June Lake Snowshoe

Strap on your snowshoes and explore the Marble Mountain trails with a gentle hike to June Lake in the shadow of Mount St. Helens.

With almost 50 miles of trails, the Marble Mountain Sno-Park is the place to be when it snows. The popular trail system is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest at the base of Mount St. Helens and offers plenty of winter recreation for snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers. An easy ramble to June Lake follows a creek through a gorgeous winter wonderland, complete with an icicle-laced waterfall.

Start at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park parking lot and follow the often-groomed Pine Marten Trail No. 245E, which parallels the road. You can take the road instead if you’d like, but it’s mostly for snowmobiles. The Pine Marten Trail is much more enjoyable. Follow the blue diamond trail marker through the forest before meeting up with the road after one miles of hiking. Take the bridge across Lake Creek on the road, then arrive at the June Lake trailhead on your left.

As you continue on June Lake Trail 216B, you’ll have plenty of views of snowy St. Helens, and you may even spot people climbing to the summit. The trail heads up through second-growth forest and gains about 500 feet over the next 1.4 miles before dipping back down to the creek. Cross over the small bridge to scenic and silent June Lake.

June Lake’s wide basin sits on the lower southern slope of the nearby volcano. Find the bench near the shoreline and marvel at the 40-foot waterfall on the opposite side of the lake. To make the most of your stop, be sure to pack some hot chocolate in a thermos. Enjoy the solitude until you get chilly, then head back the way you came.

WTA Pro Tip: If you choose to venture above 4,800 feet on St. Helens, you’ll need a climbing permit. Permits are available at Marble Mountain’s Climbing Register.