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

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.!!

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!

This lake is a gem for bass fishing, and by far our go to lake for fishing in general. For all the…read morereviews complaining about no trail I can't believe they would even post a review because it's their fault for going to the wrong lake serene! The water is crystal clear and only accessible through the boat launch. This makes it practically necessary to have a boat, so shore fishing is not recommended. There is a large amount of bass, with some up to the 8.5 pound range. Expect to catch many dinks and a couple big ones. Also not a bad trout and bluegill fishery. If you see fish heads in the water it is usually because trout fisherman clean and fillet their fish by the launch and put the guts and head in the water. The locals around the lake are friendly from experience. This is a great neighborhood lake for swimming too, and surprisingly clean and well-maintained for a lake next to aurora. At night the lake turns purple from the sky, and nature really shines. Tons of rabbits, ducks, herons, mice, ospreys, bald eagles and even turtles and frogs! We love this lake.

IMPORTANT: THIS IS NOT A TRAIL! there is a separate lake serene near stevens pass, a lot of people…read moreseem confused about that. but, this is a good lake for paddleboarding or kayaking. there's no beach but there is a launch area, i wouldn't recommend swimming anyways because there is a lot of milfoil in the shallows. i didn't find the milfoil to be a problem when paddling though. the launch can get a little crowded with fishers, but people are mostly polite and it's not hard to get out into the water. you have to have a discover pass to park. the water is pretty clean. the lake is surrounded by houses, but i found it pretty. everytime i've gone i've seen herons which i found fascinating. overall, i recommend for paddleboarding or kayaking

Probably one of the best parks in Monroe! Even though it's just off Highway 2, it feels peaceful…read moreonce you're there. The lake may be man-made, but it's beautiful and makes for a relaxing stroll along the walking path. There are plenty of spots around the lake to spread out a picnic blanket, cast a fishing line, or launch a canoe or kayak. They also have covered picnic shelters that can be reserved for BBQs, birthday parties, or other gatherings. The park is well maintained. The playground is in great shape for kids, and the restrooms were surprisingly clean. There are basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields, and lots of open space to enjoy. There's plenty of parking, which makes visiting easy.

This park has everything! Undercover first come first serve tables. Big playground for kids with so…read moremany swings. Tennis courts, big lake to walk around, lots of parking. Nice big restrooms

I love this place so much! I've been coming since I was a kid, it's a family favorite. The lily pad…read moreseason is my favorite by far. It gets sooo dang gorgeous here It's a perfect place to swim. Seattle is freakin cold man even in the peak of summer, but this gem here folks is one of the few places I can bare to get my butt in. This park is a perfect example of why I moved here from California. It is SO close to such a busy place yet, when your out here it feels soo far away. I take my kayak here every once in a while so I have to have a Discovery Park Pass to park in the boat launch area. It feels super VIP over there, easy to get in, not a lot of traffic and sometimes locals around that are willing to help me carry my kayak out to the water. The water is so calm I launch an anchor and relax out there, the sounds of the road are nonexistent and you can just feel like your in the middle of nowhere. I feel safe swimming knowing there aren't any scary sharks out there that'll nibble my toes, just farmed fish, fisherman have a blast catching. I like to kayak around the entire perimeter checking out all the beautiful lake houses... there are amazing weeping willows that fall into the water... fields of water lilies...and more surprised each time! My dream here is to get the community to help clean this place up a little, I pick up trash sometimes when I'm out there, but a deeper clean can be made behind some of the fishing docks... other than that.. I luv this place

I live right by here and it is the least maintained park in the surrounding neighborhoods. The park…read moreis not well maintained, benches and tables are aged out, grass is long with a lot of garbage in the surrounding shrubs (also not well maintained) as well as along the waterline. People clearly have been squatting i the more dense shrubs, leading to nests of garbage. For what i'm sure were practical reasons, the garbage cans have been reduced, so there are bags of dog crap everywhere. The "toys" on the west end of the park are partially dismantled and useless. This place clearly was awesome at some point, but now it's a shame. This place has so much potential, b

A quintessential park nestled in the heart of Newcastle. A paved path goes through the park…read more You'll find tennis courts, volleyball courts, a playground and plenty of space to hang out. At the lake you can sit and enjoy the view, go fishing or even kayaking. Lots of nature to hear and greenery to enjoy. You'll find everyone and anyone here. Enjoying a picnic, walking their dog, leisurely strolling, running and exercising or simply just hanging out. You'll even find firefighters here doing practice work. This park is often the place for many city and community events.

- Not well maintained as Bellevue parks -…read more We checked it out on a Sunday, and I had to use the restroom. The toilet was overflowing and there was no contact information for maintenance anywhere. There were several honey buckets outside, so I guess this happens frequently(?). It was quite packed with a group hosting a private event and the courts were all full. We walked around the park with our toddler, and there were tons of random kinks on the ground. I even found a piece of broken glass that wasn't super far from where my daughter was... The lake was pretty though, and there were people fishing. I think it's less maintained than Bellevue parks...

A gorgeous lake hike during any season :) Come in the winter for some amazing snow, or the summer…read morefor an amazing shimmery lake and a backdrop. This hike is pretty moderate - so maximum reward for not much effort :D

Arrived at 8:30am on a Saturday and the parking lot was mostly empty (less than 10 cars). Bathrooms…read moredon't lock but I was still able to use it by having someone stand in front of it for me. Trail is rocky, muddy and there are many stream crossings. Crampons/micro-spikes are needed if you want to walk around the lake, the snow is compact and icy too.

We were very happy to find this great little spot! Quaint little park with lots of shaded areas,…read moregarage cans, picnic tables. Dogs are welcome on leash. There is a little beach area where we watched people launch rafts and were swimming. There is parking close by with a charge of $5 for the day. Can't wait to go back!

This is a spectacular lake to paddle around. There is a good mix of fancy houses and wildlife to…read moresee as well as majestic views of Mt. Rainier.

This is a beautiful hike! There's limited amenities - only a pit toilet at the trailhead and one at…read morethe lake (with a campground), and you have to drive on part of a gravel road to get to the parking lot. The trail is a 4.5 mile out and back hike that takes you an absolutely gorgeous lake nestled in between mountain peaks. It's worth the time and effort. The boardwalk around the lake tilts and sags, but it's still navigable. The first part of the trail has some stairs and is nicely lined with gravel, but it gives way to more rocky area with tree root ladders. Pay close attention to the bright plastic ribbons if you're not sure where you're going. Other cool things to spot on the trail are wildlife (I saw a banana slug as well as small animals scurrying about) as well as small trees growing on top of large tree trunks. I've never seen that before.

Amazing hike on a rainy day. The views were way better than I expected. I was expecting lots of…read morepeople but it wasn't too crowded which was very nice. Found a large rock to sit on at the lake, perfect for photos. The only thing I disliked, was seeing many doggie poop bags on the trail. Please practice leave no trace and pack up all your trash!!