Twin Lakes: A Short Hike to a Lovely Mountain Lake

A great hike for kids, Twin Lakes is a short and relatively easy trail through mature forest to a shallow mountain lake where you can search for frogs and giant salamanders. The rushing sound of Cold Creek, which the trail follows to the lake, is your constant companion.

The walk to the first of the Twin Lakes is about a mile. The trail begins in younger forest with an understory of huckleberry, flowering currant, vanilla leaf and bunchberry. Almost immediately you are treated to a picturesque view of Cold Creek canyon and its cascading water below.

The trail has a little elevation gain at the start, with tree roots criss-crossing the path, so you need to watch your step. It then evens out as you wind through shadier, mature forest. Before you know it, you?re at the lake and greeted by waterfalls cascading from the surrounding mountains. At the lake, there is a junction, where left takes you to the shore. (Right is the trail to Mt. Catherine.)

If you want a longer hike, continue left across the outlet stream via a fallen log bridge. The trail ascends 1,300 feet in a mile-and-a-half across the slopes of Tinkham Peak to connect with the Pacific Crest Trail. Turn right to traverse the face of Silver Peak. (There is spur trail if you want to scramble to the summit.) Continue north to meet Forest Road No. 9070 at Olallie Meadow. Turn right to follow the road about 400 feet to trail No. 1438, which loops back to Twin Lakes.

Every other Saturday U.S. Forest Service staff from the Snoqualmie Pass Visitor Center lead interpretive walks to Twin Lakes, during which they talk about the plants, trees, wildlife and history of the area. The Snoqualmie Pass Visitor Center, just off I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass, is open Thursday through Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm. Call 425-434-6111 for more information about the Twin Lakes walks or other programs and resources.

To get to the Twin Lakes Trail, drive I-90 east and get off on Hyak Exit 54. Turn right at the end of the ramp. Go straight at stop sign onto Hyak Drive East. There is a small brown sign on left side of road for Twin Lakes Trail. Just past it, the road curves left and winds through Hyak Estates. After passing the sewage treatment plant on the left, the road becomes unpaved and turns into Forest Service Road No. 9070. At the junction, turn left, and continue about 2.5 miles to the Cold Creek Trail No. 1303 trailhead. The trail sign is on the left of the road before the road bends right. There is space for several cars to park across from the trailhead.

Notes: No parking pass is required. The map is Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass No. 207. For more information, call the Cle Elum Ranger District at 509-674-4411 or Snoqualmie Pass Visitor Center at 425-434-6111.