Barclay Lake — Friday, Jul. 19, 2013

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West

When we first arrived at the Barclay Lake parking lot, cars were already lined up along each side of the road. The parking lot is very small, so you should plan ahead and find a spot before groups of hikers walk on the trail. Children should find this hike easy - even beginning or first-time hikers will enjoy the scenery! There isn't much elevation gain, and it's mostly level ground. Everywhere you looked, the trail had trees, moss, and many other plants I couldn't name. Some leaves of plants were bigger than my hands, which were entertaining! If you enjoy wildflowers and ripe berries, now's the time to hike! We saw many salmonberries (red and orange), and some red wildflowers that were beautiful and stunning. However, we had a few issues with the trail. Some parts of the trail were overgrown, which also happened to be some of the more narrow parts of the trail. We had to part the leaves of plants to get through! There was also water on the trail, which wasn't hugely irritating - they were small streams that you could step in without worrying that your hiking shoes would get wet. And there were bugs; sometimes you could hear them buzz right next to your ears. There were quite a few bugs near the lake, too. Once we reached the lake, though, our faces broke into happy grins. The lake is perfect for children to wade in, and you can dip your fingers in the water too. Other lakes still have snow on them; this one has lots of sunshine and trees! I definitely recommend this hike; it's not really a hike, just a leisurely walk with lovely wildflowers and ripe salmonberries, and even a fresh lake to boot!