It’s not often you find a trail that packs in mountain views, old-growth forest, wetlands, waterfalls, and alpine scenery, yet is easily accessible. Lake 22 is just that.
And better yet, in the winter, the lake freezes over and gets buried in snow until early spring. The area transforms into a quiet, snowy basin that’s one of the best hikes near Seattle.
But the real magic of Lake 22 isn’t just the lake. It’s the journey there.
The trail winds through lush old-growth forest, past creeks and waterfalls, with something new around every turn. It’s the kind of hike that keeps you looking around and never leaves you bored.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before hiking to Lake 22, including how to get there, what to expect on the trail, and tips from our own experience to help you make the most of your hike to this iconic alpine lake in Washington.
Lake 22 Complete Guide
Lake 22 is one of the most popular day hikes near Seattle. The trail offers a bit of everything: lush rainforest, dramatic waterfalls, alpine views, and an alpine lake at the top. It’s a well-marked, moderately challenging hike with around 1,350 feet of elevation gain over 5.4 miles round-trip.
The hike starts off gently, winding through dense forest filled with towering old-growth trees and moss-draped branches. You’ll follow a rocky, well-maintained trail with a mix of steps, wooden bridges, switchbacks, and shallow creek crossings.
About half a mile in, you’ll cross a large wooden bridge over Twenty-Two Creek. The bridge is the trail’s first big landmark, and from there, the real elevation gain begins.
As you climb, keep an eye (and ear) out for waterfalls. Twenty-Two Creek cuts down the mountain in a series of waterfalls, carving out a steep gorge beside parts of the trail. It’s a highlight of the hike and easy to miss if you’re just focused on the trail.
During the Spring, melting snow turns the trail into a series of mini streams. Water flows over rocks and across the trail. I recommend wearing waterproof footwear for these parts.
About halfway up, the trail breaks out of the trees and opens up onto the mountainside. On clear days, you can catch views of Whitehorse Mountain and Three Fingers in the distance. It’s one of the few sunny, exposed sections of the hike. Enjoy it while it lasts, because the trail dips back into the forest about a half mile later.
The final stretch of the trail flattens out as you approach Lake 22. You’ll cross a final wooden bridge right at the lake’s outlet and catch your first glimpse of Lake 22. The lake is surrounded by cliffs and backed by the eastern ridge of Mount Pilchuck. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike the loop trail that circles the lake.
Lake 22 Hike Details
- Hike Distance: The total distance of the hike is about 5.4 miles, out-and-back.
- Hike Duration: The hike takes about 4-5 hours total, including time spent relaxing at the Lake.
- Hike Difficulty: The trail’s difficulty is moderate. There aren’t any steep climbs, but the trail is usually wet and can be slippery in some places. There are also lots of rocks on the trail. The trail is mostly shaded, but you should bring at least 2 liters of water, especially if it’s hot out.
- Hike Incline: The total incline for this hike is about 1350 feet. The trail is uphill almost the entire way to Lake 22, but it’s not super steep. There are a few switchbacks along the trail, but they are not overly strenuous.
- Dogs are allowed on this trail but must be on a leash. It is a popular trail, so expect lots of other dogs.
- A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead.
How to get to the Lake 22 Trail
The trail entrance for Lake 22 is located off the Mountain Loop Highway outside of Granite Falls, Washington.
The trailhead has a large parking area. But since the hike is extremely popular, the parking area tends to fill up by mid-morning on the weekends.
Fortunately, there is also parking at the nearby Hemple Creek Picnic Area. That’s where we parked when we hiked Lake 22 on a Sunday in April.
The map location below for the Lake 22 trailhead is accurate and can be used to navigate there.
Lake 22 Hike: Our Experience
When spring rolled around, Lake 22 was our first hike of the year. And honestly, I’d argue that’s the best time to do it. Most of the snow had melted off the trail, but the lake itself and its surrounding basin were still covered in a wintry landscape.
As we stepped onto the trail, small streams trickled down the mountainside, surrounding us in the sounds of their flow. Ferns, moss, and damp earth made it clear: this trail thrives on water.
But it wasn’t long until we came across our first obstacle. Just after crossing the bridge over Twenty-Two Creek, we walked into a massive western red cedar laying out right across the trail. It was too wide to climb over easily, but luckily, the tree left a small gap below itself and the trail, so we were able to squeeze by.
As the trail started to gain more elevation, we started hiking over sections of wooden steps. They looked like ladders built right into the trail. Big thanks to the trail crews for installing those. With the constant water, it can’t be easy to keep this trail in shape.
Further up, I started noticing odd yellow plants poking out of the muddy ground. I’d read somewhere that Lake 22 was known for skunk cabbage in the spring.
And sure enough, that’s what they were.
Their bright yellow leaves were clustered in wet areas near the trail. They’re hard to miss if you’re hiking in spring. It’s apparently called skunk cabbage for a reason, and that’s because it has a terrible taste. I didn’t test that.
The trail opened up, and we emerged onto a rocky slope, fully exposed to the sun. The terrain looked like it had been hit by an avalanche, with rocks and boulders everywhere.
It was a cool change of scenery with its view of the distant mountains, but it was hot, and I was glad when we re-entered the forest.
After a couple more sets of switchbacks, the trail started to level out. That’s when we spotted our first patches of snow. At first, it was just on the sides of the trail, but soon we were walking over packed snow on the trail.
We took our time over the snowy sections to avoid slipping, and that’s when I caught my first glimpse of the lake through the trees.
We paused for a moment at the wooden bridge that crosses the lake’s outlet stream. Water was flowing out, but the lake itself looked mostly frozen. Its surface was covered in snow and surrounded by steep rocky cliffs. Other hikers were sat along the shore, enjoying the wintry landscape.
We walked out to the edge of the lake to get our own look. The ice was starting to melt around the edges, but most of it was still solid. I broke off a slab of ice and held it up to inspect it. Patterns had formed over its surface from the freezing process.
Further along the shoreline, we found a spot in the lake that looked frozen solid. Chloe decided to test it. She didn’t go far, just far enough to feel the lake beneath her feet and take in the moment.
Our hike back down the trail was much quicker than the hike up. As expected for a trail that goes downhill. Soon enough, we were back at our car and ready for a cup of coffee for our drive back to Seattle.
Lake 22 Hike Photos
More Hikes Near Highway 2 in Washington
We’re based in Seattle and have done a ton of hikes all along Highway 2 in Washington. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best trails we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Our Favorite Highway 2 Hike: Lake 22
- Classic Washington multi-waterfall hike: Wallace Falls Hike
- Quick hike to a wooden tower: Heybrook Lookout
- A front-row seat to a massive, misty waterfall: Bridal Veil Falls Hike
- Trail through dense mossy forest to an alpine lake: Heather Lake
- Hike to a steamy hot spring in the forest: Scenic Hot Springs
I hope you enjoyed our guide to the Lake 22 hike in Washington. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
