My father and I decided to hike to Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene on this very hot day. Overall, the hike was well worth it, but those deciding to make the extra hike to Lake Serene should be aware of the number of switchbacks it has and bring lots of water. There were no indications of obstructions on the trail. The lake itself is very cold, but worth a swim on a hot day - so remember to bring a swim suit. While I forgot to check it out, there is an old mine that's probably neat to check out. I'm a little vague as to where the trail to that mine was. There were plenty of people up at the lake getting cooled down after the hill climb to get there. Despite our late arrival at the lake, Mt. Index was still in view (bleeched out with the afternoon sun) and the view over the valley was worth every footstep up there. I would suggest to start early in the morning and avoid having to find a parking space and get ahead of the large crowd on a sunny day. personal rating = 3.5 out of 5 (I have a bias to even higher altitude hikes) pictures = upper falls (the biggest ones) and a view of Lake Serene from the north end

Thirty nine to forty years ago, my brothers took a group of us boys up to Lake Serene. Then the traik, if you could call it a trail, went straight up along side Bridal Veil Falls, over rocks, roots and old logs for 1 1/2 to 2 miles. On that day we were rewarded with a spectacular view of the lake and the cliffs of the North, Middle and Main Peaks of Index dropping thousands of feet toward the lake. Through the years, several people died when they left the trail to go to the falls to see the Skykomish valley below when they slipped on the wet smooth slabs and went over the falls. Because of that, the Forest Service and the private landowners along the lower portion of the trail closed it and rebuilt it. So today, I returned to the lake with my family via the new trail after an absence of 39-40 years. (How time seems to fly, I'm suddenly feeling old.) Along the lower portion, nothing looked familiar, the trees had all grown and the trail had been rerouted along an old logging road. The trail crossed the creek on a picturesque wooden bridge just below one of the series of falls that make up Bridal Veil Falls. Our kids, David, Rachel and Dorothy were impressed to say the least. The trail then began to climb in earnest. Steep sections of the trail had steps of rock or wooden staircases. In places the the trail skirted tree and brush covered cliffs, typical of the U-shaped, glacier carved valleys of the Cascades. After 3 hours of grueling work that had sweat running down our faces into our eyes and down our backs, we reached the lake, which David described best; ""Cool!"" After taking the mandatory pictures, one of which Rachel, using our digital camera, put up as a desk top on our computer, we settled down for a bite to eat as I told the kids stories of the old trail and the rescues and deaths that have taken place on the trail and the three peaks of Index. Our attention, though, more often than not, was drawn to the rock walls, talus fields and snowfields mirroed in the waters of the lake. Then the name ""Serene"" seemed appropriate. After lunch, I waded into the water and tried a few casts into the water to see if I could lure a trout into taking my offering, but either the fish weren't hungry or the lake is now barren of fish, although I thought I may have seen one leap huingrly out of the water about 50 yards away by some cliffs. About 2:30PM, we left for the downward journey, which was harder for me than it was for Kathy my wife and the kids; my knees aren't what they used to be back in my climbing days. We reached the trailhead at approx. 4:00 PM and were back home in Goldbar by 4:30P PM. All in all, a very enjoyable, albeit, exhausting day; to a very well named, Lake Serene.

Trail is in good condition throughout. It is very popular, so get there early for relative solitude. We left the parking lot at 9 am, and it was already more than half-full. If you make a sidetrip to bridal veils falls and decide to ford them for a better photo opportunity (like I did), you'd do well to cross in the wider area which has more riverbed gravel and loose rock, instead of the central section which is very smooth. The water ran at most knee deep at the wider crossing point when I did it.

I'm probably the only hiker who's lived in the Northwest for a while who hasn't hiked this trail--it's so close to civilization and so beautiful. My daughter and I went up to Lake Serene, which was totally and eerily fogged in, then caught Bridal Veil Falls on the way down. The name suggests something delicate, but the falls are thunderous, powerful. The trail was well maintained, the flora various. All the low-altitude species were present and accounted for, including lots of False Lily of the Valley, Goatsbeard, Saxifrage family representatives (Smooth Alumroot?), False Solomon Seal (racemose), Twisted Stalk, trillium gone to seed, an occasional Vanilla Leaf, Salmonberry, Thimbleberry, Devils club,etc., etc. There's enough elevation gain (2000 ft from trailhead to lake, another 800 up to the falls) to get a workout, at least for someone in not-so-great shape. All-in-all, an excellent early season hike.

Bridal Veil Falls (halfway to Lake Serene) - With the multitudes on Memorial Day I hoofed it up to the falls. Trail is gentle for 1.5 miles, then steep the last .5 mile. Muddy in spots (especially at the beginning)--not surprising given the recent rains. Several easy stream crossings. The falls are spectacular. Be prepared for a cool, misty shower and dress accordingly.