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 Reporter |
Summary: The trail starts off on an old road and then climbs steadily through second-growth forest. There is a trail all the way around the lake. This hike is popular year-round, some people ice skate on the lake in winter. Trailhead: From I-5 take Exit 194/City Center/StevensPass and drive east 6 miles on Hwy 2. Go north on Hwy 9 and turn right on Hwy 92. Stay on Hwy 92 for 8 miles until you reach Granite Falls and turn left on the Mountain Loop Hwy. Drive 13 miles and turn right on Mount Pilchuck Road (FS 42) and go a little over 1 mile to the parking lot and trailhead. (Lat:48.0827 Lon:-121.77487) Trail Guides for Heather Lake Trail: Hiking Snohomish County by Ken Wilcox (Northwest Wild Books) Pacific Northwest Hiking by Ron C. Judd & Dan A. Nelson (Foghorn Press) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: Darrington Ranger District 425-259-7911 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Robbie Hochreiter, who has posted 24 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 1 of 5 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Amit on 11/26/2007 Quite an easy hike. There is a fair amount of snow at the lake and its almost frozen. Dont forget to take ur gloves :). I am looking forward to going there again in the summer to see how it looks without the snow. I have some pics online, check them out : http://www.flickr.com/photos/amityville/sets/72157603295080846/ 
Reviewed by Ekaterina on 10/15/2007 This sertainly was not an easy hike, but very enjoyable. I was amazed by the old growth forest. Very nice! I would highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Emily on 9/3/2007 This was a beautiful hike but I really think it needs to be marked intermedient - watching your footing is a must one in our party sprained her ankle on the way down. The lake is very beautiful and has great huge rocks that were wonderful for sunning and eating lunch over Labor Day. :)
Reviewed by Jonathan on 7/31/2007 This is a great hike with a fantastic finish, and I'll probably do it again in a few months when some visitors come out from the midwest. It's an easy enough hike that you don't have to be conditioned for or need hiking boots for; it's so beautiful that any person from out of town would love it. There's a great view of Mt. Pilchuck at the top also. I brought my dog and she had a good time too (please keep dogs LEASHED). Search flickr.com for heather lake and you'll see some good photos.
Reviewed by EMS on 6/28/2007 Pretty hike. We went up on Monday 6/25. The trail was wet and muddy at places. The wet rocks created a challenge at times, especially on the way down. The hike through the forest was refreshing, as the air was cool and trail was shaded most of the way. Huge stumps show where beautiful trees used to stand, although some giants are still living further up the trail. The lake was very pretty and a nice ending. Some patches of snow were still present on the mountainside. HOWEVER, the bugs are now thriving up there, making our lunch and explorations a bit unpleasant. BE PREPARED WITH BUG SPRAY. Overall though, I would recommend this hike.
Reviewed by LAP & JBJ on 6/22/2007 We like to take hikes pretty quickly, and this was a lot of fun for us. The forest was just beautiful and we were itching for the reward of the lake view, which turned out to be completely worth it. great views of water falls, and surrounding mountains--the water was so clear we could see to the bottom everywhere. the trails were pretty wet, but easy to navigate. bring hiking shoes and a camera.
Reviewed by JLD on 6/17/2007 Really enjoyable! I would rate this as "intermediate" difficulty, due to all the slippery exposed roots and rocks. On the down-climb especially, you really have to watch your footing. The lake up top was like a little piece of the Alps transported to Washington - very beautiful and serene. Not crowded, though heading down we passed over a dozen or so other hikers (around 2:00pm on a Saturday). Start early to have the trail more to yourself. 
Reviewed by TM on 6/12/2007 Great hike. Decent workout up to the lake. I agree with everyone else that the lake is awesome. Very pretty. The hike was not too bad. Even my 170 lb dog made it up. Would recommend boots due to all the roots and rocks exposed. Highly recommend this hike. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Washington Hiking, Washington Trails, Washington Hikes, Snohomish County Hiking, Snohomish County Trails, Snohomish County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||