Snow Lake, Source Lake — Thursday, Jul. 11, 2024

Rating:  5 of 5 stars!
My opinions:  I loved this hike!  I liked the hike to the saddle (ridge or lip)—beautiful views. This hike is a great moderate hike.  It has a lot of mountain and waterfall views on the way up.  The lake is breath-taking!  See the chimney and base of the old cabin remains.
There are two downfalls of this hike to Snow Lake:
(1) It is crowded on the weekend, so there is no solitude.  Today on a Thursday was better, not as many on the trail—I even had solitude at the overlook for 10 minutes! 
I recommend doing this hike on a weekday, if possible.
(2) Lots of rocks on the trail, but not horrible like Mt Pilchuck. 
But these two things do not take away from the beauty.
I highly recommend going to Source Lake.  The waterfalls are very beautiful!  Worth the extra mile or so.  The elevation gains seems minor!  You’ll be walking next to waterfalls, and over the streams from the waterfalls—and not get wet.  Very nice detour!
Parking & Road Conditions: For all cars.  I got there about 11:30 am on a Thursday morning.  There were many parking spaces left.
Snow:  Some snow on the way down from the saddle, but you did not need YakTrax. 
Trail & trail conditions:  Very good.  A little muddy and rocky from the saddle to the lake.  Also, snow covered the trail in about 5 places. 
There was water running on the trail in a few places, especially on the trail to Source Lake.
Suggestion. At the top of the saddle, to the left, climb upon a big rock and see Snow Lake.  This is a must lookout.  
Bugs:  Not bad to Snow Lake.  More bugs at 5 pm at Source Lake trail.  Not bad.
Time: This trail took me (66 years-old) about 6 hours, but I also hiked to Source Lake, which is worth it for the waterfalls, not the lake.
Views:  Very nice mountain views!   Snow Lake is a beautiful lake with mountains surrounding it.
Flowers:  Beautiful wild flowers!