Margaret Lake, Lake Lillian — Sunday, May. 17, 2015

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

We arrived at the trailhead on a beautiful Saturday around 9am to three other cars there. The road was a bit rough and I think all cars can make it - but low clearance may bottom out in some of the large ditches. We saw very few people all day. Perhaps three groups and a ranger? The ranger was checking out a reported washout on the way to Lake Lillian - according to him it didn't exist. The first part of the hike on the road is very easy and mellow. It then curves up into many switchbacks as it goes through a long clearing. Loads of wildflowers and views out to the I-90 corridor and Rainier. Surprisingly the road noise from I-90 was barely audible if not gone the entire hike even though it is often visible. The trail then enters the beautiful open forest. There are occasional snow patches to cross. We first went down to Lake Margaret. We didn't get very far. Every single switchback had a giant snow pile that was falling apart but had to be climbed over due to the steepness. It was dodgy and I moved my hip badly on one. There didn't appear to be tracks recently. We turned around because there was too high of an injury chance for us. We then headed over to try getting to Twin Lakes. We crossed paths with the ranger who said we'd run into similar conditions when descending to Twin Lakes but advised us to go until we saw the overlook on to several waterfalls and signs of the lakes. That's what we did! It was beautiful to sit and observe the waterfalls and snow capped mountains in the distance. From there we turned around. Will most definitely return to this hike. Few people, nice grade and the huckleberries are going to be epic later in the season.