Heather Lake, Lake 22 — Sunday, Apr. 5, 2026

Hello! WTA question, if you happen to read this – folks seem to be trying to help, leaving air freshener in one bathroom, wipes in another. Is there a particular kind of toilet paper that would be helpful for trailhead toilets, if we wanted to contribute a pack here and there?

Anyway, got to take my first mountain hike of the year, after a winter near sea level!

Route: Lake 22 trailhead, up to Lake 22 and back, then walking from there to Heather Lake and back. Around 17 miles total, including the loop around each lake.  

Lake 22:

• Road: Signal goes out about 13 miles before the trailhead, so have back-up directions and check that odometer!
• Parking lot: 15 cars, an hour after sunrise. 11 AM and even 3:45 PM, completely full! About 60 cars; overflow right up to the entrance. The highway has no shoulder room, so if you’re too late for a spot in the lot, you’ll need to find another hike.
• Bathroom: one said open, one said closed, but both were clean, stocked, and being used at 7:30 AM, though out of TP by 11 AM. They were both a little stinky, but that’s an easy fix – close those lids, folks! Everybody’s noses will appreciate it. 😊
• Trail condition: lush is right – very wet, with surprisingly huge trees at the beginning, then uneven rocky stretches, followed by more wetness. With waterproof shoes, you’ll be fine; only the bottom inch or two of your shoes will get wet. The trail was very clear; no navigation concerns.
• Snow: none until very shortly before the lake (maybe the last few hundred feet). The lakeshore itself is almost all snow, though, especially to the left and at the back. Once you get past the initial boardwalk, the trail to the right goes for much longer without significant snow. So, no microspikes needed to get to the outflow – where views are prettiest! – but they’re definitely helpful for the loop.

 Heather Lake:

• Road: final 1.5 miles are unpaved and a steeper uphill than I’d bargained for, but in good shape – very few potholes, which seemed pretty avoidable.
• Parking lot: about 70 cars both at noon and 2:45 PM, with just a handful of spots open.
• Bathroom: had TP. Stinky with an open lid and some garbage on the floor.
• Trail condition: less rocky than Lake 22, but way more rooty and very muddy. I saw many people carrying their small dogs and one poor Corgi (short, but heavy to carry up a mountain!) flatly refusing to advance another inch. If you’re going to bring a dog (or a kid), bring one with long legs, as in addition to the steep roots there were quite a few 2-3 foot high steps to clamber over.
• Snow: started much farther from the lake (1,000 feet or so). However, at the lake itself, there was much less than at 22. Microspikes would be helpful on the way, but are less needed at the lake, especially on the right side. Again, the prettiest views are from the outflow, but folks were snacking on rocks all around the lake.

All in all, a lovely re-introduction to the mountains that I’m very glad to have done this time of year. I can’t imagine how crazy-busy it must get in July!