Backpacked out to Snoqualmie Lake on April 5th for a little early season treat!
The trail conditions are fine until the Snoqualmie Lake Junction. There was one washout before Otter Falls, but a way through it was flagged and it was easy to get through. After the junction, the trail becomes a bit of an obstacle course. There were several small stream crossings, as well as sections of the trail that were running with water, so expect to get your feet wet! There were also many blowdowns. They’re all fairly easy to get over or under, but still a bit of a nuisance. Intermittent snow started about a mile from the lake. There was consistent snow cover for the last 1/3rd of a mile to the lake. When we hit the snow in the afternoon it was quite slushy and we were sliding and post holing a bit. There were some old footprints to follow which stayed pretty true to the trail, so thank you to whoever was out there before us! On the way out the next morning, the snow had solidified a bit which made things easier. I opted to wear microspikes on the firmer snow and it helped a lot. I really regretted not putting snow baskets on my poles before heading out, though!
We went to the first (and possibly only) clear campsite at the lake. There was a small dry patch not far from the shore where we were able to pitch a two person tent. We also saw one slanted spot just above the trail as we started to descend down to the lake. The lake itself is still frozen other than right at the outlet, but there was a small inflow stream running into the lake that we were able to collect water from.
Overall, it was a good early season trip! Definitely chilly overnight and we got pretty wet between the streams and the snow, but it was worth it. The lake was beautiful under the snow, there were no bugs, and the plants are all beginning to bud! It won’t be long until summer hiking starts in earnest!
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