I decided to ease right into the 52 Hike challenge with a hike I had wanted to do for quite a long time. I really didn’t have a specific reason to do the hike but mainly because every time I would drive up to visit the Big Four Ice Caves, I wondered how a lake could have such an odd name. Usually the names of the lakes and trails are a little bit more in line with adventurers that discovered the trails or specific shapes and colors contained on the trail. Lake 22 intrigued me as it didn’t seem to fit the mould.
I was quite puzzled that the lake would be named after a number which intrigued me. According to the Washington Trails Association website “The origin of Lake Twentytwo’s distinct name is uncertain, but a leading theory is that nineteenth-century railroad maps listed local creeks numerically; one particular creek and its source lake were assigned “22.” The name stuck, and in 1947 the 790-acre Lake Twenty Two Research Natural Area (RNA) was created, putting an end to logging and allowing future generations to appreciate the remaining old-growth cedars and hemlocks. ” So, I guess that helps explain it.
What is this hike about?
The Lake 22 trailhead is nestled in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the North Cascades just a few miles past the Verlot Ranger Station near Granite Falls, Washington. Access to the trail and the National Forest requires a Northwest Forest Pass which can be purchased at the ranger station when the station is open or you get it online or from any vendor that sells it. You can find more information about the different types of passes that may be needed should you decide to hike in the Pacific Northwest. The passes pay for themselves in just a few visits so I highly encourage you to obtain an annual pass versus a daily pass unless you’re just visiting Washington and won’t be back within a year. The annual Northwest Forest pass is also good for certain areas in Oregon. So that is almost like a bonus. There are discounts for military and disabled as well.
According to the Washington Trails Association (WTA) website, the trail is approximately 5.4 miles rountrip and 1350 feet of elevation gain. The highest point of the trail is at 2400 feet.
How did it go?
I mentioned in my intro to this 52 Hike Challenge that I decided to do this challenge to stop being lazy and making excuses. When I woke up on the Friday to do this hike, my mind was already making excuses why I shouldn’t go. Yes, I was tired. Yes, I knew I was going to have to drive 2.5-3 hours away through Seattle and Tacoma morning traffic in order to get there. Yes, I knew I would have to drive home in Friday afternoon traffic. Yes, it was my day off and I could be catching up on all the things I had put off throughout the week. I still just rolled my legs out of bed and stood up to get my energy moving because I made a commitment to myself to finish what I was about to start.
I threw back a breakfast sandwich, chugged a huge glass of water, and head up to the Granite Falls area. I had noticed that in the past, I would sometimes feel a little parched before I started the trails and that was probably because I wasn’t drinking enough water before the hike. I slammed about one liter of water while driving. As I got to the parking lot of Lake 22, I felt a bit more energized and ready to take on this moderate hike.
This is a moderately easy trail, but I say that as an intermediate hiker. The trail amazingly covered in trees which keep you cool as you climb up the trail. There weren’t a lot of switchbacks but the trail turns were somewhat irregular as you wind your way up the trail. There are a few points where it gets a bit narrow and rocky and you have to yield to other hikers. You should do that anyway if the trail doesn’t appear wide enough for two people to pass with ease. Respect the right-of-way. It shouldn’t be a race to the end of the trail anyway as the only person you compete with in life is yourself.
Usually, since I am only a group of one, I yield to groups larger than myself and am constantly looking for little spots to pull off to the side in the event someone comes toward me. I also yield to people with dogs or kids as both are usually erratic and sometimes not as predictable as other more experienced hikers. Also, you don’t know how some dogs will respond so it gives you a chance to feel the situation out and then continue.
You do pass at least three waterfalls along the way of varying heights and there are some great viewpoints as you get a bit higher up the trail.
Depending on what time of the year you go, the trail can be muddy and rocky, so wear appropriate footwear. I never will understand why people hike in flip flops and flat ballet slippers but I feel like a decent hiking shoe or boot is your best bet to maintain traction and keep your foot dry and ankle more supported. If you hike in flip-flops or shoes without support, let me know why in the comments so you can broaden my horizons.
There were plenty of people out and about with their kids and leashed dogs. Plenty of dog poo in bags along the way as well which was a bit disheartening but hopefully people leave the bags and get them on the way back down instead of permanently leave them on the trail to destroy the environment.
There were just a few mosquitos along the way but nothing too bothersome because I’ve had incidents in the past where bees and flies wouldn’t leave me alone. There was also no snow at all except for patches up high in the crevices of the mountain but not near where the humans tread.
The lake was ice cold and still. There was not much by the way of wildlife except for birds. I also noticed this lack of wildlife along the hike up as well. It was super quiet except for when I got to the lake. There were people that were yelling and talking really loudly and disturbing the peace and experience of other hikers relaxing around the lake. I always encourage people to be mindful of others and respect the environment. I don’t mean just the physical environment like the lake and the trees but the sound environment.
Many people come to the outdoors to turn the volume down and “escape” the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the big city. The last thing some people want to hear or see is a bunch of party animals trying to get whimsical social media shots on inflatable tubes scattering beer cans all over the ground and blaring loud music on their wireless speaker. Just be respectful.
Overall, I did like this hike and loved the serenity of the lake. It wasn’t overcrowded around the lake so I was still able to find a bit of peace and reflect on what I had just accomplished. I took more joy in the actual process of going through the hike and making it up to the lake and understanding how my body felt along the way and adaptations to make in future hikes. I love the learning process. The end result of getting to the lake was full of peace. Getting to the end of a trail or finding the main attraction isn’t always the goal or the measure of success for everyone. So, take joy in the small successes along the way to be more proud in the long run.
Any thing I should know before going?
One thing I’ll say is that during the summer months, the parking lot seemed to fill up right after 10:30 am, so if you’re planning a visit, get there early. That almost goes without saying anyway with most hikes.
Also, although the WTA website indicates this hike is 5.4 miles, it seemed closer to the hike length indicated on the AllTrails app which is 7 miles.
I recommend downloading the AllTrails app for Apple or Google devices, the Trailblazer app (Apple/Google, and/or Strava to track your progress. Strava even has an option where it sends alerts to your emergency contacts when you’re in cell phone range of your GPS position so they know where you are.
I would also advise having a reasonable amount of water and some snacks as it’s a relatively short hike and you won’t need more than a liter and a half of water most likely.
If you’re interested, the Big Four Ice Caves hike is just a few miles up the road and a very short one to two mile hike with amazing views of naturally forming ice caves. I wrote about that hike before so you might want to check it out to get a double bang for your buck!
One thing I’d ask is for you to let me know in the comments what some of your favorite hiking trails are in your area and why you like them so much. Thanks for reading!
