Snow Lake

Brought my snowshoes and little dog to hike snow lake on 3-28-10. Trek to Source Lake is easy and beautifully full of snow. After source lake the trail becomes more of a snowy scramble and this week the snow was very soft, meaning snowshoes were as nessesary as snowshoes can be. Fairly rigorous hike from Source Lake to Snow Lake but it is a short distance. The trail continues on to the summit in the summer time but i found no sign of any snowtrail past Snow Lake last week

Hiked this trail 2009, 4th of July. Left around 7am and encountered only few hikers around that time. 3-4 hours it started to get pretty crowded (perfectly normal for this trail especially on a holiday weekend). Snow free until you get to the ridge. Then snow/ice pack solid. I didn't see how it was safe to go down as it's fairly steep and ice pack wasn't stable plus going up is much harder. Most people didn't try to go down. Few rangers came later with shovels and they did say they'd remove some snow but I think that was just a joke... They probably wanted to check condition of the trail. Lake should be safely accessible I think in couple of weeks or so.

Good thing I had time left to go to Source overlook and that was pretty nice. Only extra 10min or so and nice waterfalls currently.

I've put HD video here: http://vimeo.com/5501086

I hiked this last weekend, June 10, with a couple of visitors from Virginia.  I picked the hike because it's spectacular, not too difficult, and I figured at 4400 feet max elevation, the snow would have melted.  Boy was I wrong.  Perhaps half the hike was on snow.  There was no path down to the lake from the high point (though I'm sure we could have found one if we'd looked harder.)  The lake itself was completely covered with snow, and just didn't look as beautiful as it usually does.  Finally, it was raining throughout the entire hike.

Snow Lake is a fantastic hike, but was a little underwhelming in the dregs of the snow.   Summer 2007 the hiking season is obviously different than normal with much higher snow levels.

I hiked the snow lake trail today.  The sign at the bottom read the following "Trail to snow lake almost completely covered w/snow and has many sections of thin snow bridges on the trail to watch for especially near running water or boulder fields.  The take is still 99% snow covered.  The start of the switch backs is not marked, and there is no reliable boot trails from this point to the lake w/several steep and exposed crossings.  Good boots are highly recommended.  Just a short way up the trail is a disply of Glacier lillios and trillium.  There are no flowers passed the first clearing." Written by timothy.

My impressions were very similar.  The trail was gradual and snow covered with holes occationally.  We took the right up the switch backs on the way up and was very suprised to see the path disappear in all directions.  i scrambled upward making my own foot holds by kicking in the snow.  it was very steep and we saw many people turn around at this point.  we kept on going.  We didn't know wheather to go right or left but eventually found a path that brought us left and up.  We reached the top of the ridge and saw the great view of snow lake from above.  Ate lunch and talked to another couple that came up by source lake.  We followed that couple down because we were not going down the steep path that we had just come up and we found it was great.  We realized if we had gone straight to source lake instead of up the switchbacks the hike would have been much easier but a little longer.  I recommend the path by source lake and then up and around to the top of the ridge which looks down on snow lake when there is no clear path up the switch backs.  We saw hikers in teva's and sneakers who did not look too happy so it would be a good idea to wear boots.  the loop took us 3 hours and was definatly worth it.  The restrooms at alpental were out of service to the public.so don't bother looking.  I think you might  need a permit to park in the parking lot so you might want to check into that before going.  happy trails.

tallteleboarder

The easy access to the trail head is nice & there's bathrooms! Which probably explains why it's so popular. The hike is pretty easy. If it's hot out wear lots of sun block, there's long stretches of the trail with no protection from the sun.

Great hike for Fall.  The colours were incredible in early October.  We lucked out on weather and experienced Sun, Low Clouds, Heavy Mists and Wind.  Crowded is an understatement.  We were on the trail by 9AM and passed a few coming down and only a handful going up.  By 10-11AM, the place gets very busy.  There were lots of not in such great shape folks and children.  Gets noisy, so go early!

The lake and topography all worth it.  Too cool to swim, but I hear it is great.  We trekked around to the Rock Creek Trail Head on the North side and decided to head back down.  About a 1 1/2 hours up and an 1 hour down.  With photo shot and lunch, 5 hour RT.  I put difficulty at moderate as the toughest part is the elevation climb - which is very doable.  The trial is rocky and rooty, but nothing that requires more than some attention.  Another day we will explore to Gem and Wildcat Lakes.

[URL=http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2385252900049409549YwcMXK][IMG]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/57/657/2/52/90/2385252900049409549YwcMXK_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Great hike! It was a beautiful summer day on Saturday and the lake and views were simply gorgeous.  The fair amount of folks on the trail kept things interesting. This was my siggy's initiation hike & he deemed hiking a good pre ski season work out.  It took us 2 hours to make the trek to Snow Lake and 1.5 hours out.  We packed lunches and lingered by the lake's edge, dangling tired feet in the crisp, cold water.  Wild blueberries were in abundance in the area's down by the lake. It was sad for us to see broken glass by the lakeshore as well as at one of the campsite areas. The pieces of broken glass we saw we picked up and packed out with us.  We were glad to have packed plenty of water as the hot, dry day warranted the consumption of lots of water. All in all a great first hike :)

My husband and I hiked this trail for our innaugural "let's get in shape" hike on July 29th.  This was a first hike for both of us since we were children, and it was pretty much perfect.  It was easy enough for our out-of-shape bodies, and had great views along the way.  At the top, we didn't descend to the lake because it was FREEZING, but the view of the lake was great.  The "stairs" at the beginning of the trail make it seem like the hike will be very difficult, but once you're done with them, it's pretty easy going.  We saw 2 year olds and 80 year olds on the way, so it looks like its nice for the whole family.  I actually liked that it was so crowded, because for first-timers, it's nice to know there is help walking by every 2 minutes!  Overall, a fantastic first hike (much better than Crystal Lake, which we did on Sunday).

Snow Lake.  1300ft up 400 ft down to get to the lake.  The lake was aptly named, at least at this time of year.  There was an estimated 5ft of snow at the top.  Enough to get waist deep.  This white ground covering hindered the speedy completion of the course, however it was an asset to the beauty and interest of the hike.  2 hiker-hike + lots of snow = 3 hiker-hike.  Snow shoers coming down helped pave the path to the lake, had they not come first . . .

Most of this distance the trail has a mild grade.  It steepens a bit just befor cresting the ridge, rewarding the hiker with a splndid view of the lake.

Hiking this time of year is without it's drawbacks.  A sobering reminder came in the form of an avalanche.  While on the trail, a small avalanche covered the trail below.  Conclusion: snow moves under gravitational forces.

I should have brought snow shoes.  I should have brought survival gear.

May others learn from this posting so that they may have a pleasant foray to the Lake of Snow.  Snow is abound and it is fed by the same, and hence it is named.  It will be there for you, if you are there for it.

This is a fun and fairly easy hike if you have a few hours to spare or hike on spontaneity... Im not sure if this hike is actually 4 miles one way... It seems like its more around 3ish... You will definately encouter people on the trail and more than half of the hike is out and on top of the dense forest... This offers great views of the alpental area and beyond... The hike itself is a walk in the park... The first 2 miles have a very very gentle grade and the next 1/2 mile or so climbs gradually until descending to the lake... There is some loose rock here and there, but you dont need to be a mountain goat to pass... It took about 60-70min. to reach snow lake for me (20y/o)... I have to agree with other reviewers though that the lake itself is very beautiful... I definately must do a day hike in dead winter to see the true nature of snow lake... The trail is very well maintained (probably best in the area)... My only complaint is that I didnt bring any food, so I couldnt stay at the lake too long before my stomach told me to head home... I highly recommend this hike for a peaceful and rewarding day out...

This was a great hike to do on a warm day. It would be even better on a really hot day (swimming in the lake = goal for end of hike!). The hike from the parking lot to the top of the ridge starts off easy then gets a bit strenuous, like using a stairmaster - many switchbacks and built-in steps by the WS trail crew (well-maintained and not nearly as crowded for a Thursday). It took about 1 hour to hike up at an easy pace. Once at the top of the ridge  it's all downhill to the lake basin (Snow Lake).  Bring a camera for the gorgeous views. Find a place to access the water and go for a swim, very chilly but refreshing. I went swimming when it was about 80 degrees that day - would be better on a hotter day, of course. After lunch and swimming I went huckleberry picking. Go at the end of August for peak picking. The blue and dark blue huckleberries are ripe and delicious! After picking 1/2 a gallon there were still thousands of berries around to be picked. The trip from the parking lot to the lake took about 1 1/2 hours total. It was a gorgeous day with no bugs at all. Bring lots of water (more than 2 quarts), sunscreen, bathing suit, bags for berries, and a lunch for a perfect day of hiking. You could easily spend the whole day around the lake. I saw about 20 people there all day. I'm definitely going back next summer!

We climbed up the mountain. On the way, we saw lots of rocks.  Then we got to the top of the hill and went over.  Then we saw a lake.  We went down to the lake and saw a duck.  It was fun.

I think Snow Lake is a really nice day hike.  I have also heard that it can be incredibly crowded.  I would try to go on a weekday if possible.  It is a relatively easy hike on a trail that is very well maintained.  I was really surprised by the size of the lake and all of the great vistas.  I would recommend this hike as a great way to get started for other hikes in the area.

Hiked Snow Lake/Gem Lake on a hot, summer day a year ago. It was very crowded and noisy, lots of families and groups, we even saw a group trying to haul a packed ice cooler as we were heading out!--I wonder how that worked out for them, as that awkward box of plastic could not have been fun to carry--But that should give you an idea of the variety of crowd that ventures this way; its a very popular hike. The hike to Snow Lake is relatively easy, and the payoff is comparable to the amount of work needed to get there. The overflow of people was daunting for me personally. For the more adventurous, I highly encourage you to go a bit farther and make Gem Lake your final destination instead of Snow Lake, if you can, which will bump your roundtrip from 7 to 11 miles. Gem Lake is quieter, less crowded, and you're rewarded with a picturesque view of Gem Lake to enjoy a rest well earned. Be warned, take insect repellent, in case its gets swarmy.

snow lake is larger than i expected. not a difficult hike, took me 2.5 hours roundtrip. but plan to spend plenty of time at the lake, it's beautiful! the trail is in good shape and you will encounter many people on the trail. i went on a monday and there were about 20 cars at the parking lot. bring plenty of water, no water on trail. a good portion of the trail is not covered, so watch out on a very sunny day, it gets HOT!! a very good day hike, short and sweet.

I am 9 years old, and am training to do Half Dome. Snow Lake seemed much easier than Mt. Si. There are very pretty things to look at along the way. At the end there is the lake, and there is also a pond that you can swim and play in.

The trailhead was easy to find with a port-a-john conveniently located near by. Pay close attention to the signs as you work your way up the Snow Lake trail. There is an easy to miss turn as it cuts back to the right when you least expect it. The views are spectacular the entire way, with some great vista's both on the south side and the north of the trail. If you plan on spending time at the lake, I would advise you to have some hefty bug repellant. I attempted to have a snack while there but it was I who was the snack instead. Overall it was a great hike lasting three hours round trip. It was not as difficult as most of the reviews I had read seemed to indicate.

Once you're at Snow Lake, you've just got to go on at least a bit towards Gem. Until you reach the first upward stretch, it's not even any more work, and it's a beautiful walk -- around Snow Lake, with slopes of white boulders plunging under the blue water; across the lake's outlet ravine, on a bridge of a large hewn log; through a low-alpine landscape of scattered trees and small plants, in fall colors, and to a miniature lake with the big one in the background, and Chair Peak steep behind it. The line for Snow Lake and Gem Lake, together: 11 mi (round trip). 2100' elevation gain. I'm just eyeballing that from the online topo map. Figure 1.5 hrs (1300' gain) to Snow Lake, 1.5 hr to Gem (800'); 1 hr (about 0') back to Snow, 1.25 hr (400') back to trailhead. Times include photography but do not include appreciating lakes. I went on the 2nd of October, what I figured might be the last day of summer. And it wasn't peak crowd season, I figured, but I think everybody had the same thought I did. Great views of Snow Lake as you come down from the ridge. There's a maze of lake-access trails here, which I didn't have time to poke around as much as I'd have liked, since I'd gotten a late start and was hoping to make Gem Lake and back before dark and before I met people for dinner. The trail on to Gem Lake had fewer people, though it's had even more construction invested than the lower section had. Right now (on weekdays) they're blasting rocks out of the trail, if that gives you an idea. And they're drystone-paving the trail with hunks of rock fitted together. This effort seems so far to have reached a certain point, and past that the trail has some rough spots, scrubby patches that after the interstate-highway level of construction make you wonder where the trail has gone. Speaking of which, the trail has three or so unlabeled forks; what I can say is that if you bear left each time, you get to Gem Lake. There's one good upward stretch, and then another just as you reach the lake.