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.

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.

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.

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

This was a nice hike! I really thought there was going to be a lot of insects, but there was…read morebarely any out! Loved that I was able to hang out with my kids on the hike and enjoyed being surrounded by nature! Especially when we made it to the waterfall! Such a beautiful view!

Truly a fun and beautiful trail in the forest. I adivine you read the directions for parking on…read moreAlltrails. And get there early. We arrived approximately 9:00 am. As we were leaving it was getting packed. The trail is really fun through the forest. Up and down traversing through a leafy green heavy fern lined trail. Loads of roots are everywhere so watch your step. The bugs weren't quite as bad as I thought but we were there fairly early. Bring bug spray though. It definitely areas that promote mosquitoes. You can go for a dip. The water is cold and refreshing. I was sure to bring water sandals. Felt so good on my feet. Worth the trek for this beautiful hike. Do it! SYOY!

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.

We loved this easy and fun path. It was an easy hike for the whole family. Many paths if you want…read moreto continue after the falls. It was not too busy during the week but can see it could get busy during the weekend. Easy access to parking which is a plus!

SO BEAUTIFUL!!! literally one of the best shorter trails around this area with a couple hidden…read morewaterfalls if you look around enough if you go up the path on the right and then on the way back take the road it feels like you make it back so much quicker (as someone who hates walking back on trails)

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.