So, no particular reason. Let me know if there is anything I can trade for the help. Central Cascades. on From the parking area, the route proceeds up Deer Creek Road (Road 4052). $3.00/person per day. The first time we attempted the lake as a snowshoe, we missed the turn-off and wandered up Smithbrook road ultimately turning around without seeing the lake. Very good conditions and happy faces all over the trail. ... Snowshoe and Camp at Skyline Lake. Hike round trip from both trailheads or one-way either direction. The forecast had a high of 24°F at the lake basin, and that felt generous. Lake Elizabeth: 11 miles, 1,700 feet net elevation gain. Seattle, WA 98104. Blog; Magazine; Sign Up; Press Room; Site Search. Hike Finder Map; Hiking Guide; Trip Reports; Hiking with Kids; Hiking by Season; Trail Smarts; Passes and Permits; Ranger Station Info; Youth Programs; Trail Work Parties; Get Involved . Anthony Kasner Lake Valhalla is one of the prime winter day trips in the Stevens Pass area. This is the end of the road, but not the trail. Print. Trail snow-covered at times - gear and expertise recommended, Meadow along trail 1590, about half way between PCT and the road, Smith Brook Road - grooming courtesy of many snowmobiles, Cross-country connection to PCT on Lake Valhalla snowshoe trip. According to the paragraph quote above - the PCT junction is at 3.5 miles (well before the lake) and that alone is 7 miles. The only map I have is the Green Trails map. Seattle, WA 98104. Share . Lake Valhalla Snowshoe. There are two ways to access the lake. .5 miles from the PCT. -Chris, cwcoleman While Nelson indicates "in the next mile" to reach the PCT, I estimate it would be more like 0.7 miles to intersect at 4800 feet, depending on whatever obstacles need to be skirted during the traverse. The 4.7-mile hike gains 800 feet in elevation and brings hikers past a series of ponds and marshy meadows, eventually leading to Cub Lake. After the first good snowfall, there is an easy boot path to follow up to the PCT and ultimately down to the lake. A popular summertime destination for many hikers and backpackers, Lake Valhalla also makes a rewarding advanced snowshoe route. Up on the PCT, as we were breaking trail, the PCT was scarcely visible however we easily followed it using GPS and compass bearings. Only sort of needed snowshoes here because of the snowmobile traffic. Begin by heading up Forest Road 6700, first through a patchwork of second-growth forest and clearcut meadows, then switchbacking up the ridge until you reach the end of the road at 4000 feet. Jan 03, 2015 09:57 PM. We parked on the shoulder of HWY 2 and walked the berm to the Smithbrook Rd. The good part is that they really help groom the trail/road. Surprise Lake: 8 … Unfortunately I've already deleted the GPS tracks from that trip and today we only made it to the 1590 trailhead so that is no help either. https://www.alltrails.com/us/washington/leavenworth/snowshoeing East Fork of the Foss River: 8.2 miles, 700 feet net elevation gain. But that's not what the description says. Your path steadily gains in elevation, while views are mostly forested. My Backpack. She has also posted a TR (WTA) and you can find it here. There is a very noticeable Avalanche Chute right before the summer parking area - be careful here. A little further into the switchback after the summer trailhead parking area. Dec 30, 2014 09:34 PM, Yes, I would love to see this trail on a map. Stuart hovers at the end of the lake but was obscured by clouds. Owing to it's easy access, moderate avy risk (under most conditions) and multiple destinations for snowshoers and scramblers alike, the consensus was to drive east to Smith Brook Road and see what struck our fancy once we got going. I swear the directions are to park on highway 2, hike 3 miles up Smith Brook Road. A moderate hike or backpack from Stevens Pass or Smith Brook Road on the Pacific Crest Trail that skirts Lichtenburg Mountain to visit Lake Valhalla and/or Mount McCausland. I think the 7.5 number comes from the summer trip. I was excited to revisit the region, as Valhalla and I have a bit of a cursed history. In general going straight ahead on a rising traverse above the creek you'll find Lake Valhalla (1.8 miles) beyond the saddle at the head of the valley. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/smithbrook-trail on Cub Lake is a perfect choice if you want a slightly longer hike. Lake Kelcema Snowshoe Hike Info. Pretty sure this is 1590, which is either the long way or it's not 1590 and it's the right way and I was wrong about which trail we were on. So I don't see how 7.5 was accurate. Still interested in that map. Yeah - I've done my fair share of 'wilderness navigation'. Since you can not drive up Smith Brook Road, the 3 miles from highway 2 are required, adding a good distance to an already strenuous winter hike. Snowshoe through the Snowy Pacific NW Wilderness from Hwy 2 out to Lake Valhalla, January 2016 [click 'play' to start] Spade Lake Summer Backpack to Spade Lake, … We did encounter a steep gully/drainage along the PCT about 1/4 mile before reaching the lake. Check your maps! Trail snow-covered at times - gear and expertise recommended, GPS Track to Lake Valhalla (5.7 miles one-way), Some artful snow layers on boulders along Smith Brook Road. I would say snowshoes were mandatory here. After your snowshoeing adventure, come back to your cabin, light a fire and enjoy the evening at Valhalla. Posted by: ... Washington Trails Association 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 625-1367. See more ideas about Go hiking, Snow shoes, Trail. That is 6.5 miles - 1 way. After reaching the ridge, you can enjoy the beautiful views of Lake Valhalla when the trail crosses the Pacific Crest Trail leading in to the Nason Creek Valley. At lower elevations the snow was crusted, but soft. There were already tracks this way (and another group leading the way) - so it was easy to find. If you could send that map, either digitally or physically I would really appreciate it. The lake is a great day hike in summer or fall and accessible by snowshoe in the winter. The view of the lake was phenomenal. Snow Trail snow-covered at times - gear and expertise recommended. So instead of jumping right on the 1590 trail at the parking area (all snowed under) - walk up to where the road starts to switch back again. Lake Valhalla Snowshoe; 1st snowshoe trip of the season. Parked at the Highway 2 pullout past Stevens Pass and headed up FR6700. We hiked up the road about a quarter mile before catching the trail. Paulc Hiked Jan 24, 2019. Jan 03, 2015 10:21 PM, Washington Trails Association Photo credit: Andrew Monko 9. We took ski's instead of snowshoes and the return trip was a breeze. cwcoleman I know the path started just past the 1590 trailhead, but maybe I was wrong here and it was a separate path up to the PCT. We didn't make it to the PCT junction. It is not clear here how I would connect to the PCT from Smith Brook Road, other than 1590. Still some snow over the trail the last 1/3 of the hike and around the lake (as of June 20th). The forest road snow was packed down and we hiked the 3 miles to the trailhead in boots. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. There were a few groups of snowmobiles out today. That's why all of us snowshoers are supposed to read and practice "Wilderness Navigation" :-) [ http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/Wilderness-Navigation-P360.aspx ] The relevant part of the trip description for connecting to the PCT: " Just over 2.5 miles up, at 4000 feet, the road again loops through a switchback turn. Skyline Lake offers a great snowshoe experience with normally low avalanche danger. The spur we took, and that is still blazed today - is just beyond the summer trailhead. We climbed up above this gully, up and around to avoid crossing it since there well may have been substantial water running underneath the snow down in the gully/drainage. Not new to snow travel. Overall a fun snowshoe. Read About these trails in our Hiking Guide Lake Valhalla Snowshoe; We arrived at RD6700 at 9:30am and … The route described in Snowshoe Routes Washington doesn't go on trail #1590. Can’t guarantee either Info COVID-19: Learn about our most up-to-date guidance for participants and leaders on our COVID-19 Response page. Previous trip reports appear to indicate a longer trip (13 + miles) because they involve hiking the Smith Brook Trail #1590 up to the PCT which means initially heading northbound instead of southbound. After about 3 miles of skinning up the road, we skied across the meadow and up the drainage toward Lake Valhalla using our topo map … As others have mentioned, the first three miles are pretty simple. There, at 3.5 miles from the trailhead, catch the snow-obscured PCT, cross the head of the Smith Brook valley, and hike another 0.25 mile southwest to the Lake Valhalla basin at 4800 feet. " Snowshoe Lake Valhalla. It was hard not to notice how deep the snow still is. Hwy 2 was wet but clear. PaleoYogi on Lake Valhalla, Lake Valhalla Snowshoe I was simply more familiar with parking at the PCT/Stevens Pass lot and that route to Valhalla. Lake Valhalla is one of my favorite snow hikes. Probably 8 sleds in total. It’s not too long of a trail and their are really nice views along the way. Located just north of the Stevens Pass Resort and a stone's throw form the Pacific Crest Trail, the lake is accessible to snowshoers of most skill levels, and it sees a good amount of traffic throughout the year. The pull off on the side of Hwy. We hiked up the 3 or so miles to the trailhead. Do you disagree with whoever edited this hike description and changed it to 13 miles? I have a map I can send you on which I've marked the route if you're interested. By the way - today was super fun. I was excited to revisit the region, as Valhalla and I have a bit of a cursed history. Between Index and Leavenworth. Lake Valhalla; Lake Valhalla Snowshoe; We set out on Saturday from the pull out on Highway 2 for FR 6700. Also, the way Nelson says "This is the end of the road, but not the trail" may be a bit misleading if you're just forging cross-country on a compass bearing toward the PCT. Trip Intermediate Snowshoe - Lake Valhalla (winter) Hope to enjoy a brilliant blue sky day and fresh snow. WTA description below. Wet day today, but the road is good to travel on and if you can make it up to the PCT - Lake Valhalla is only another 1.8 miles away. The new snow depth was approximately 8 - 10 inches on the PCT. The water was a deep blue, and the warm rocky cirque provided the most brilliant contrast. Type of Hike Day hike. Mountaineers Books. Lake Valhalla; Lake Valhalla Snowshoe; My girlfriend and I got a bit of a later start around 10:30 am at the US-2 intersection with the Smithbrook Creek Forest Service Road (which is closed due to about 10 ft of snow buildup. It heads up and across the valley to connect with the PCT. WTA’s Commitment to Stand Against Racism; Go Outside . There were also tracks leading up to the saddle; micro-spikes were useful there. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Note that according to my topo maps, you can't actually intersect the PCT at 4600 feet - it's more like at 4800 feet where that would occur. Eventually, we rounded the corner to reveal Lake Ingalls. Another group (experienced with the area) finished heading up to the PCT, not sure where they went after that. I dont like easy and short though. We landed on Mount McCausland and Lake Valhalla just past Steven’s Pass. We found good snowshoeing conditions (on Feb 14, 2015) especially above 4,500 feet. For the backcountry portion, we left the Smith Brook road at the sharp hairpin, briefly using a snowshoe trail that went up towards #1590 to gain around 200 feet. There's typically a well beaten path in the snow to the lake, making whiteout conditions or traveling at night easier for beginners and with only 2.5 miles roundtrip and 1,050' of elevation gain, you can experience a splendid snow adventure with minimal efforts. So there would not be an established trail for that portion between the Smith Brook road and the PCT. Super accessible, easy hike just past the summit of Stevens Pass. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. Melakwa Lake felt like a winter snowshoe that we forgot to wear snowshoes for. Again - my thinking that the boot pack from Smith Brook Road was 1590 may be the confusion point. 4/2/2017 I have had it on my mind to do Lake Valhalla as a snowshoe and although the weather could not make up it’s mind today and we had near whiteout for most of our time on the ridge above the lake, it was yet another wonderful day on trail. podenski@me.com There is a plowed clearing about a quarter mile before Smith Brook Road. The trail toward the lake was almost perfect. The camera was stored away at this point, as the trail became rockier and more of a scramble. Chris, as far as I can tell (I haven't done this snowshoe trip just yet) the description calls for traversing cross-country from the hairpin. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Rate this Adventure 11.6 miles 1500 ft gain ... this hike will be just within reach of completion while it is daylight. See more ideas about the great outdoors, places to go, places to see. There was a path already made in the snow like someone had been there a few days before, but it was still soft and not real crusty. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Very wet snow all around, with the wintry mix today. The lake is a great day hike in summer or fall and accessible by snowshoe in the winter. In the day before this trip, it rained and melted all of the new snow out of the trees, but left behind some nice new snow for us to make some fresh tracks on. Lake Valhalla If you love to play in the snow and have found that skiing isn't quite your cup of tea, hitch a ride with friends to Steven's Pass Resort and peel off to tag this incredible snowshoe hike (always go with a buddy, though). Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. Washington Trails Association Six of us headed up to Stevens Pass with the intention of driving to Smithbrook Trailhead to snowshoe to Lake Valhalla. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. For a more strenuous snowshoe, head out to Deer Creek and the Lake Kelcema trail. Once we got to the trail, however, snowshoes were needed. Basic Snowshoe Add-on Add on snowshoes to your reservation. Jan 03, 2015 06:39 PM. As others have indicated, the Dan Nelson book lists this at 7.5 miles but it is really ~13 miles as indicated on the WTA site. I was here again today, and just re-read the attached trail description. Lake Valhalla Snowshoe ... but instead of going to the resort like the rest of the masses we headed on the PCT toward Lake Valhalla. Snowshoe Package Choices: * Prices good December through April excluding holidays. The 'trailhead' (FS 6700) is easy to find and parking along HWY 2 was relatively straightforward. Lake Valhalla is a gem, tucked under Lichtenberg Mountain and Mount McCausland on the PCT North of Stevens Pass. podenski@me.com Then the climbing began.... not overly steep - but a tight snowshoe track. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/lake-valhalla About 1 foot of compact snow, with a frost layer a few inches down. We had a nice sunny Fall day with fresh snow so it was the perfect day for this hike. More than just books: Gear, Apparel & More Shop Road Road impassable/closed. Lake Valhalla Snowshoe; Mount McCausland; Had no trouble parking at 9:30, just one other car in the Smith Brook turnout. Our mileage was 5.7 miles in to Lake Valhalla from the start of the hike on Highway 2 (11.4 miles roundtrip). This is an advanced but rewarding snowshoe hike where you will experience beautiful forest, meadows, as well as switch-backing up a ridge, all on one trail. Jan 28, 2014 - Explore Jamie Dobbs's board "Snowshoe Trails" on Pinterest. There, at 3.5 miles from the trailhead, catch the snow-obscured PCT, cross the head of the Smith Brook valley, and hike another 0.25 mile southwest to the Lake Valhalla basin at 4800 feet. 2 near FS Road 6700 has been plowed so there's room to park now. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/rachel-lake-trail--4 89 Trip Reports for this trail, below Hike by WTA Community: Joan Burton. Lake Valhalla had snow but the trail was mostly slush. Watch out for tubers and sledders on the lower portion. Put our snowshoes … I have included a photo of our track - GPS track available on request :-) Make the u-turn at the Steven's pass nordic center sign / Mill Creek and then look for the cars parked on the road. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Contact Us. Washington Trails Association 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 625-1367. I have included a photo of our track - GPS track available on request :-) For the backcountry portion, we left the Smith Brook road at the sharp hairpin, briefly using a snowshoe trail that went up towards #1590 to gain around 200 feet. Trail Conditions Minor obstacles posing few problems. Snowshowed to Lake Valhalla on Saturday. 4/2/2017 I have had it on my mind to do Lake Valhalla as a snowshoe and although the weather could not make up it’s mind today and we had near whiteout for most of our time on the ridge above the lake, it was yet another wonderful day on trail. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. Hike by WTA Correspondents : Rob Shurtleff Lake Valhalla is a gem, tucked under Lichtenberg Mountain and Mount McCausland on the PCT North of Stevens Pass. Thanks. Leave the road at the apex of that switchback, and traverse the open hillside above Smith Brook. We also enjoyed the very cool layering of snow on some boulders along the side of Smith Brook Road (see photo). Trip Report By. View from the trail to Lake Valhalla by Anthony Kasner. There is a few feet of snow on the FR 6700 making it impossible to drive to the Smithbrook TH so we parked the car and starting skinning up the road. Feb 29, 2016 - Explore TradeOnApp's board "PNW Winter Hikes", followed by 140 people on Pinterest. The first time we attempted the lake as a snowshoe, we missed the turn-off and wandered up Smithbrook road ultimately turning around without seeing the lake. Great road in, well maintained trail and great scenery the second half of the hike. The snow on the forest service road was compacted, so there was no need for snowshoes. We parked on the shoulder of HWY 2 … Join & Give; Volunteer; Take Action; Events; Donate; News . Then the 1590 trail is 1.5 miles to the PCT, and then 1.8 to the lake. After walking down (towards Seven's Pass) the quarter mile of road to the Smith Brook trail - it was all snow. The crossover to … Wildflowers abound in early summer, berries in late summer and fall colors make vivid surroundings in autumn. Take a spur into the woods at the trailhead (which is 3 miles from the car). Bugs No bugs. I'll email you. Mt. Others who have made the trip before were confident it was the way. I have a marked up map with slope shading, relevant trails highlighted (1590, PCT, Smith Brook Road, cross-country path), etc. If you would like to see the map, I'll need your email address (mine is my user name AT me dot com) so I can send it to you. Love to see at times - gear and expertise recommended we took ski 's of... Noticeable avalanche Chute right before the summer parking area - be careful.! - so it was the way ) - so it was easy to find, News gear. Hovers at the apex of that switchback, and most of the season Lake from Highway 2 ( 11.4 roundtrip. 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Miles to the PCT, and we are committed to making the best use every. To 13 miles not sure where they went after that of 'wilderness navigation ' evening at Valhalla by. Miles 1500 ft gain... this hike and around the Lake down on Smith Brook trail, we navigated country. The corner to reveal Lake Ingalls, News, gear reviews and more avalanche Chute right before the summer area... Too long of a cursed history switchback after the summer trailhead events, News, gear and! And get to the Smithbrook Rd 2 was relatively straightforward marked the route described in snowshoe washington! Do n't see how 7.5 was accurate had snow but the trail became rockier and more cwcoleman... Sign up ; Press room ; Site Search share of 'wilderness navigation ' the only map I have is end. We snowshoed to Lake Valhalla from the start of the hike on Highway 2 for 6700...