Hike of the Week: Melakwa Lake
Melakwa Lake
This hike is a buzz with tumbling water and rugged alpine scenery
Hike of the Week
by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
November 12, 2004
Quick Facts
Location: Snoqualmie Pass
Land Agency: Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Roundtrip: 9.0 miles
Cumulative Elevation gain: 2,300 feet
Access: From Seattle head east on I-90. Take exit 47 to Denny Creek Road (Forest Road No. 58). Trail begins just beyond Denny Creek Campground.
Notes: NW Forest Pass Required
Green Trails Map: Snoqualmie Pass, WA No. 207 or as part of the Pass Country Map Pack
Perhaps if more hikers knew that Melakwa is Chinook for mosquito, they’d shy away from the lake named for that pesky little insect. But then again, maybe not-for Melakwa Lake sits in a rugged little basin surrounded by jagged peaks. It’s easy to get to via a trail leading up a magical valley of waterfalls, rapids and lush forest. But in the late days of autumn, the chance of encountering a crowd along the way is about as good as meeting a melakwa-nil. So take advantage of the few days left before the snows accumulate and venture to this Alpine Lakes gem.
The hike follows Denny Creek for most of the way crossing and recrossing it several times. But first you must cross I-90-safely done underneath the high elevated section that drops down from Snoqualmie Pass. Denny Creek’s constant babbling and frothing drowns out the drone of freeway traffic. Through thick forest and open avalanche chutes you’re soon delivered to Keekwulee Falls. On a warm summer day the temptation to sit and sun here on the overlooking ledges is great. But in the cool nip of November you’ll want to carry on. The trail steepens-making its way to yet another fine cataract, Snowshoe Falls.
Now climbing out of the creek valley the trail makes its way to 4,600-ft Hemlock Pass. A slight descent and a half mile more delivers you to Melakwa Lake. The western shore is adorned with mountain hemlock, while the eastern shore is flanked in talus. Kaleetan and Chair Peaks tower above and reflect their craggy profiles in Melakwa’s still waters.
It’s a tight little valley that houses this lake-but there’s room to explore if you want to see more. Scramble north to the Upper Lake and Melakwa Pass. Consider dropping down to Chair Lake-or if equipped and experienced go for the 6,259-foot summit of Kaleetan Peak.
Whatever little surprises you encounter in this wilderness basin, you can be assured of this-during this time of the year they won’t include swarms of mosquitoes or hikers.
This hike is a buzz with tumbling water and rugged alpine scenery
Hike of the Week
by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
November 12, 2004
Quick Facts
Location: Snoqualmie Pass
Land Agency: Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Roundtrip: 9.0 miles
Cumulative Elevation gain: 2,300 feet
Access: From Seattle head east on I-90. Take exit 47 to Denny Creek Road (Forest Road No. 58). Trail begins just beyond Denny Creek Campground.
Notes: NW Forest Pass Required
Green Trails Map: Snoqualmie Pass, WA No. 207 or as part of the Pass Country Map Pack
Perhaps if more hikers knew that Melakwa is Chinook for mosquito, they’d shy away from the lake named for that pesky little insect. But then again, maybe not-for Melakwa Lake sits in a rugged little basin surrounded by jagged peaks. It’s easy to get to via a trail leading up a magical valley of waterfalls, rapids and lush forest. But in the late days of autumn, the chance of encountering a crowd along the way is about as good as meeting a melakwa-nil. So take advantage of the few days left before the snows accumulate and venture to this Alpine Lakes gem.
The hike follows Denny Creek for most of the way crossing and recrossing it several times. But first you must cross I-90-safely done underneath the high elevated section that drops down from Snoqualmie Pass. Denny Creek’s constant babbling and frothing drowns out the drone of freeway traffic. Through thick forest and open avalanche chutes you’re soon delivered to Keekwulee Falls. On a warm summer day the temptation to sit and sun here on the overlooking ledges is great. But in the cool nip of November you’ll want to carry on. The trail steepens-making its way to yet another fine cataract, Snowshoe Falls.
Now climbing out of the creek valley the trail makes its way to 4,600-ft Hemlock Pass. A slight descent and a half mile more delivers you to Melakwa Lake. The western shore is adorned with mountain hemlock, while the eastern shore is flanked in talus. Kaleetan and Chair Peaks tower above and reflect their craggy profiles in Melakwa’s still waters.
It’s a tight little valley that houses this lake-but there’s room to explore if you want to see more. Scramble north to the Upper Lake and Melakwa Pass. Consider dropping down to Chair Lake-or if equipped and experienced go for the 6,259-foot summit of Kaleetan Peak.
Whatever little surprises you encounter in this wilderness basin, you can be assured of this-during this time of the year they won’t include swarms of mosquitoes or hikers.
