Snow Lake has a big reputation. It’s the most popular hike in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and after doing it ourselves, we get why. From the moment we hit the trail, our expectations were high. What we found was a hike that absolutely delivered.
The hike started off mellow as it wound through a quiet forest. But soon the trail began to climb along the mountainside, cutting across rocky talus slopes with views of waterfalls and snowy peaks. It felt like stepping into another world. At the top of the mountain pass was an epic view of Snow Lake nestled in an alpine valley. It was a reward that made it more than worth the hike.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before hiking to Snow Lake in Washington, 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 alpine lake near Snoqualmie Pass.
Snow Lake Trail Complete Guide
The hike starts at the Alpental Ski Area parking lot. You’ll find the trailhead just beyond the lot, marked by a small wooden staircase going up into the forest. The trail begins with a gentle climb through shaded woods. Soon, it passes talus slopes surrounded by mountain views.
As you reach the back of the valley, the real climb begins. The trail turns into a series of switchbacks that take you up to the mountain pass. And from the top of the pass, you finally get your first view of Snow Lake.
In spring and early summer, this pass is where most people turn around. The trail beyond is usually buried under steep, melting snowfields.
If you’re experienced in winter hiking and come early in the day (when the snow is still firm), you may be able to carefully descend with microspikes and trekking poles. But for most hikers, it’s best to wait until the snow melts out.
Later in the season, once the trail is clear and free of snow, it zigzags down the north-facing slope all the way to the lakeshore. There, you can relax, have lunch, or even take a chilly dip in the alpine lake.
Of course, a trail this epic doesn’t stay a secret. Snow Lake is one of the most popular hikes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and its proximity to Seattle only adds to the crowds. It’s rare to find any solitude on this hike.
Snow Lake Trail Details
- Hike Distance: The total distance of the hike is about 4.5 miles to the Snow Lake viewpoint. If you choose to hike down to the shores of Snow Lake itself, the hike is a total of 6.5 miles, out-and-back.
- Hike Duration: The hike takes about 4-5 hours total, including time spent relaxing at the Lake or the viewpoint.
- Hike Difficulty: The trail’s difficulty is moderate. The trail isn’t overly technical, but it can be quite long, especially if you hike all the way down to Snow Lake itself.
- Hike Incline: The total incline for this hike is about 1800 feet. The trail is uphill the entire way to Snow Lake, and portions of the trail have switchbacks. After reaching the viewpoint of Snow Lake, the hike is downhill to the shores of Snow Lake.
- 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 for Snow Lake. There is a large parking lot just outside the Alpental Ski area that is used for parking at the Snow Lake trailhead.
How to get to the Snow Lake Trail
The trailhead for Snow Lake is located right next to the Alpental Ski Area. Take Exit 52 off I-90, then follow Alpental Access Road all the way to the end. The road is fully paved, so any car can make it without a problem.
Parking, however, is another story.
Despite the large lot, Snow Lake is one of the most popular hikes in Washington. If you’re heading out on a summer weekend, arrive early. Like before 8 AM. The lot fills up fast. If you’re late, you may have to find a place to park on the road or wait until someone else leaves and take their parking spot.
Another technique is to arrive later in the day, like around 2 PM. That way, you can take the parking spot of someone who arrived early in the morning after they are done with the hike.
The trailhead for Snow Lake is right next to the Alpental Parking lot, marked by a wooden staircase that leads straight into the forest.
The map location below for the Snow Lake Trailhead is accurate and can be used to navigate there.
Hiking the Snow Lake Trail: Our Experience
Right away, the trail ducked onto a shaded path through the forest. It was a chilled-out start to a hike that would end up taking us someplace completely different.
The tree cover didn’t last long. Soon we were out in the open, hiking under the full sun. But the tradeoff was worth it. As the views opened up around us, we could see the valley’s walls.
The setting was incredible.
To our left, the snow-covered faces of Bryant Peak and Chair Peak towered over the landscape. To our right, a massive waterfall cascaded down the cliffside. With that much water crashing down, I figured we’d eventually run into a stream crossing. And sure enough, we did. Fortunately, the crossing was not deep or difficult. It was more of a fun place to walk over rather than a real challenge.
As we continued up the trail, we crossed into a wide open talus slope. At that point, I saw that we were getting much closer to the mountain pass, but there was still some elevation ahead.
Once we got to the back of the valley, the trail turned into a series of switchbacks. They were steep but manageable, and honestly, they were a welcome change. As we hiked up, the views behind us kept getting better and better. And once the trees thinned out, we finally got a clear look at the valley we had just hiked through.
But what we could still not see was Snow Lake. It remained a mystery until we reached the top of the pass. Then we saw it. A wide, icy-blue lake tucked deep in a snow-lined basin.
The surrounding slopes were still packed with snow, even though the trail leading up there was hot and dry. That’s when I realized that this was the north-facing side of the ridge, which gets little direct sun. Must be exactly how the lake earned its name. Even in the heat of the season, Snow Lake holds onto its snow.
And for us, that snow became a problem.
We brought our microspikes and trekking poles, fully intending to hike down to the shores of Snow Lake. But the trail down there was completely covered in soft, slushy snow. It was dangerously slick. It was impossible to even tell where the trail was. It wasn’t worth the risk. We should’ve gone earlier in the season when the snow was more stable. Or a few weeks later, when it would be melted out. Lesson learned.
But the view from the pass still made the hike worth it. We climbed up onto a giant boulder overlooking the lake. From there, we could see the snowy trail below and the rugged peaks surrounding the lake. In the distance, I spotted piles of floating slush in the water below snowfields clinging to the mountain walls.
Our hike back down went quickly. And even though I didn’t get to use my poles in the snow like I planned, they were clutch for the descent. It helped me stay stable on the downhill hike. By the time we reached the parking lot, we were tired but completely stoked on our hike to Snow Lake.
Snow Lake Trail Photos
More Hikes Near I-90 in Washington
We’re based in Seattle and have done a ton of hikes all along I-90 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.
- An alpine lake framed by granite cliffs and lingering snowfields: Snow Lake
- Trek through forests to two alpine lakes nestled beneath granite slopes: Talapus and Olallie Lakes
- Hike through forest and rocky slopes with views of Mount Rainier: Mason Lake
- Short hike to a rocky summit with panoramic views: Mount Catherine
- Hike to a frozen waterfall: Franklin Falls (Winter)
- A rocky ledge with sweeping views over I-90: Dirty Harry’s Balcony
I hope you enjoyed our guide to the Snow Lake Trail in Washington. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
