Mileage: 7.3 miles RT
Elevation Gain/Highest: 2,035ft/2592ft
Map: Green Trails Index No 142
My favorite places to stop post hike with friends are: Grilla Bites, Route 2 Taproom and Grazing Place, Good Brewing Company, River House Cafe, Espresso Chalet, Gustav’s, Yodelin’s Broth Company, South, Dan’s Food Market, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty Please.
Hike Details:
Lake Serene is a Pacific Northwest classic hike west of Stevens Pass that draws thousands of hikers every year. One of the first lake hikes along US Route 2 and a very short forest road makes it accessible to most vehicles. The trail is accessible year round but precaution is needed particularly during the winter months. Traction devices like microspikes can help avoid a serious injury. Just because it makes a great summer hike, does not mean it is the same with snow and ice.
The trail starts out on an old forest road and travels overall several bridged streams before meeting at a “Y” with the Bridal Veil Falls Trail at about 1.5 miles from the parking lot. That side trail takes you up a short set of switchbacks to a viewpoint of the falls.
From the junction, the trail to Lake Serene soon crosses over a sturdy bridge over the outlet to the lake and through the base of the falls. After this breathtaking veil of water cascading over layers of dark stone at 1.8 miles in, the trail begins to climb on steep switchbacks, rocky terrain and many, many sets of stairs. So many stairs.
At 3 miles in, the trail levels out slightly and crosses over more jagged rock and steps. There is rarely a time this section is not covered with runoff or slick ice. There are open views out across the Skykomish Valley and across at The Index Town Wall and Heybrook Ridge.
At 3.3 miles there is a junction with the privy and the trail soon drops down towards the lakeshore at 3.4 miles in. It is possible to travel around the lake to the right over bridges to several viewpoints. For adventurous folks, it is a scramble to the left to Philadelphia Mountain.
My Hikes:
1/11/2019
It had been time to hike to Lake Serene, the last time being about 3 years ago. Friday seemed the best day to go and have the lake live up to its name.
My track came to 7.4 miles RT and our pace was pretty leisurely. The weather was better than I had expected and views up and down the valley were open and it was interesting to look across at the Index Town Wall where I had been the week before.
All the water was running well and the stream crossings meant careful rock hopping. Didn’t remember there being so many last time!
There were quite a few trees down and some meant crawling in between branches. As we crossed the large bridge just before the lower falls, I saw the cut trees from my last visit that had blocked the bridge platform and we had to do some crawling then, too. I suppose those stumps will be there awhile…
The snow patches started about 2000ft but really didn’t cover the trail until that last small waterfall before the lake. We had spikes but didn’t need them.
i think the thing that struck me most when we arrived at the sign for the lake was how there were so few trees between there and the lake. I don’t remember being able to see the lake or the cliff walls from that vantage point. The wind must really be doing a number, nothing left but a few snags and desperate pines left standing.
The lake was definitely not frozen over completely and the sketchiest bit was the stairs up to Lunch Rock. Almost put my spikes on just for that! We sat a bit up from Lunch as the wind was blustery and shared the day with just a few other people. Lovely!
11/21/2015
Lake Serene was also the second date my now husband and I took, the first being St. Edwards State Park. I didn’t take near the pictures I usually do because we were talking so much but I remember there being quite a few trees to crawl over and around and the lake was beautiful, as always.
12/30/2014
This is another one of my repeat hikes, going back when we hiked together as a family. For this hike, I went early and prepared with poles and good traction; it was 20 degrees and super icy. It was fun to hear the screams of those in sneakers and no traction.
The trail itself was okay but you have all those stairs. I got up early enough to be first and had a few moments of solitude before heading down.
That one little bit of stream crossing over the trail before you get to lake was a mess. Even with good tread on my boots and poles, it took me a bit to find a safe path over. Not to say I didn’t fall at least once on those slippery rocks. I’m pretty sure I had microspikes by the time I did Mount Pilchuck in February.
The falls were frozen over in long icy strands, much different than their usual elegant streams. The perfect way to end the year!
Directions: From Everett, follow US 2 east to the small town of Gold Bar. Continue on Hwy 2 for seven more miles to just before it crosses the Skykomish River near milepost 35. Then, turn right onto Mount Index Road. Proceed on this dirt road for just less than half a mile, and turn right on the spur road signed Lake Serene Trail 1068. The trailhead and large parking area are 500 feet further on. This is an incredibly popular and crowded hike. Try to go during the week or on a rainy day. Northwest Forest Pass is required.
There are a few other great hikes near here like Index Town Wall, Heybrook Ridge, Heybrook Lookout, Wallace Falls State Park and Barclay Lake. Click here for more hikes on HWY 2.
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