Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram

Snow Lake

Backcountry Response Team

Wed Jul 29, 2026 8:30 AM — Sun Aug 2, 2026 3:30 PM

Trip Difficulty: Strenuous

Sign in to My Backpack

Region

Snoqualmie Region — Snoqualmie Pass

Crew Leader: WTA Chief Crew Leader

Overlooking Snow Lake. Photo by trip reporter JaidennC.

Overview

Come camp on the far side of Snow Lake, where an after-work hike to a waterfall or quiet Gem Lake is in reach. During the day, you'll

About the Area

A relatively short hike within a stone’s throw of Seattle, Snow Lake delivers splendorous alpine scenery – crystal clear waters, towering peaks – at a mere pittance of sweat and toil. But on the other side of the lake — where this crew is camping — the forest is quieter and waterfalls and timber abound.

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference!

Project Description

The crew is doing rock work to improve the trail tread in this quiet area. You'll get experience with building resilient trail that will stand the test of time (and tons of hikers coming through).

Camping and Hiking Information

  • Type: Backcountry basecamp
  • Location: At Snow Lake below Rock Creek junction
  • Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind and rain
  • Bring a floaty, bathing suit & towel for an after-work swim
  • Initial hike to camp: 3.5 miles with 1500 feet of elevation gain at a moderate pace while carrying your backpack fully loaded with all provisions including camping gear and food, plus WTA-provided tools.
  •  Expected daily hike: Up to 2 miles roundtrip at a moderate pace while carrying your daypack plus tools

Schedule

  • Day 1: Meet the crew rain or shine, then hike in, begin work on the project and set up camp
  • Day 2+: Make breakfast and pack a lunch before heading out on trail with the crew by 8:00 AM. Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. Arrive back in camp by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew. / Make a lunch and pack up camp before heading out on trail with the crew by 8:00 AM. Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. Reach camp by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Set up, prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew.
  • Final Day: Break down camp, finish trail project, hike out and say goodbye to the crew at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a challenging backcountry adventure!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

  • A great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need for the project
  • Backpacking gear and food for multiple nights on the trail
  • Good physical condition to hike with a fully-loaded backpack and be physically active for about 8-9 hours daily on uneven terrain 
  • Backpacking experience including ability to run your own camp following Leave No Trace principles
  • Day work party experience recommended
  • Flexibility to adapt to changes due to unpredictable weather or land manager requests
  • Minimum age: 18

What to Bring

Required:

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots Logout Boot Example Guide
  • Work gloves
  • Eye protection (safety glasses should have wrapping side shields. ANSI Z87.1+, or mesh "bug eye" goggles. RX glasses/sunglasses with after market side shields are also acceptable.)
  • Long pants
  • Long sleeve shirt
  • Hard hat

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if needed. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. If you have questions about your boots, please email esnyder@wta.org for clarification. Lightweight trail running style boots do not meet the OSHA requirements for this type of work.

Backpacking gear

  • Backpack to carry all of your gear
  • Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad
  • Cooking gear and enough food (plus a little extra) for the entire trip
  • At least two 1-liter water bottles and a way to purify your water
  • Rain jacket and rain pants
  • Extra warm clothing
  • Camp clothing such as shorts, shirt and sandals
  • Sun and bug protection
  • Headlamp and extra batteries
  • Personal items such as medication, hand sanitizer and toiletries
  • ​First aid kit
  • A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

Trail work gear

  • Boots
  • Long pants 
  • Work gloves
  • Long-sleeved shirt recommended
  • Eye protection recommended such as safety glasses
  • WTA hard hat (provided, unless you have one)

For safety reasons, shorts and sneakers are not allowed while working. Firearms and weapons are not allowed.

More Information

From the Hiking Guide

See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.

This is a preview. Registration will open soon.

Partners

Directions

From Seattle, drive east on I-90 to exit 52, signed for Snoqualmie Pass West. Turn left (north), crossing under the freeway, and continue to the end of the road at the Alpental Ski Area parking lot.

Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.

Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.

Required Documentation

You must be part of this crew and have a My Backpack account to see the Crew Corner.

Sign in to My Backpack

What is Crew Corner?

Crew Message Board

Stay on top of this work party’s messages.

Carpool

Find a ride, give a ride with people who also want to carpool.