Didn't go to Lake Serene - just to Bridal Veil Falls. About 4 miles RT and it worth it…read more Going up - lots of steps and rocks. Muddy in certain places. Definitely would go again.

The payoff is definitely worth it for this hike. It gets relatively steep and definitely isn't for…read moreall fitness levels, but the end result is quite nice. Plenty of spots to sit by the water and enjoy lunch. 4 miles roundtrip with 1000 feet of elevation gain.

Came here on a Friday afternoon around 3:30PM, long gravel road to the trailhead, quite a few cars…read moreparked there too. Bathroom and map at the trailhead. Hike is pretty steep, constantly uphill for about 3 miles, all in the trees though. Mosquitoes around, bug spray is good. After 3 miles, trail goes down pretty steeply, lake was really pretty, not very cold water! Sat there for a bit to enjoy the water and view, really calming. Didn't see very many people on the trail, had the lake to ourselves. Bad part of the hike is the need to go back uphill after the lake, but it's not too bad. Took 2 hours to get to the lake, 2 hours back, was a bit dark and got a bit cold towards the end of the hike. Hiking poles definitely helped!

It is 11.5 miles, you have to park your car 2 miles before the trail starts which adds up total or…read more4 extra miles. It would be good idea to go on sunny day and start hike early. We went around 8:00am got at lake around 11:30am, only few small breaks and took 3 hours to come back. When we reached the lake it was mesmerizing. Thinks to remember: 1.Take a lot of water and snacks with you. It is hard hike so stay hydrated. 2. Bug spray if needed we had it but did not use it because bugs were not too bad. 3. Go early to beat the heat and this hike requires $5 day use fee and Northwest forest pass. 4. Since it's not 7.5 miles be ready to do extra 4 miles. Total of 11.5miles This hike was hardest hike for us so far but the view worth the hike. I would highly recommend to go there at lest once in life time. The view is breathtaking!!! Good luck, you will love it.!!

Indeed very enchanting place. We did backpacking 3 nights 4…read moredays to experience the core zone as much as possible including off-trail scrambles for Little Annapurna and Enchantment Peak. We went Colchuck to Viviane and traced back since not much to see beyond Viviane. Really nice backpacking. My detailed mileage etc is below blog post. https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-enchantments-washington.html

I've done this a couple of times so I'll give you the different perspectives…read more The first time I did it as a one-day hike because I did not have a permit. The second time I did it as a three night hike because it was after October 15th and I still didn't have a permit. Since that time, the permit season has been extended to October 30th. Either way, I suggest that hiking in the fall is the prettiest time due to the larch trees colors. Both times we started at the Stuart Lake trailhead (recommended due to reduced overall elevation gain) and ended at the Snow Lake trailhead. Now at the risk of offending someone I will say that hiking through the Enchantments in one day is like watching a porn movie on fast forward. You miss most of the scenery. My suggestion is to either get a permit, or hike outside of season, preferably in the fall, but stay at least two nights. Given that the hike up Aasgard Pass has an elevation gain of 1900 feet in about a mile, I can attest that it can be quite dangerous when raining. On the East side there will be mud & rock slides and in our case we had to duck out of the way of several large, (18 or so inch diameter) Rocks that came bouncing down the boulders with unpredictable direction at a very high rate of speed. Risks early in the season are snow slides and avalanches, so be very aware of the conditions when you are there. All that said, anyone who does not give this a five and tell you that it's absolutely one of the most beautiful hikes you'll ever take on must know something I don't, and I've hiked the Himalayas. Remember that goats are dangerous. Pee on rocks, not soil because the goats will dig it up for the salt. Try not to let a goat see you peeing or it will run towards you. Try fishing in the lakes; the trout are great for dinner up there. You should also know that when coming down toward the Snow Lake trailhead there are a large number of switchbacks and when you see the cars just down the hill, it will likely be another hour before you get there, and if you did it as a day hike, your feet may not be happy when you finally arrive. If you are a hiker, you must find a way to get this one done before you hang up your boots.

We have passed by this amazing place so many times, and finally stopped to check it out. It is a…read morevery easy hike through the area, suitable for all ages. The scenery is breathtaking! Highly recommend.

Deception Falls was our first hike on the Western side of the Cascade Mountains. It was barely…read moreover the ridge, but it was easy to see the contrast between the Eastern and Western sides. The Eastern side was noticeably drier, although not dry by normal standards. I would call it normal rather than dry. The Western side had moss on the trees, lichen hanging from the branches and ferns covering the forest floor. Deception Falls was the perfect place to experience it. Even the trail was soft to the touch, decades of rotting wood replenishing the soil under foot. It was a striking experience to walk on the Deception Falls trail. My wife and I both had the feeling that we were walking in a fantasy land. The trees were a new variety and covered in moss, the waters were crystal clear, and the sunlight shown through it all to accentuate the colors. I think we saw the area at the perfect time of year. If it was overcast, cold, or rainy, we would not have had the same experience. Also, the river seemed to be at full strength, forcefully pounding and shaping the rock at each section of the falls. Looking at other pictures of the river from October, the river levels fluctuate dramatically. Our falls experience would've been different if the river was a trickle rather than a torrent. I didn't see any fish in the river when we were there. A nearby sign indicated that the cold, ultra clean waters did not provide favorable conditions or sufficient food for anything other than small fish. I don't know too much about fish in northwest at this time, but it would surprise me if fish could swim up this river. If there were any fish at Deception Falls, they were stuck between the rapids, living in a calendar year that changes from high water to low water. That doesn't seem like ideal conditions for large fish. There was a bridge near the end of the trail that spanned the most forceful section of the rapids. It was a fitting climax, a moment of triumph and emotion, at the end of the trail. Standing in the center of the bridge is adrenaline inducing. Spray from the rapids hits you along with the thunderous noise of water crashing against rock. You know that the bridge will hold you yet there is a lingering thought in the back of your mind praying for the bridge to stay strong. Continuing forward, a short walk under the bridge provides more views of the water crashing down from above and more opportunities to stand in the mist.

One of the most difficult hikes that I've ever encountered. A LOT of straight elevation/going up…read more Going down will put strain on your ankles and limbs, so be careful to find an appropriate foothold so that you don't slip. People are really kind here and will let you pass them or vice versa if you're going faster or slower. The payoff is well worth it. We got to the trail around 11 AM, didn't get a parking pass but managed to snag it after finding someone heading back to their car. Ended up eating lunch around 2 PM, which is when we got to Lake Serene. Dipping your feet in the water is a must. Unfortunately, there is a lot of sunscreen in the water. There was a group of people who brought water filters to the lake, but they still said that it couldn't filter out the sunscreen taste. If you try to swim to the middle of the lake, the water is much cleaner there. It's so so cold though, my lower body being submerged was enough for me. If you're sensitive to the cold, definitely check to make sure that you aren't experiencing signs of hypothermia (red and yellow skin) like I was near the tail end of our stay at Lake Serene. Ended up getting bitten by a few bugs. Definitely make sure to pack enough food/water/electrolytes, you may not feel hungry because you'll be straight exercising but you want to make sure that you can make it all the way down after getting up. We brought gochujang chicken udon noodles, four water bottles, and a quart of coconut water. So worth it.

Lake Serene was the most difficult hike I've done yet, but then again I am super beginner at…read morehiking. The trail consists of an incredibly steep incline that is almost exclusively made of rocks. After just climbing rocks for hours, you'll find that your feet will forget what flat ground feels like. Yelpers mention that the trail is 6 miles round trip. However, I hiked to the waterfalls and then to the lake and back and my Fitbit recorded 14 miles. I definitely don't think the 6 mile quote is accurate. We spent nearly 8 hours on the trail starting at about 7 am. Parking was plentiful even on a Saturday morning. Bathrooms are located in the parking lot. Not the cleanest restroom, but still functional and provides privacy. Do bring some hand sanitizer! The hike is strenuous with many bouts of steep staircases. The climb is extremely hard on the knees so bringing some hiking poles would be really useful. The path itself is almost completely rocky (or full of staircases). You almost forget what flat ground feels like after a while. Once you get to the lake, you get a glimpse of a beautiful 5 star view. The perfectly crystal clear water and the sweet serenity of quiet from the lake suddenly makes the strenuous hike all that worthwhile. Lake Serene is absolutely breathtaking in every single way. If you're looking for a rewarding payout of a hike, this is the one to do.

My ex and I were members of this club but I moved away and haven't been there in years. I love the…read moregrounds, the lake, the people. I have not one criticism. You'll love this family friendly park. They do everything possible to keep everybody safe. Awesome. Can't wait to go visit again.

Awesome resort for nude camping in the PNW! Don't miss this gem, located near Sultan, WA! Heritage…read moreDays Festival begins Aug 2 thru Aug 5, 2025!! Tent sites $15, RV pad hookups, small cabin rentals, waterfalls 85 ft high, nudity required when near water borne areas of the resort ((i.e. hot tub, pool, lake, waterfalls, stream, steam bath, sauna, etc.)) Come out and tan all over with the whole Family for fun, sun and nudity this Summer!! Don't miss the Heritage Days Festival!!

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!

Definitely arrive early because the lot with fill up fast! A NW Forest pass is required for…read moreparking. This trail is very rocky so make sure to have good hiking shoes and trekking poles. There was also lots of bugs on this trail so definitely pack bug spray as well. The view is beautiful, a little crowded but I came around 7:30am so it wasn't too bad.

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.

To kick off the New Year, I decided to be active and hike one of my favorite nearby Seattle trails…read more This one has it all: not too easy nor hard (580 foot elevation gain, ~2.5 miles round trip), riverfront views, a humongous 700 year old Douglass Fir, two massive boulders you can climb up, many natural swimming pools, and three viewpoints of a gorgeous cascade. Twin Falls appears to be a single fall but you have to go up to the third upper viewpoint with a bench to see the twin. You can go further and it continues into Ollalie State Park and joins Iron Horse Trail. Go early because it's a popular hike with a medium sized parking lot at the trailhead. Just be sure to remember you WA state Discovery Pass to display on your car. The trail is near Snoqualmie Pass but doesn't have all the snow other nearby trails get causing them to close seasonally.

Wallace Falls definitely deserves enough time to complete all the way through, 3 hours minimum!! Do…read morenot underestimate the time you think you'll take, especially if you love stopping for photos lol. Right from the start of the hike, I appreciated that there were signs showing the latest time you should be back by (8:40 pm closing time), along with phone numbers to call if you ever needed help. I also liked how about every half mile to mile, there were mile markers or detailed maps showing where you were and what else to expect depending on how far you planned to go. And honestly... there were just SO MANY beautiful nature sights with every step. The river flowing alongside most of the trail, the moss-covered trees, the little wildflowers and mushrooms popping up here and there! Everything was just so pretty!! It felt like we couldn't walk more than a few steps without stopping to take photos because we were in constant awe haha. Although we weren't able to make it all the way up to the Upper Falls due to the sun setting, getting to see both the Lower and Middle Falls was still such a gorgeous and accomplishing experience. I especially loved how from the Lower Falls, you can also see the Middle Falls in the distance! And the Middle Falls itself, absolutely awe-striking!! Overall, such a memorable and beautiful hike! I'll definitely have to come back and complete it all the way to the top next time lol

Very great dog friendly hike. My dog is a big fluff ball and loved wading in the river towards the…read morelast part of the trail. Well maintained. Even though the parking lot was full, there were moments where there was no one else close to us on the trailhead. Personally the middle falls had the best view though a bit obstructed for photos. I completed the upper falls back in 2016 and remembered not being as impressed so I opted out and stopped at the middle falls. My dog was also likely to resist as he was pretty tired by the middle falls. Needs discover pass. The entrance has a small water fountain but definitely bring water. There are no trash areas along the way so make a plan if you have a dog.

Difficulty: Easy Time: 15 minutes…read more Gear: Nike free runs, North face backpack Group: 3 People Temp: 85F (+/-) Bear lake (summer): So obviously a car full of grown men got lost and stumbled up on this trailhead instead of Pilchuck. The road to this trailhead gets very rocky with a lot of pot holes so please be careful. I don't advise bringing a nice car - use a car that's meant for these dirt, rough terrain roads. The drive there is deep as you ascend up the mountain by car and park on the side of the road. Immediately you'll see a large sign to help guide you. The hike is very fun with mild elevation gain and a lot of flat ground and natural terrain. You can tell not many people come here. its a very quick 15 minute hike till you get to this beautiful open source lake. Its absolutely gorgeous. There's a spot for a campfire as well. I highly recommend coming here. The trail also splits into a fork; one going to bear lake and the other pinnacle lake. Pinnacle lake is just roughly an hour to an hour thirty minute hike. Do not attempt when it just rained because the trail is muddy and all dirt. Both places are beautiful and a must for anyone that loves hiking There are ALOT of mosquitoes at this time so wear repellant. I would also reccomend some real hiking shoes if you're attempting pinnacle. Its an ankle breaker at some points