Half Day Hike to Lake 22

Arrive at the trailhead and begin your hike. You will need a North West Forest Pass to park. Depending on the time of year, this trail can take many characteristics. The winter offers a great snowshoe trek if there is snow, while the summer offers a hot hike to a great swimming hole. I decided to hike Lake 22 in the late Fall.

The trail winds through a wet, saturated forest with lots of stepping stones and small bridges to assist with the wet trail. Lots of ferns litter the underbrush and moss flourishes in the old growth, mountain rainforest. The trail climbs and you cross over a small creek, 22 Creek, about .6 miles in. Off the trail there are a few stunning water falls. After about a mile and a half, the trail opens up to a talus slope and you can enjoy views of craggy cascade peaks in the distance, the Three Fingers, and Liberty Mountain. At around 2.7 miles in, a boardwalk guides you to Lake 22 and a view of Mount Pilchuk’s North face. Explore around Lake 22 and take in the scenic views of waterfalls and reflections off of pristine alpine Lake 22.