Snow Lake Hiking Guide
Snow Lake is where Seattle goes to see an alpine lake without committing to a backpacking trip. From the Alpental parking area at Snoqualmie Pass the trail climbs 1,700 feet to a saddle, then drops into a granite bowl holding a large, cold, improbably blue lake ringed by Chair Peak and the Tooth. It is the most heavily visited lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and on an August Saturday it feels like it.
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass required at the Alpental trailhead (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest)
Over the Saddle
The trail traverses and climbs through boulder fields and heather to a saddle at the wilderness boundary, which is the high point. From there it descends several hundred feet to the lake — meaning the return trip involves climbing back out of the basin at the end of your day. That reversal catches people out, and it is the main reason Snow Lake takes longer than the mileage suggests.
Snow Lingers Here
The name is not decorative. Snow fills this basin deep into summer and the traverse below the saddle holds steep, hard snowfields well after the trailhead is bare — often into July. Crossing them without traction and an ice axe has caused serious accidents. Check recent conditions rather than assuming a July date means clear trail, and be willing to turn around at the saddle.
Passes and Parking
The Alpental trailhead requires a Northwest Forest Pass or an interagency annual pass, which is a different document from the Discover Pass used at state parks — Washington runs both systems and they are not interchangeable. The lot is large and still fills by early morning all summer. Snoqualmie Pass is an hour from Seattle on I-90, which is exactly why.
Wilderness Rules
Beyond the saddle you are in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Group size limits apply, camping is restricted to established sites, and the standard leave-no-trace expectations are enforced more actively here than almost anywhere in the state because of the visitor numbers. Leashed dogs are permitted. Pack out everything, including food scraps — the marmots and jays here are thoroughly habituated.
Season and Weather
Mid-July through October is the realistic window, with early autumn offering the best combination of clear trail, stable weather and larch colour higher up. The basin is exposed and weather at the pass turns quickly; carry layers even on a warm forecast. Afternoon thunderstorms are less predictable here than in the Rockies but the exposure at the saddle is comparable.
Hiking tips for Snow Lake
- Remember you descend to the lake and climb back out at the end — the return is harder than the approach here.
- Check for lingering snowfields on the traverse before you go; they persist into July and have caused serious accidents.
- Bring a Northwest Forest Pass, not a Discover Pass — Washington runs two systems and this trailhead needs the federal one.
- Aim for late September or early October for clear trail, stable weather and the best colour in the basin.
- Pack out all food scraps; the marmots and jays at this lake are among the most habituated in the state.
Nearby trails to explore
- Franklin Falls
- Wallace Falls
- Mount Si
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Snow Lake is the alpine lake most Seattle hikers see first. Use TrailMates to find groups heading up to Snoqualmie Pass once the snowfields clear. Download the TrailMates app to connect.