I set out to hike to lake Valhalla and mt McCausland on my way home to puyallup from Leavenworth. This was my first time doing this hike, and so Janus lake got thrown in by accident.
Smithbrook rd is easy to spot heading west from Leavenworth. Coming from the west the road comes up a few minutes after Stevens summit and is easy to miss. I have hiked off smithBrook rd before (Minotaur lake) and was thankful that the first 3 miles were in great condition without potholes, or any of the harrowing drop offs that you get further up the road. I did a solid 30 mph to the parking lot. I arrived at the TH at 8:45. There is not "ample parking"- the lot is very small and people were already parking down the side of smithbrook rd when I got there. Still I got a good parking spot not to far from the TH.
I budgeted about an hour up, an hour at the lake and an hour down, hoping to be back at my car by noon. That plan all went to hell in a hand basket when I took a wrong turn on the PCT and accidentally ended up 1.5 miles in the wrong direction at Janus lake. If you have not hiked this trail before, the "gap" where you meet the PCT from smithbrook trail is a T- junction with no signage visible from the ascending perspective. I saw nothing and didn't notice the T junction, and just veered right by mistake. There are signs for PCT and smithbrook trail but, as I learned the hard way, they are only visible from the PCT and even then they are "super hidden " as a kind hiker told me when I realized I was lost. If you want to go to lake Vahalla , take a LEFT at this junction- you will know it by a large tree on your left with a big scar on it. You will shortly after see a sign about camping at Valhalla to know you're on the right path. If you start descending and descending and descending some more (700 feet in total that you'll have to regain on the way out) you're going the wrong way unless you want to go to Janus lake.
Once I reached Janus lake, my fears that I was on the wrong track were confirmed by a group of backpackers. Janus lake is very "meh" and I certainly would not select it as a hiking destination on purpose! Lots of bugs too.
I turned around and zipped back the other way, gaining the 700 feet I lost and finally got back on the right track. I momentarily debated just going back to my car, however, but I decided to finish what I started and headed to Valhalla. From the junction, the trail was easy to follow and before I knew it I was at the boot path to mt McCausland, which is marked by a cairn. This trail is very dry, steep in places, and dirty! Nice views from the top. I didn't have poles but I used the trees and bushes along the trail for support during slippery steep parts of the descent.
Finally I descended into lake Valhalla, my intended destination. By this time the sun was high in the sky and the lake was getting crowded so I didn't stay long. There is a trail that goes along the lake but I decided to save the exploring for another day as by this time I was getting tired and hungry, and I was overdue to be back at my car. I headed back and actually made it back to my car in about an hour, despite being totally pooped at that point. Passed a lot of hikers with well behaved leashed dogs and wished I had brought mine!
I do see why it is such a popular hike. Easily accessible, fairly low effort, fairly big payoff. All in all it was a good day, despite being a little longer than I had planned for. Now that I know the way, next time I will get there earlier and faster and have more time to enjoy the lake!
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