Snoqualmie Lake - 13.9 Miles Round-Trip

Snoqualmie Lake (3,147') is located 6.95 miles from Lake Dorothy Trailhead in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. This large, shapely lake is tucked in a deep bowl at the head of Taylor River. The Lake Dorothy Trail rises moderately to Lake Dorothy (1.5 miles), then steepens on rough, undulating terrain to Bear Lake (5.4 miles), Deer Lake (5.75 miles) and Snoqualmie Lake.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

Crowds thin beyond Dorothy's inlet, where hikers and backpackers will find solitude in a deep woods setting. While overall grades are tame compared to others in the ALW, rugged tread and steep climbs in each direction are cumulatively taxing.

Snoqualmie Lake is also accessible from the Snoqualmie Lake Trailhead on Taylor River Road, a longer but milder approach on which bikes and horses are permitted for the first 6 miles:

The trail begins in a diverse low elevation forest with some notably large trees. It crosses the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary (.35 miles) to a bridge over Camp Robber Creek (.6 miles : 2,525'), then steepens incrementally on reinforced log cribs to the Lake Dorothy outlet spur (1.45 miles : 3,074'). Follow signs left for Bear Lake.

The main trail continues up Dorothy's east side to the open inlet area. Much of this section runs above the lake in dense timber with limited views and access. 

Conditions moderate past 2.75 miles with spurs to sandy strips and outcrops on the SE shore. The south end opens to interesting sluices, marshes and peninsulas. Look for water fowl, deer and osprey in this area. Tread lightly and use established paths when exploring sensitive habitat.

The trail arcs to the wide inlet stream (3.5 miles : 3,068'), which you'll have to wade / rock hop across. It undulates to the SW side (4.0 miles : 3,107') and steepens considerably to a ridge over the basin at the trail's highest point (5.0 miles : 3,848'). 

Here it officially (and seamlessly) becomes the Snoqualmie Lake Trail and drops to Bear Lake (5.4 miles : 3,610'). It weaves through big trees across a thin, divisive ridge to Deer Lake (5.75 miles : 3,583').

These adjacent, similar-looking lakes are ringed by thick woods that limit exploration, but hikers can follow boot tracks throughout the Bear-Deer basin to hidden campsites and open, isolated stretches of shore.

The trail rises past Deer Lake to a ridge over the Snoqualmie basin (6.25 miles : 3,470'), where a steep, shifting path dives through dense brush to a beach-like cove on Snoqualmie Lake (6.95 miles : 3,147').

Access off the main trail is otherwise limited, and you'll have to improvise a bit to see more of the lake. An unmarked spur at 6.55 miles leads to open space on the lake's main body, a worthwhile excursion.