Easy hike - Talapus Lake is about 3 miles roundtrip, but if you tack on Olallie Lake it will be…read moreabout 8 miles roundtrip. The incline was gradual and not hard at all. Easy for big groups and families. The lakes are both beautiful in the summer and I enjoyed Olallie Lake more than Talapus. You can buy the Discovery Park Pass for $5 online. Park on the street. A lot of shade so even in the summer you won't get burned. Highly recommend if you want distance but don't want the incline. Wore running shoes and it was perfectly fine.

Parking lot was full when we arrived but there's plenty of side pull offs to park. The FS road was…read moreactually really nice- only really large potholes at the start. The trail was a bit muddy and damp in some areas but totally manageable. Kids said there were some bugs but I didn't notice any. There were a handful of other hikers on the trail but not too bad. We didn't notice any poop bags or trash- good job people with pack it in pack it out!!! Once we arrived at the lake there were only a few hikers relaxing and enjoying the view. The lake is so clear and was so tempting to jump in but waited for another trip. There were some stones and roots but most of it was quite pleasant and we found the hike back down to be way less brutal than most hikes with some kind of elevation. It was giving me Yosemite vibes with the large rocks and mostly dry path. There was a pit toilet at the parking lot but didn't use it. It states the Discover pass is not valid there- had the national parks pass posted. The noise of traffic could be heard off in the distance but by the time you're at the lake it's completely gone and you're just vibing with the sounds of nature. Will be back again to take a dip in the lake and soak up more of the views. Hiked 6.22.2023

Great views! Started around 9 AM on a Saturday and wasn't too too crowded. Definitely started…read moreseeing more people on the way down though. I also slipped on my butt like two steps away from the trailhead :( Parking lot pretty big but I believe it fills quick. The trail gets quite narrow in some spots. Hiking shoes and poles recommended!

Gorgeous place! We were able to go snowshoeing for free! Plenty of parking on the side of the road…read more Highly recommend bringing hiking poles since it's super icy this season!

Came on a weekday in the summer in 2023, arrived at 9:00 am and the parking lot was about 2/3 full…read more It is a small parking lot, and by the time we left in the afternoon, a few cars were parked along the forest road leading up to the parking lot. The forest road leading up to the trailhead was pretty well maintained -- a few small potholes, but very avoidable. Just drive slowly around the turns, I thought there was decent space for 2 cars to pass slowly as needed. The trail was in perfect condition. We enjoyed that it was a relatively wide path, not TOO many rocks/roots (for our older dog to navigate), was shaded pretty much the whole way, and was not too steep (by WA standards). We only identified 1 spot at each lake with decent day use access to the lake, and these lake access areas were small. We didn't have an issue with that as the trail was not crowded, but I imagine it could be an issue on busy summer weekends.

If you're looking for an easy - moderate hike with beautiful lake views, highly recommend Talapus…read moreand Olallie Lakes! This one had been on my list for a while, so I'm glad I finally got to do it. As some other reviewers have said, be prepared for a crappy road to the trailhead and also a small parking lot. I feel like that's standard for a lot of Washington hikes, though. Come early and you won't have a problem is my motto! This hike is definitely doable for people who are just starting out hiking - I'd even say older kids (like 3/4 and up?) could tackle this one without too much of a problem. And of course, our dogs loved it too. About halfway into the hike you see one of the lakes which is a nice moment for a respite if needed. If not, power on to the next! Up at the top, if you go early, expect to run into some campers... There are signs that clearly say there isn't any day camping, but that's definitely relative and based on perception. There were campers in EVERY spot that had a good view of the lake, making it really hard to find a good spot to catch a full view of the lake. All in all, a good hike that will take up about half your day. We arrived at about 8 am and we were out by 11.

Another five star day in this trail. The road to this trail is gnarly! Like boulders, rocks, holes…read moreand rough going even for four wheel drive vehicles with excellent clearance. Easygoing and slow for sure. The trail is moderate to challenging with equal parts up and down. It's always fun to walk small portions of the PCT. Really wish I'd brought or worn my bathing suit to take a dip in the lake. Do it! Hike and enjoy your life. SYOY!

Mirror Lake was quite serene, and on this occasion, we passed very few folks on the trail…read more The path to the trailhead is a rather long (4 miles) gravel road with lots of potholes. Parking at the lower trailhead was, unfortunately, rather haphazardly. If you have a high clearance 4x4 vehicle, there is another parking area up the path. It is a rather short trail with a nice payoff. If you walk a bit past the lake, you'll see the waterfall. There was plenty of bear grass and wildflowers on the south side past the waterfall. While you can hike a loop to the parking area by going past the waterfall into the valley area, it is mostly a rocky path with much less shade cover. It's just not as appealing as the way up. One star removed because of the long pot hole filled gravel road to the trailhead for a rather short trail.

Great hike only an hour away from downtown Seattle and right off I-90, but be prepared to spend 2…read moreand a half hours doing the stair master. Well worth it in the end as the 360* views of the PNW, including Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, Glacier Peak and more make it well worth the strenuous efforts up the trail. We lucked out with a bluebird day: sunny and 75. This hike is definitely on the harder side with 3500+ elevation gain in 4 miles and seemed to get harder the higher you go. Some people liked to make it harder for themselves at the end by climbing directly up the rocks, but I'd recommend sticking to the trail. You'll spend the first hour switchbacking within the tree line, then spend the next hour and a half watching Mt Rainier slowly grow over the near mountains. Enjoy some fresh blueberries along the way! You do need the NW forest pass to park in the lot, or you can pay a $5 daily fee, which they do have available in the parking lot. The lot apparently gets crowded on the weekend, but was fairly empty during the week. I don't believe you're allowed to hike with your dog off the leash, but since everyone's dog is "super friendly and well trained", people tend to do it anyway.

A strenuous hike for real! It took us 8.5 hours total…read more(lunch break, lots of small breaks to catch my breath and berry picking breaks) to get to the tower and get back down to the car. We climbed up and down those boulders thinking it was a short cut but I dont think it helped to shorten up anything. We got there at 10:15am and the small parking lot was filled so we drove outside to park along the road. Even though it was not in the parking lot but you still need to pay the $5/car fee to hike that trail. It took us 5.5 hours to get up to the tower which included lunch break and many breaks along the way. Sitting up there to enjoy the view for a while so it most likely took abt 2 hours to get back to the parking lot from the tower without stopping. (We stopped for 20 minutes to pick berries on the way down). Sooooooo much berries. It's an endless field of huckleberries and blueberries. You can pick for days and still no where done. Keep your empy bottle water to contain the berries on your way down. Make sure you have walking sticks/pole(s). It helps tremendously going up or down.

About 1 hour and 15 mins away from the seattle area and it's a great place for hiking! We got there…read morejust passed 9 and the parking lot is packed so get there early if you wanna avoid wasting time on parking. It took us 2.5 hours to go up and 2 hrs to return. It was pretty easy for the first 3 miles but the last mile is definitely a killer. It was kinda steep and really energy-consuming. However it's not bad in general - we got to the top at the point when I thought I would give up, but then the lake is right there. The lake is so pretty!! I was so shocked on how clear the water is. The view itself it's just okay and you can maybe hike more if you want the full picture. I wouldn't say the view is not worth it for the 2.5 hrs hiking but I'm not sure if I would do it again. There are also lots of good views along the way and it was lot of fun to take the pictures. There are also lots of bugs and water crossing area so bring a bug spray and waterproof shoes if you have them!

The views on this hike warrant a five star review for sure! Loads of waterfalls, mountains, and of…read morecourse trees and flowers to see on this route up to Rachel Lake. The problem? Not a clear trail at all. My hiking group and I found ourselves asking, "Is this trail?", numerous times on this extremely strenuous seemingly endless uphill trek to the lake. Now, granted, some of our group was in better shape than others and managed the physicality of the trail better than others but still we all agreed it was extremely hard. First you drive up a gravel road approximately 6 miles to get to the parking lot. One bathroom is available there which wasn't too gross. Once you enter the trail it starts heading up. And up and up and up. It is seemingly endless. I believe it about 4 plus miles up. The trail starts out fairly marked and easy to follow. Then it doesn't. Unfortunately I got separated from my group for a good portion of this hike due to my attempt to stay with the "faster" ladies, lol. I just kept going up. Thank goodness a few other people passed me to let me know I was on the right track. No trail at all really for a good portion and I merely followed a dry creek trail. Extremely rocky and loads of bushwhacking. I had to stop every five to ten feet to catch my breath. The steepness reminded me of a hike in Big Sur called Garrapata which after I competed that one I said I would never do again, lol. Now to the good parts of the hike. Gorgeous scenery beyond words! Loads of amazing waterfalls as you are following a creek flowing from a lake high above. The lake was outstandingly beautiful. I took a quick dip in the icy water at the top! Quickly it changed my outlook on the hike and cooled me off. Will I do it again? Maybe, but next time. I will bring more snacks for the hike that give me energy. I will start out slower and take more frequent deliberate breaks. And please please don't forget your mosquito repellent! Also, long pants as a large portion of this hike you go through tall grasses and overgrowth. I consider myself an experienced hiker when I was in CA, but here in WA, I am a beginner for sure. Stay hydrated and go at your own pace. This is worth it at least once. SYOY and No FOMO for me here! Lol.

The trail has many rolling hills you will climb as you get to the falls. There are neat wooden…read morestairs and wooden platforms from where you can view the lower falls. If you continue to the upper falls you will cross a beautiful wooden bridge. 2.68 miles, 614 elevation gain, 1 hr 9 minutes to complete.

Stunning, yes, but not the best that I have seen in beautiful Washington state. Made for a nice…read morestroll until the mini bouldering to sit on a rock that was in front of the waterfall view. I like that there is an overlook spot 0.8 miles away from the parking lot that provides ample space. The mini hike from the parking lot to the front seats (or rocks?) of the waterfall was a little over a mile or two, which went by so quick because not much of a change in elevation.

Again, down the dirt road. On a Saturday it was crowded! Like holy cow! Arrived just before 9:00 am…read moreand was able to secure a spot in the lot. Thankfully I have a small car and can fit it into tight spaces. Discovery pass will not work here! Scan the QR code and pay $5.00 for a day pass. Or a northwest forest pass will work. The beginning is steep. With lots of stairs. You will begin to hate the stairs. Then just before you want to give up you've made it! A lovely well maintained trail. Parts of the trail go through clearings with views that give a view to just how high you are. And views of past gigantic rock slides. The weather at the lake today was cold. No snow on the trail but a bit on the mountains above. But it was cold! My hands started to hurt because it was so cold. After a brief picnic sitting on some logs with trout swimming below our feet we head back down. A back and forth hike just over 7.4 miles. Lovely!! Enjoy life. SYOY.

Annette lake is beautiful and so serene. I arrived May 17, Saturday at 9:30am and there was still…read moreplenty of spots in the lot. 8.8 miles, 2,150 ft of elevation gain and 4hrs out & back. There's a bathroom available but it smells very bad so I recommend going before the trailhead. 0.2 miles in theres the first viewpoint, a beautiful waterfall. There is still some snow at the top but you can make it without spikes or trekking poles. The lake is still partly frozen and the snow makes it even more serene. 10/10 would recommend this hike!!

I am in love the the Lake Ingalls hike! My friend and I arrived at the trailhead Sunday morning…read morejust before 8 a.m. and already counted 120 cars at the trailhead. We parked about 0.3 miles from the trailhead. Cars lined both sides of the narrow road, despite a sign indicating for folks to only park on one side. There were some very questionable parking jobs on edges and cliffs. There was a small line waiting for the one toilet, which was not stocked with toilet paper (don't forget to bring your own + hand sanitizer). There were a couple surprises I had after reading other trip reports. The first one was that the road up to the trailhead was not bad at all. Sure, it was a little bumpy and there were a few potholes to watch out for, but it was seriously nothing compared to other trailheads I've been on. A sedan can easily make it up to the top with no problem. The second thing I found different than the trip reports was the level of difficulty. WTA rates this hike as expert, and I thought it was nowhere near expert. It really was a nice gradual incline with some rock scrambling at the top. Plus, there's beautiful sights to see the entire way up, so it was very pleasant. The trail was packed, but once my friend and I started hiking, we slowly spaced out from the others. Everyone we encountered was super kind and courteous. The only downside we had from the people was that this is a trail that does not allow dogs, and there were several we encountered (including one off leash who ran up to my friend and was a little nippy). There was also fresh dog poop right on the trail an owner had left behind. The lake at the top wasn't too busy. There were plenty of spots to sit to grab a bite to eat and admire the view. After the initial descent from the lake where there's a lot of rock scrambling and questioning if you're still on the trail (there's multiple ways up through the rocks, so just keep going and look for cairns), it's a steady decline that's easy on the knees. I will definitely be back!

This is about a 10 mile total hike. I'm not a very experienced hiker, so it too me a while to get…read moreup there. My boyfriend and I camped up at the top too. Up to the top, it's quite easy as in the trail and the incline should be fine if you have hiked a lot. At some point up the trail, it gets a little narrow and steep way down if you're not careful. Bless my boyfriend for carrying my camping bag too. At the top, there's a camp ground. It's near a river if you want to get water. There's also a toilet! It's a wooden box and it's a great view to take a dump at. From the campsite, it's about 1 mile to the lake at the top. There are cairn stacks along the way to reach the lake. Without following it, I'm sure you can still find it, but with it, it shows you an easy route to climb. The lake itself is very clear and very cold! I went in August and there was still some snow! There are also mountain goats! I found the best time to see them is in the morning. They come near the camp site too! I heard a baby mountain goat crying for it's mom too. It was so cool seeing them so close! You can see where they have even around since their fur gets caught on the branches.

Went tubing here with Chooksty and her mans, James. Just a really good time, despite the…read moresurprisingly overpriced tubing experience at $60(?) per person for tubing rental and shuttle ride to starting point. 2.5 to 3-hour ride bc the paddle for the tube is a literal blue frisbee that is linked to it lolol ...anyway, focusing on just location, the fallen tree hard is a perfect rest stop with guests trying to cross it without falling. Highly recommend water shoes for this. Quite a bit of shore rest stops that people been using as a bio break bc no actual bathroom nearby. Quite a bit of rapid waters sections, so beware because hella rocks in those areas that you may hit. Very nice and cool waters to contrast this sunny weather that only got warmer as the June 2026 day progressed.

Picked this hike from the Washington Trails book, about 9.5 miles roundtrip with a 2700 elevation…read moregain. This was a tough hike, even though I chose it since the book said "moderate" and even looking up some reviews people had said the hike as relatively simple to enjoy a fantastic lake view. We were both pretty dead at the end due to the length and steep inclines. Knees were pretty banged up because of all the rocks. The trail in the beginning wasn't so bad, definitely got my heart pumping because of the elevation, but as you go higher up there were a lot of switchbacks and seemingly no end in sight. We hustled up the mountain pretty quickly though, which was why we were so tired at the end. The view is definitely worth it in the end; recommend bringing a hammock! There's also plenty of sitting area through slabs of rocks. Coming down we encountered: 1) a girl who was crying we believe because of the toughness of the trail, 2) a couple who stopped us to ask how much longer it was to the top (they unfortunately weren't even halfway) which signifies how tough this hike was. Definitely recommend bringing more than enough water or you will definitely be dehydrated (like we were). Otherwise glad we did this and would recommend (you won't regret it but your body will hate you haha).