Margaret Lake — Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

The road up to the trail becomes unpaved after 2 or so miles. Lots of deep holes and rocks on road. Doable slowly in a normal car; better w/a vehicle with good clearance. Even an outback was crawling down the road. As others have said, don't do the trail from the parking lot. Instead, after parking at the lot for 1332, keep walking up the road til you see the signs for 1332. The book (Day Hike Snoqualmie) makes it sound like the logging road just sort of becomes the path. That's wrong, the path is poorly marked on the side of the road after 1/2 a mile (see below for the sign with graffitti indicating that this is the path for the lake). Beautiful wildflowers. Amazing views of Rainier looming over the pass, great views to the north as well as you come over the ridge. Lake Margaret is beautiful and serene, and less packed than Snow Lake (and further off the beaten path). For those walking with dogs: this is a dry trail until you get to the lake. Bring water. Also the first 2 mi is on exposed hill. Then there is beautiful forest cover all the way to the lake.