winter day, I decided to risk being fried by charged particles streaming down at 4,000,000 mph from last night's coronal mass discharge. And I survived! Though not without a bit of sunburn, the first of the season.

I expected snow on the trail, but not as much as I actually found. Even the parking lot, just a few feet from the paved Mountain Loop Highway, was buried over a foot deep in snow like concrete, so cars ended up parking down near the road. I expect the snow will mostly melt out in the next few days so parking will be available for the weekend.

The trail, even though buried under snow right from the trailhead, is in pretty good shape. There's only one blowdown, but you could ride a horse under it. The snowy trail has been trodden down by boots, but with repeated thaw/freeze cycles has become quite icy and slippery. I put on Microspikes just a few feet up the trail. These are great little traction devices and work better in heavy wet snow than crampons, which tend to grow giant snowblobs underneath and become useless five pound weights, and they don't have toe points to catch on rocks and stab you in the calf. After slip-sliding on the ice, I always feel like I've just acquired a new superpower after donning these ("able to leap icy rocks at a single bound").

As I trudged up the rockslide area, the snow got deeper but the view was excellent. Liberty Mountain dominmates the skyline here, and Three Fingers peeks up behind Green Mountain.

The stretch between the rockslide and the lake is somewhat less boot-beaten; apparently many hikers turn around after taking in the view. And the snow is much deeper here, with several somewhat tricky creek crossings along the way. So a bit of persistence was required to reach the lake, but the effort was well worth it.

Arriving at Lake Twenty-two, I carved out a snow chair and sat back to enjoy the view. It was idyllic - copious sunshine, pristine snow-covered landscape, and no wind whatsoever. It was that just-short-of-perfection day we hope for every time we hit the trail.

We have a cabin a little ways up the road from the trailhead and we allways drive by the trail but I finally found an open day to actually hike it.

The parking lot had some snow in it, but there were still some open parking spaces. Me and a buddy got there around 10am and there was only one other car there. Although we did see a few more people coming up on our way down.

The Lake 22 trail really is a fantastic hike. There are tons of huge trees and 3 or 4 big waterfalls to gawk at. The trail is never too steep or harsh, very well maintained. The view at the end is VERY well worth it, it has a huge verticle cliff soaring over 100 feet high at one side of the lake, very beautiful with snow. Cool factor; avalanches run down the cliff face and you can see and hear them, its amazing! This haoppened twice while we were up there which was only about 22 minuets.

The hike started out with very minimal snow but got to over 6 feet deep at the top. Luckily it was hard packed so it was easy to walk on. It is melting very fast though and will most likly be gone soon. Also, the lake is still 95% frozen so you dont have to bring a fishing pole.

If you plan to hike here any time soon, bring extra socks! I was wearing water-proof boots but my feet still got soaked because of the wet snow filling up the boots from the top when I sank down in it, despite my best efforts to keep that from happening.

This hike is well worth the mere 2.7 miles to the top, the view of the surrounding mountain peaks on one part of the trail is fantastic and the end is equally as amazing. Even though this was my first time on this hike, it turned out to be one of my favourites, I will definatly be back to Lake 22, hopfully once the lake unfreezes, and I will be sure to bring my fishing pole.

Great day up at 22. Snow on trail from last switchback in the open slope rocky area to the lake. Boot track was pretty firm to the lake so no snowshoes were necessary unless you were trying to go much beyond the lake outlet. I love this hike, big trees, great views, and usually winter accessible.

First part of the trail was just a wintery wet. Alot of small waterfalls this time of year. The trail then transitions into snow on the ground, packed enough so you didn't need snow shoes. The lake mostly froze over with approx. 3 feet of snow all around. Small avalances are happening all the time on the far side of the lake when we were there. Nice day for a hike this time of year.

Gaters & removable shoe ice cleats recommended.

 Report of a vehicle break-in at the Lake 22 trailhead between 12:15 pm-3:55pm on
 Sunday,February 5th.

 A window was broken out of the victim's vehicle for the purpose of stealing a child's backpack out of the back seat.Nothing else was taken according to the victim.

 Another reminder...DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES UNATTENDED IN YOUR VEHICLES!!!
 
 What may seem unimportant to you may peak the curiosity of the tweeked-out criminal
 types. They probably were thinking that someone might have left their wallet, purse,
 or other items of value inside a child's bag thinking,"nobody would ever think
 of looking in my kids pack for my hidden valuables"!

 Once again a reminder...BRING ONLY THOSE ITEMS YOU INTEND TO TAKE WITH IN THE FIELD,
 WITH YOU IN THE VEHICLE.

 Enjoy your outing and stay safe out there!