Location | Length | Elevation | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Snoqualmie Pass Region | 7.14 miles, roundtrip (This is from what we recorded on a Garmin Fenix 6x) | Gain: 2072 ft. Highest Point: 3759 ft. |
Annette Lake is a very common hike along the I90 corridor near Snoqualmie Pass. We have attempted to reach the lake multiple times in the winter with minimal luck.
For my birthday, I wanted to check off a hike that was on my "to finish" list, so we trekked to Annette Lake. This 7.5 mile hike with about 2000' of elevation gain made for a great workout in the snow and minimized the people on the trail.
Getting Started
The Annette Lake trailhead is pretty close to Exit 47. In most seasons you can park at the trailhead itself, but during winter usually the parking lot is not plowed.
You start out by entering the forest of douglas fir. The trail bounces between forest and powerlines for the first little while. Eventually you push far enough away from the powerlines so you can enjoy the serenity of nature.
After about 1.5 miles, you will cross the remnants of the Milwaukee Railroad. Go basically straight across and you should see the trail continue on.
Climbing towards Annette Lake
The next 1.5 miles has the majority of the elevation. There are multiple sections that open up so you can see views of the surrounding mountains. At the right time of year, these are great areas to see some wildflowers like trilliums.
The last little section of the trail is pretty flat and takes you to the north shore of the lake. From here you have views of Abiel Peak. There are trails that go along the shoreline of the lake, which does have multiple campsites available!
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Practicing LNT Principles, and Giving Back
We really want to encourage everyone to practice LNT principles when they explore these beautiful places. We spent years trying to minimize social impact on these locations, but the cat is out of the bag and these places are easy to find online. So it is our mission to share more about ways to keep these places as pristine as possible.
We also donate 3% of all our profits to organizations supporting the outdoors and working hard to keep these areas protected and safe.
