Nosh Nosh Wahtum, Cathedral Rock, Peggy's Pond & Circle Lake — Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025

If you can put up with some snow and cooler temps, now is a great time to hit these trails or campsites. This hike was beautiful, challenging, and super quiet today. Plenty of parking, passed a party on trail three times all day, and saw one set of campers packing up. Hiking out alone at the end of the day, I felt it was too quiet. Only issue with the 12 mile forest road to the trailhead is that it’s quite a washboard road. No issues with any creek crossings, a few just puddles in the dip in the road. Pit toilet was in good shape but bring own TP and you have to pack out all trash. With the Cle Elum River and multiple lakes or ponds (and snow) on this hike, there’s no lack of water for dogs or to filter. Although on their last legs, still some yummy blueberries.

The snow. It became pretty noticeable around the 4600ft elevation point. But it was on the lighter side and often resulted in mud during the day and ice as temps dropped. Thankfully the sketchy ledge section on the way to Peggy’s Pond gets a lot of sun and had no snow, for now. But from the pond to Circle Lake it was a winter wonderland. Some hikers heading to Mt Daniel broke a trail I could follow until the turnoff to Circle Lake. Then I was on my own, using a maps app to help find a trail under the snow at times. I was regretting not wearing boots, but glad I had my newer trail runners which currently have better traction. With current trail conditions I’d recommend boots with great snow traction or bringing along microspikes. For my descent I ended up using crampons I brought. Backup socks and now dressing in multiple layers is another recommendation. If you use poles regularly, would suggest those too, but ones you can pack away when it’s time to scramble or hug rock walls.

Along the way to Circle Lake, the big attractions for me were Nosh Nosh Wahtum which means Salamander Lake, Deep Lake from above, Peggy’s Pond, and numerous peaks including an unexpected sighting of Mt Rainier. You have to gain more elevation the entire way to Circle Lake and can’t see it until right next to it on a ridge. Total distance with trail hunting and possibly shortening due to the snow: 13.75 miles, 4160ft total elevation gain.