Lake 22 — Sunday, Jun. 22, 2025

Mileage/Total Elevation: 6.44mi/1,462ft
Weather: Cloudy
Total Time: 2:50

I haven't hiked Lake 22 since I first moved to the area 6 years ago. I've always been deterred by the Costco-esque parking situation and the heavy foot traffic the hike gets. Today, hoping to beat the traffic, I decided to take a stab at it in the evening.

Parking: When I arrived at the trailhead around 5:30pm, there were a handful of spots open from vehicles that had just left. I popped into one that was steps away from the trail. Given how full it was that late in the evening, I wouldn't be surprised if it is much busier in the morning.

Foot Traffic: I ran into a few people coming down on my way up. I had the loop around the lake and the way down virtually to myself.

Trail: The trail is very rocky and wet most of the way through. It's not my favorite type of hiking terrain given that it requires you to be steady with your feet the whole way through and doesn't offer clear stretches to run down. Also, after a rainy weekend the rocks were slippery...not that I slipped on one or anything...

Notes: There's active work happening on the trail during weekdays. You'll see the evidence of this in a new bridge about 0.25 miles in and handful of materials covered in tarps throughout the trail.

The first 1.5 miles take you up stone and wood steps through the forest up to a talus slope that offers open views of the surrounding terrain. The talus lasts for 0.5 miles before it slips back into the forest. Another half mile and you'll find yourself at the lake. The loop around the lake is about 1.2 miles and alternatives between boardwalk, boulders, and gravel. There are tons of gorgeous wildflowers growing around the lake the views of the boulder field and waterfalls above. Speaking of waterfalls, thanks to the numerous waterfalls and creeks along the way, the sound of rushing water is consistent throughout the entire hike and makes the whole experience better.

Overall, I found the hike pretty enjoyable. I can see it being a little less appealing had there been more foot traffic, especially with all the rocky terrain. The cloudy weather damped some of the views but it was still a nice hike.