Easy Snowshoeing to Keechelus Lake near Snoqualmie Pass
Although not the most rugged or secluded adventure you can find out near Snoqualmie Pass, the easy snowshoeing route from Hyak Sno-Park to Lake Keechelus is a rewarding excursion with straightforward logistics. If you’re traveling with kids, new to snowshoeing, new to the area, or just want a fun day in the snow, consider checking out this trail only an hour away from Seattle. Here is everything you need to know when planning your snowshoeing trip to Lake Keechelus.
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Know before you go
The route to Lake Keechelus begins at Hyak Sno-Park, located just east of Snoqualmie Pass.
Parking at Hyak Sno-Park (and many other areas around Snoqualmie Pass) requires a Sno-Park permit between Dec 1st and March 31st. A permit may also be required in Nov and April. Look for signs in the park during these months to know whether you need one. A Sno-Park permit costs $20/day or $80/season.
You do not need a Washington Discover Pass during times when the park requires a Sno-Park permit.
Hyak Sno-Park is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Dogs are not allowed at Hyak Sno-Park.
Hyak Sno-Park is family-friendly and has lots of things to do with kids. Other than snowshoeing, look for a dedicated snow play area and sledding hill.
There are heated restrooms at Hyak Sno-Park.
The snowshoeing trail runs alongside the groomed cross-country skiing trail for much of the route. Make sure to stay off the groomed part of the trail so you don’t incur the wrath of the skiers.
Snowshoes help keep your feet out of the snow, but you’ll still want to wear good snow boots. I’d suggest this pair for women or these for men.
My friend Jorge surveys Lake Keechelus
Snowshoe rental
If you go snowshoeing more than a couple of times, it makes sense to buy snowshoes. They’ll pay for themselves after a few excursions and you’ll have the convenience of skipping the rental process. This pair is a good starter set.
If you don’t have snowshoes, it’s easy to rent them once you get out near Snoqualmie Pass. My friends and I rented from the REI Snoqualmie Outpost next to Hyak Park. You can drop in for rentals or make a reservation online to make sure there is gear available when you arrive.
Rates are:
Adult Snowshoes: $20 for 4 hours or $30 for 8 hours
Kids Snowshoes: $20 for 4 hours or $30 for 8 hours
Sleds: $10/hour
Four hours should be plenty of time to complete the trail described here and poles are included with the snowshoe rental. If you haven’t been snowshoeing recently (or ever), take heart. A 2-minute orientation will get you on your way.
The rental trailer for the REI Snoqualmie Outpost has its own parking lot with a short, easy snowshoe trail that connects it to the Hyak Sno-Park parking lot (about 100 yards in length). If you rent gear from the trailer and there’s room in the lot, you can leave your car there and skip the Sno-Park permit. Ask for instructions on how to reach Hyak Sno-Park from the staff at the rental trailer when you’re picking up your gear. You’ll need to cross the Hyak Sno-Park parking lot to reach the trail to Lake Keechelus. Starting from the rental trail adds about 0.5 miles roundtrip in distance to the trip.
Cascade peaks seen from the trail
Getting there
Address: Hyak Sno-Park. Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068
To reach the snowshoe trails at Hyak Sno-Park from Seattle, take I-90 East for about 50 miles until Exit 53 toward E Summit. Turn right onto Yellowstone Trail Rd and then left onto WA-906. Follow WA-906 for a little over 2 miles until you reach Hyak Sno-Park.
Be sure to check road conditions before heading out. In winter, you will likely need to carry tire chains or bring an all-wheel drive vehicle for the drive to Snoqualmie Pass.
On the trail to the lake
The trail to Lake Keechelus
Distance: 2+ miles out and back
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: No, dogs are not allowed on the trail
The out-and-back snowshoeing route to Keechelus Lake uses a portion of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. It is easy to follow and pretty flat throughout. Look for the groomed trail at the south end of the Hyak Sno-Park parking lot. To the left of the groomed ski trail, you’ll see a parallel path for snowshoeing. Follow this path away from the parking lot and into the woods.
After about a half mile of walking alongside the groomed trail, you’ll see a snowshoe path branching off to the left. While you can continue parallel to the groomed trail, taking the snowshoe trail to the left is the more interesting option. It separates from the ski trail and becomes much quieter as you leave most of the other visitors behind.
Cascade peaks surround Lake Keechelus
This dedicated snowshoe trail connects to Lake Keechelus Trailhead and begins heading gently downhill. You’ll soon be able to see a clearing in the trees that reveals the lake in the distance. You can continue down the snow-covered boat ramp to enjoy the lake up close. The end of the boat ramp provides the best view of the lake and is only about a mile away from the parking lot.
Despite being fairly close to the interstate and easy to reach on foot, Lake Keechelus feels wild and remote. The lake is in a glacial valley surrounded by rugged peaks in all directions. It forms the headwaters for the Yakima River, which flows out from the southern end of the lake. The rocks and peaks here are worth taking a moment to admire from the trail. I hike most often near my home in Portland, Oregon, where flood basalts cover much of the area. The rocks surrounding Lake Keechelus are part of the older (around 40 million years old) and more diverse Naches formation that pre-dates the rise of the Cascades and includes such varied rock types as sedimentary, andesite, and basalt.
After admiring the lake, you can turn around and head back to the parking lot or look for the connector trail to the left as you head back up the boat ramp. This connector trail will bring you back to the groomed trail. The snowshoe trail continues parallel to the groomed ski trail for miles so there are options for more distance if you want it. Many snowshoers continue for another mile or so before turning around.
On the way to Snoqualmie Pass
The drive from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass crosses some incredible terrain as you first pass through farmland east of Bellevue and then head into the Cascades. Right around the halfway point along the route is Snoqualmie Falls, a 268-foot waterfall that tumbles over a cliff of basaltic andesite into a canyon formed by early Cascade volcanic activity.
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is free to visit and well worth a stop on your way to a snowshoeing adventure. Although most popular during the summer, the falls have a special kind of magic in winter, when water levels are high and mist rises from the falling water and pool below. The trail to the bottom of the falls will likely be too icy to descend, but the views at the top are still magnificent. While you’re there, check out the gift shop in the not-so-rustic Salish Lodge & Spa at the top of the falls.
Salish Lodge
Just east of Snoqualmie Falls, you’ll pass through the town of Snoqualmie, which has the charm of a small town in a Christmas movie. It would be a good place to fuel up for the snowshoeing adventure to come or to grab a beer from Snoqualmie Falls Brewery when you’re done.
Gold Creek empties into Lake Keechelus
Enjoy your snowshoeing trip to Lake Keechelus!
With love,
Emma
Looking for more to do in western Washington? Check out my trip suggestions for the best things to do on the Long Beach Peninsula.
Reference:
Miller, Marli B., and Darrel S. Cowan. Roadside geology of Washington. Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2017.
Cascade Mountains
