The Most Remote Lake In Washington Is A Must-Visit This Summer
By Jessica Moore|Published June 29, 2023
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Jessica Moore
Author
Jessica is a storm chaser, photographer, meteorologist, and writer from Colorado. As a native of this beautiful state, she grew up with a love of the outdoors, and today enjoys hiking, rafting, skiing, and photographing landscapes and storms. She is also a mom to a beautiful little girl and loves life as an entrepreneur which allows her to be fully present for her daughter. She has been a writer for OnlyInYourState for just over 1 year and loves the opportunity to combine her loves of writing and travel to bring you the most exciting content for travel destinations across the country.
The Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington is a glacially-carved landscape that is home to more than 700 pristine mountain lakes and ponds. If you have a taste for an adventure of the more off-the-beaten-path type, there is one particular trail that we think you’ll fall in love with. It takes you on a gorgeous expedition to one of the most remote lakes in Washington.
Snow Lake sits at an elevation of 4,019 feet within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Snoqualmie Pass, Washington. The deep blue hues of this picturesque lake will steal your breath away.
To access this scenic lake, you'll embark upon the 6.7-mile Snow Lake Trail just shy of an hour east-southeast of Seattle. This out-and-back trail takes about three hours and 42 minutes to complete on average.
This trail is rated as "moderate" in terms of difficulty, and you'll gain a total of nearly 1,700 feet in elevation throughout the hike. With stairs like these, you'll want to come prepared for a good workout!
It's not uncommon to see mist clinging to the mountains and trees as you continue your ascent toward the lake. Make sure you’re prepared with a rain jacket, spare socks, waterproof or water-resistant shoes, and plenty of layers in case of adverse weather.
You'll want to make time to soak in the sweeping views of the Cascade Mountains and the valleys that stretch out as far as the eye can see. Make sure to bring a camera to capture these majestic views.
Snow Lake is not only beautiful in the summer. Grab your microspikes and snowshoes and try this trail in the wintertime for your chance at witnessing a truly storybook scene like this!
But for most adventurers, hiking Snow Lake Trail in the summer or fall will provide you with an experience you'll never forget. Conclude your hiking adventure here, or continue another 2.4 miles to Gem Lake, which is even more remote and just as beautiful as Snow Lake.
Have you ever hiked Snow Lake Trail? We’d love to hear about your experience hiking to one of the most remote lakes in Washington in the comments below.
If you’d like to explore more lakes in the Evergreen State, you’ll want to check out the 11 most beautiful lakes in Washington, according to our readers.
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