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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 2 of 8 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Dave on 6/15/2009 This was my first hike since moving to Washington about 2 weeks ago. I hiked it on June 13th and started the hike at about 8am so the parking lot and trail were pretty much empty. Since this was my first hike, I wasn't sure what I was in for and I was pleasantly surprised. The trail was fairly easy to follow except when I got towards the end. At this point the trail was covered with snow and there weren't many tracks to follow. I amde a few guesses and made it to the lake with no problems. This being my first mountain lake, it was a breathtaking sight. I enjoyed every bit of this hike and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good hike with a great payoff at the end. I will be doing this one again.
Reviewed by Alex on 6/8/2009 Great hike. There are several parts that are quite muddy so be prepared to get a little dirty. Still snowy on top (probably the last 20 minutes of hiking) so be sure to wear waterproof boots and bring a warm jacket. The lake and surrounding mountains are breathtaking. The hike is harder than "Easy" but not hard enough to be "Medium". It took us about 2.5 - 3 hours to do the round trip.
Reviewed by Bryan L. on 5/24/2009 I took a group of young men up with several other adult leaders. The trail was in good condition and well marked for most of the way. About the last 1/3 of a mile, the trail was covered with several feet of snow. Still we were able to find the lake without any difficulty. Lake was entirely surrounded by snow and about half of the lake was still frozen over. Several falls were cascading off the surrounding mountains and looking up high on the WEST side of the lake, above the outlet, were a couple of mountain goats that at first looked like snow patches. Great hike though it was VERY popular that day. Upon leaving we also noticed several cars were given notices for NOT having their Northwest Trail Pass.
Reviewed by tt on 5/19/2009 Went on this hike last week with a friend and my one-year old daughter. I carried her up in a baby backpack and it was pretty easy with a few breaks here and there. Even though it was not raining the sno is melting off the trees so bring a jacket. When you get to the top there is still at least 8 feet of snow. It was beautiful and well worth getting hit in the head with melting snow!
Reviewed by Matt on 5/16/2009 took dad and little dog up to the lake. great view of mt.pilchuck cliff. last 2/3 to 1/4 still has quite a bit of snow but manageable. plan footwear accordenly. will be back!
Reviewed by sn on 5/10/2009 great hike - there is snow at the top so prepare accordingly. also quite a bit of the trail is wet right now, including a washout in the middle. not sure about the other couple who did this on 5/9 but the lake is beautiful with a gorgeous view of mt. pilchuck. it is something amazing to watch avalanches from afar. this hike is great now and will be easier later in the summer once the snow is gone. 
Reviewed by Mandy on 5/9/2009 My husband and I did this hike today. I would not say this was easy, more like a moderate hike. Going up was hard as you’re going up hill the entire time, over streams, and slipping in the snow. It took us 1.5 hours to get to the top and just over an hour to get back down. A few times we almost turned around on the way up because it was so difficult. It its beautiful the whole way up, but I was a little disappointed with the lake at the top. When we arrived the first words out of my mouth were “this is it?†There were also 2 avalanches while we ere there and just the sound scared the crud out of us! I would highly recommend water proof shoes, a sweater, warm gloves, and walking or ski pools.
Reviewed by LJL on 4/19/2009 We went yesterday, 4/18/09, and there was a lot of snow for the last mile. The Verlot ranger station said there was just a little snow, but we measured about 8 feet at the top. Trail is slick and slow going. Take hiking poles, gloves, and good boots at a minimum. Someplaces good for snow shoeing or crampons. 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||