Wallace Falls State Park - Greg Ball Trail to Wallace Lake — Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021

Before the temperature plummets and snow comes to Seattle in the coming days, I decided to get one more hike in. Arrived the trailhead at 11am and there were 25-ish cars, 38F.

Started on the Woody Trail and took the 2nd turn-off at 1.3 miles to the Greg Ball Trail and took this trail all the way to the lake. Patches of crunchy snow starting at 1800ft and more consistent at the lake. I carried spikes but never used them as the snow was not slippery. Conditions will likely change with the coming storm.

When I reached the lake at 3.8 miles, I turned left and went 0.6 miles to the viewpoint at the NW edge of the lake. This was the best view of the lake, complete with a bench and I had it all to myself. Also went across the bridge to the SE edge of the lake. Both views pictured.

I saw only 2 couples on the entire trail and near the lake. On the Woody Trail, I saw a steady flow of people both ways. I decided not to loop around to the falls, as I visited the falls a few weeks ago and enjoyed the serenity of this empty trail. So I took the same trail down, this time taking the other cutoff, which intersected the Woody Trail 1.0 miles from the trailhead.

I have included a photo of a trail closure on the bike trail starting yesterday, directing bicycles onto the Greg Ball Trail instead of the DNR road down.

9.5 miles, 1800 ft ascent, 3:30 hiking time