Great Workout and Good Fun!

Reviewed By: Shelby Campbell on Thursday, September 17, 2009 @ 09:57:13 AM

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A friend and I, neither of us avid hikiers but both relatively fit, set out on this hike at the end of August, and had a blast.  The trail is in great shape, the views on the way up keep you motivated to reach the top, and the lake, in spite of being located high up in the mountains, was warm enough for a quick dip late in the summer.  The climb is a tough one, to be sure.  Having gone a few go-rounds with a stairmaster or some stadium stairs before this trip would have better prepared me for the climb, but nevertheless, we both made it to the top and in decent time.  Another perk with this hike is that the trailhead is located just off Highway 2, so there is very little gravel road to cover.  My little Hyundai and I like that very much as "Little Car" is not much of an off-roader.  Have fun, but bring water and a snack.  You are going to work up a sweat!

a fun hike years ago

Reviewed By: Ruth Greb on Monday, August 10, 2009 @ 11:36:21 PM

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I hiked this trail a number of years ago with some very good friends, their kids and my kids and had not thought about it until the same of the hike came up in a Trout Unlimited meeting tonight! At the time, I lived at Lake Serene in Lynwood--a very low level lake that was near our homes. I remember the hike to Serene Lake on Mt Index as being a bit tiring at that time as all the trail was not there--we pulled ourselves up to the next level on the trail with roots. I am sure it is much better now but, then, it was a bit tiring but very worth it once you reached the top. This was over 20 years ago so I am sure the trail has been improved since. It is such a beautiful place that I have not forgotten.

Serene for sure

Reviewed By: Zinger on Friday, June 19, 2009 @ 02:32:44 PM

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Review: This is truly a beautiful hike. The trail is good, the side trip to the falls is well worth it, and the lake is, well, serene. We lunched at the falls, which was perfect. I'd also recommend going early, mainly, though, because of this trails popularity. The few times I've hiked it, the crowds grew as the day wore on. If you're at the trailhead by 9:00 or so, you'll have the trail mostly to yourself, although this is most often the case no matter where you go. The slackers stay in bed, while the hikers are on the trail.

Lake Serene lives up to its name

Reviewed By: Anonymous on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 01:27:12 AM

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This was one of the first hikes I ever did  and I would love to get back and do it again.  The trail starts off relatively easy but gets more difficult once you reach the rocky switch backs and steps, which aren't the most fun but from what I understand were created to replace the scramble up route used before.  I only wore tennis shoes but would strongly recommend hiking boots with more support to avoid a twisted ankle, as the rocks sometimes shift underfoot.  The view when you first reach the lake is stunning, especially if you catch it in full sun.  One of the most beautiful places I have been, and slightly surreal.  Get an early start because the lake is in the shadow of Mt. Index come mid-afternoon.  It is very cool to watch the sun set behind the mountain and the shadow move across the lake. 

Close to Seattle and Beautiful

Reviewed By: Becca on Monday, June 1, 2009 @ 11:58:50 AM

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Did this hike May 9, 2009.  Trail is in good shape.  Last part of the hike was hard packed snow, but without tracking poles, a bit tricky at a crossing.  Conditions probably are easier now that it's a month since I've written this.  Lake Serene was almost all ice, which was a minor disappointment, but only reason to come back in late summer.  This is a great strenuous hike with rewarding views at the edge.  Take a lunch and perch on a rock at the top to soak in the views.

Gorgeous, logs are deadly

Reviewed By: Anonymous on Thursday, March 5, 2009 @ 09:28:33 AM

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I actually went on this hike in the summer, but since I just found this site...

The first part of the trail is very dark and mysterious - there were people filming little creeks and pools for art projects or something. Once you get to the switchbacks.. well, I am not exactly in shape, but it was difficult. There were some very pretty spots to it, though, especially through the new growth areas. Lake Serene is definitely worth all the effort. Half the lake was covered in ice when I was there. I tried taking pictures, but somehow all the pictures make the lake seem small and not nearly as spectactular as it is in person. Definitely a good place to have lunch and relax for a while, as long as you don't mind the cold. The lake near the end of the trail is covered in floating logs. I couldn't resist hopping among them, and nearly got myself killed in front of a large audience. I loved this hike, but it was so crowded that I can't give it 5 stars - the viewing area at the lake is a circus during the summer. As for Bridal Falls .. I didn't go see it on the way up, and on the way down I was too tired to care, so I recommend going to see it on the way up.

1-19-09

Reviewed By: AR on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 11:07:50 PM

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Tried to do this hike this past Monday.  Trailhead is shut down due to construction or cleaning up after a mudslide.  They were turning everyone back around.

Recommended by Abe

Reviewed By: Abe on Monday, November 10, 2008 @ 11:14:39 PM

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Review: Time up - 1h 55min (take into consideration advid photography and sporadic TLC for my dog Puckett) Time Down - 1h 30 min (with trail running, no stop at Bridal and slightly less pictures) Had taken the Bridal Veil Falls way of trail in the past but ventured the way of Lake Serene today under John's advice. I would recommend the adventure and scenic nature of this hike to any trail lover or view seeker, but as far as Fall and Winter hiking go I would instill caution to inexperienced hikers for reasons that follow below. The crossing of lower Bridal Veil Falls about half way to Lake Serene is about shin high water deep and a wet crossing is short but necessary so bring your sandals. The final mile an 1/2 of the trail is where the majority of elevation is gained making for a great and/or strenuous finale. The valley views are tremendous. The final mile or so of trail is so full of rain run off that you are in 30-60 min worth of ankle high water on and off. The trail does do a good job of installing wood to detour the runoff down switchbacks but the water is still unavoidable. There is a waterfall about 1/2 mile before Lake Serene (that could be upper Bridal Veil?) that also makes a wet crossing all-but-unavoidable so sandals and/or extra socks would be a good idea. BEAUTIFUL part of the way up. With all of that being said, man what a great hike! The views of the falls are better accessed from the Lake Serene trail rather than the one pointing to Bridal Veil and more plentiful as well. Although water-filled there was no snow yet on the trek besides the trail-opposite side of Lake Serene. Perhaps the best part of the entire day was seeing the snow on ridges of the trail-opposite side of Lake Serene melting and creating HUGE water runoffs that could have been as high as 1,000 feet. Got to trail head at 10am in no rush and headed back to Seattle at 2:30 with plenty is chill time in-between. Take this day hike!

stinging knettles does serene

Reviewed By: guade00 on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 @ 05:25:18 PM

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Time up--1hr 33min, time down, including side trip up to Bridal Falls, 1 hr 50 minutes. 3 breaks up, 2 back, 1 liter of water up, refill on the way down at the Falls (with tablets, don't trust the water). The forest service rates this hike as "most difficult" and also as heavily used. I wouldn't rate this as most difficult, to be sure, and the presence of any number of children on the way supports that conclusion. Wonderful hike, anyway, with a treat at the end. The path is adorned with many hikers aids, to include signs, wooden bridges and stairways. The lake shore is strewn with reinforced pathways, almost looked like Disneyland. The lake itself suggests Lake 22 and Heather Lake, small and cozy. No snow except on the south shore of the lake. This hike is ideal for an extremely hot day, especially if the Falls are all you're up to, because that cold mist will frost your heinie! Most of this hike (after the easy first 2 mile walk in) is significantly rocky, so beware, and go with hiking pole(s). I can tell this hike gets heavy traffic, as a midweek morning hike saw a lot of small groups and a trailhead lot with about 15 cars

Great Summer Hike

Reviewed By: psbadventures on Sunday, June 22, 2008 @ 12:39:04 AM

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I did this hike today with my 9, 7 and just turned 4 year old boy.  I started the hike at 6:00 pm and we made it to the upper snow field before the lake at 8:00.  It was too difficult to traverse with my kids, so we headed back down.  Bridal veil falls was full and beautiful.  The views from the top were spectacular.  I really wanted to make it to the lake.  My four year old actually did the best.  He never complained and seemed to fully enjoying himself by having to climb these big steps.  We got back to the car at 10:10 pm.  Good thing this was the longest day of the year.  It was dark but we could still see the path.  My son last year was three when he did Mt. Pilchuck.  Mom and dad wanted to turn around half way up, but he kept pointing to the top and the lookout tower.  He walked the majority of both trips.  I will have to work hard to keep up with him as he gets older.

Nice Quick Hike

Reviewed By: Anonymous on Saturday, June 21, 2008 @ 10:31:48 AM

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I did this hike on the first day of summer, June 20, 2008.

Great day for a hike, it was just warm and sunny enough to feel the warm breeze coming down off the mountain.  Usually I try to hike when it is a little overcast but the canopy gave just enough break to keep you from burning up.  I did get the feeling that later in the year, the vegetation would be ideal for flies and mosquitoes.  None on the day that I went though.

I found this to be a very interesting hike in that the first half is more of a walk than a hike, with a great payoff.  I actually found the waterfalls at the bottom the best part of the trip.  As the first part is easy, the second part is equally tough.  The first 7/8th of the second half is mostly stairs, which are so well built that it is not tough as much as just a good stairs workout.  The last 1/8th was very difficult when I went (I would have ranked the hike a 3 difficulty if not for this part).  At this point the trail was about half snow half mud.  Since the snow was well melted and in direct sunlight it was about a 50/50 shot as to if it would hold your weight or break free dropping you onto whatever was below. 

Finally reaching the lake it was almost completely under snow.  Quite an awesome sight but I felt like giving it a month or so to melt the lake would have made it more spectacular.  The trail to Lunch Rock was completely under snow and not knowing the way I chose to not try this last part.  I will go back later in the summer.

Overall it was a good hike.  There really was not as many people as I thought I would see (it was a Friday).  I think most groups only went to the falls and didn't try the lake.  By the time I got down the falls was teaming with highschool kids, having fun in the water ... not such a bad idea for a nice day.

Lake of Snow

Reviewed By: Cindy on Sunday, May 25, 2008 @ 08:47:57 AM

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Began at the trail around 9:15 AM.  Went to Bridal Veil first.  Had to cross a snow field over some runoff to get up there.  Good to have poles.  Then, hiked until about a mile of the lake, and had all snow on the "trail."  We picked our way over to the lake area because the trail wasn't visible.  10-12 feet of snow under us.  Again, poles were good.  Finally found the "lake" which was just a spot open.  Otherwise, wouldn't have recoginzed it without the surrounding mountain set.  Sat around the log jam, in the only dry place, for lunch.  Absolutely beautiful, sunny, day.  Just right for hiking, and perfect for lunch as it was warmer by then.  Arrived back around 2:15 PM.  It was 82 degrees in the parking lot by then.  Couldn't have asked for a better day.

our first hike

Reviewed By: a.m. on Monday, September 3, 2007 @ 08:56:50 PM

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this was the first hike my father and i had ever attemped. we injoyed the hike very much.  we went to the falls and the lake and would recomend these hikes for anyone.

Giving thanks

Reviewed By: Picture taker on Monday, August 27, 2007 @ 09:50:27 AM

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Place of beauty and awe.  Thanks to people that have spent time installing step ladders, trail supports, river bridges, and clearing windfall.  Snow spots still on slopes and lake water cold clear as ever.  Fog covered the area when arrived at 8:00am and were struck with awe when the rock peaks pushed through towered over the lake.  Felt like fall coming early with cold wind and heavy clouds.

View & Workout

Reviewed By: Red Racer on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 @ 11:36:53 AM

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For the first two miles the trail is deceptively easy to travel on. Just past the junction to Bridal Falls the trail begins to get steeper and more difficult. Up at the top the lake is beautiful and there are a few trails that allowed me to get different views of the lake. There are still patches of snow around the lake. A few files bothered me during lunch but I didn't see any mosquitoes. Coming down my knees and legs were definitely getting a workout. The trail can be rocky in sections I wore good boots and I drank almost all of my water. There are a few trees over the trail that have to be climbed over. Any river crossings that were swift during spring are now small streams of water.