March 18, 2021 . When I take this route again, I'll be avoiding federal holidays. It isn't a hike for strollers or people needing assistance walking on irregular surfaces. Total elevation gain 2700 feet for the roundtrip to the Katwalk. The first stretch of the hike between Salmon La Sac and Cooper Lake was a very flat and pleasant stroll through the forest following Cooper River upstream. Ridge and Gravel Lake is a short alpine distance away. Descend 250 feet through the talus to the saddle between the lakes (7.6 miles, 5200 ft). Keep one eye on the rubble at the bottom of the cliffs hundreds of feet below. We found a nice camp spot on the SE side of the lake and went for a nice swim in the swimming hole to wash off. Off highway 90, exit 52. We saw the first people on the whole trip at Spectacle Lake. This is the entrance to the famous Kendall Katwalk. I ran into a unique problem that I had never considered would be an issue. 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Sunrise from the Katwalk Sunrise from the Katwalk with the 4 Brothers in the background Sunrise on Red Mountain By 6:30am we were ready to start hiking. The Kendall Katwalk has some pretty sweet views, but it does skirt around a main objective for hikers in this area: the summit of Kendall Peak. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. As always, be safe when crossing high water, and if it seems too much for you, don't be afraid to turn around. They mule-packed in 1,000 feet of steel cables to secure workers and equipment on the precipitous job site, then marked the route along the cliff face by dropping beer bottles full of red paint from a helicopter. I set up my tent, filtered water out of the lake and ate some dinner. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. You can choose to follow the road up or take a side trail through the campground, like we did, to the Cooper Lake trailhead. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Looking north, the prominence of Red Mountain is stunning. Ridge Lake is to the east and Alaska Lake is visible below Ridge Lake. Most of the available campsites were on hard rock, which did not accommodate our, There's a reason it's called Spectacle Lake. This little guy didn't seem to mind the scree fields! Filing a permit helps inform the US Forest Service which trails are well traveled so that they can divert funding appropriately for trail maintenance and beautification at no extra cost to you. This area is affectionately known as Kendall Gardens. - Easy access, it's right off I-90 - Even on a somewhat hazy day, we could . It was spectacular and I slept terribly. The ground was too hard. Something about the obvious intrusion of man onto an almost fairy-tale landscape has attracted hikers and backpackers for decades. There is one traverse of a small talus field (7.3 miles). To the north-northeast and about 175 feet below the trail is the larger Gravel Lake. Search. Much of the trail between Spectacle Lake and Waptus Lake probably already existed. We dashed through the creek as quick as we could and found ourselves on warm solid ground on the other bank. Kendall Katwalk, Ridge Lake, Park Lake, July 28-30, 2017 Ranking:4/5 A great hike especially if you want to turn it into a 3 night, 4 day, that encompasses several different lakes to stay at. Its incredible to me that there are THOUSANDS of miles of this trail- and that people built them. Here, you will encounter steeper, smooth switchbacks that curve their way through the forest. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Did you know WTA has a mobile app? The most difficult part was blasting a trail through the Kendall Katwalk, a steep rock cliff on the ridge between Kendall and Red Mtn. If I were to travel this route again, I would actually choose to cut out the segment of the route between Salmon La Sac and Cooper Lake. Snowshoe Up Artist Point. Elmo Warren, the Idaho-based lead contractor for the project, called it the hardest piece of trail ever built.. Two sequential crossings are aided by good balance and/or trekking poles. The Kendall Katwalk has some pretty sweet views, but it does skirt around a main objective for hikers in this area: the summit of Kendall Peak. As of 2017, the Snoqualmie Ranger District considers Mountaineers trips and courses to be "nominal use". The extra mileage would have been better spent later in the trip for summitting peaks or exploring the Glacier Lake junction. Hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to 0.25 mile before Kendall Katwalk. We saw the first people on the whole trip at Spectacle Lake. Kendall Katwalk, Snoqualmie Pass: See 4 reviews, articles, and 5 photos of Kendall Katwalk, ranked No.4 on Tripadvisor among 8 attractions in Snoqualmie Pass. Walking the entire main Kendall Katwalk on the Pacific Crest Trail. The next half mile to the trail split (2.6 miles, 3775 ft) is a gradual descent. But the whole package includes old growth forest, gorgeous wildflowers, and stunning views into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from both sides of the pass below Kendall Peak, where the Katwalk begins. 11 frank b swinguard switchblade; kendall katwalk to spectacle lake. View PCT Snoqualmie to Pete Lake Image Gallery - 22 Images. Campsites along the trails, especially around water sources, are plentiful. 93% of travelers recommend this experience. You are now following near the Pacific Crest. This hike travels to a narrow trail blasted into the cliff face with views of wildflowers, mountains, ridges, and fall foliage. Day 2. Once full, these logbooks are archived at the University of Washington. kendall katwalk to spectacle lake. The trail is steep, rocky, and exposed, offering unobstructed views of Lundin Peak and Red Mountain ahead, and Mount Rainier behind. Kendall Katwalk to Gravel and Ridge Lakes (1.25 miles, 150 ft drop to Ridge Lake, 175 ft drop to Gravel Lake) Gravel Lake Pacific Crest Trail For those with enough fitness, energy, and willpower, consider going an extra 1.25 miles to two beautiful Alpine Lakes on the Pacific Crest. In July, there are many wildflowers which makes this a particularly pretty hike. We hit Lemah Creek shortly after Pete Lake. The trek back in the warmer mid afternoon sun took two hours and fifty minutes, with the total trek adding up to nearly 7.5 hours. Uncategorized. This is a popular hike so get there early or you might be walking with quite a few other folks. We had to pass up on better views to find a spot that worked, but luckily we found a grassy spot by the water. https://www.backpacker.com/trips/masterpiece-trails-sky-walk. Another cloudless day! Wildflowers/Meadows Mountain views Dogs allowed on leash Ridges/passes Old growth Fall foliage Parking Pass/Entry Fee These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Look down on Guye Peak and the Pass to the west and the shores of Keechelus Lake to the east. It is a 12 mile round trip hike with 2600 feet of elevation gain but no special equipment is required if you go after the snow has melted. I descended to the trail that splits off the PCT and goes to Glacier Lake, but I wasnt liking the look of the trail, so I walked over and took at look at Spectacle Lake from above. 91% of travelers recommend this experience. A strenuous 11 mi round trip hike with 2,700 ft in elevation gain along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) north of Snoqualmie Pass. Pretty nasty. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. This area is known as Kendall Gardens due to seasonal massive wildflower displays. Sign the Mountaineers Log book at the top and become part of hiking history. Tax ID: 27-3009280. Kendall Peak Lakes Trail is a 8.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Snoqualmie Pass, Washington that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Sunday, August 5, 2018 Part I, Day 2. But the whole package includes old growth forest, gorgeous wildflowers, and stunning views into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from both sides of the pass below Kendall Peak, where the Katwalk begins. We passed around my handy dandy PackTowl to dry our feet off. But here, the real magic begins. We saw a bear foraging for berries, picas, mountain vistas, streams. The famous Katwalk photos are almost all taken from the north end so you might not even realize you are there until you have crossed over. The route between Spectacle Lake and the Glacier Lake junction saw rolling hill, with some sustained uphill sections. This is the actual route we ended up taking with our Day 1 and Day 2 campsite locations marked: We took the route as a through-hike from east to west with cars from our group parked at each trailhead. The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. By the early 1970s, one of those regional trails the Cascade Crest Trail was rerouted to meet the PCT trail standards. Le sentier offre plusieurs activits et sa meilleure utilisation est de juin septembre. Share. When we got to Spectacle Lake, it was PACKED since it was Labor Day Weekend. to the Katwalk The amazing views made it so worth while enduring the climb to the top! ** Trip will initially open to Olympia, June, July, August, September, October, November, Seattle MAC - Conditioning Hike - Kendall Katwalk, CHS Tacoma August Hikes - Kendall Katwalk. GoLong Hiked Aug 14, 2007. Exposure at the Katwalk: Back in the 1970s, an alignment of political stars resulted in a half a million acres of Forest Service land in the Snoqualmie Pass area to be designated as the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Joshco Flats To Rent In Fleurhof Contact Number, There is no public transportation to get there from Seattle area. My knees were getting pretty sore, but I just couldnt stop. Despite being much less popular, the shortcut shaved off a mile and routed us away from another stretch of scree. I decided to just keep walking. Kendall Katwalk (and Beyond) - Hike Left: View of the Kendal Katwalk, Looking North; Right: Hike KML Profile from Canon GPS Logger Hike Notes Length: 22.1 miles (according to Garmin HCX) Duration: 10.5 hours (7:30 am - 6:00 pm) Elevation Gain: 4,565 ft (total), 5,583 ft max elevation, starting @ 3,058 ft Location: Snoqualmie Pass Both have restrooms. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. I was pretty hurting by then. Our group, already exhausted from over ten miles of backpacking that day, decided to take our chances with the creek crossing. Its pretty cool. My plan was to end up either at Glacier Lake or Spectacle Lake. I would not recommend the primitive trail unless you're in good physical condition. Type of Hike Day hike. Ski resorts have a different personality in summer. Once you reach the sign to dismount your horses, you have reached the Katwalk. Here, take the unmarked boot path straight up the mountainside. Looking at this for hours is not a bad thing. Or just drink in the views of Gold Creek Valley and the peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The path becomes slightly steeper before crossing long stretches of talus and sub-alpine meadow, with accompanying open views of the Pass and surrounding landscape. A Northwest Forest Pass or equivalent is required. The Mountaineers teaches skills and leads outdoor activities for all ages and levels in the Pacific Northwest. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. There are also great views of Mount Rainier in the distance as you ascend in elevation. This was the last accessible lake for water before reaching our final destination at Ridge Lake. Wildflowers abounded, in all shades. to Gravel Lake. The trail winds around at first, then heads into a series of lengthy straight sections. This trail is also the first part of Section J of the Pacific Crest Trail just north . The trail begins in deep forest, with close views of the river during the early stretch. This makes the Alpine Lakes Wilderness the perfect destination for spontaneous backpacking trips or backpacking with large groups. 21 day forecast key west, florida. My hiking book gives it a 5 star rating. The views are great, though we highly recommend taking the time to scramble up Kendall Peak, where the panorama dwarfs what you can see from the Katwalk. Et la mto aronautique pour les pilotes, les METAR (METeorological Aerodrome Report, message d'observation des conditions mtorologiques pour l'aviation) et les TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast : message de prvision court terme des conditions mtorologiques pour l'aviation). For many hikers, it was their last few nights on the Pacific Crest Trail. But the whole package includes old growth forest, gorgeous wildflowers, and stunning views into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from both sides of the pass below Kendall Peak, where the Katwalk begins. This hike to Kendall's Katwalk can be long as a day hike (12+ miles round trip) but has immense payoffs with the excellent views. This is the ridge just to the NW of the Katwalk. Top Things to Do in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington: See Tripadvisor's 721 traveller reviews and photos of Snoqualmie Pass tourist attractions. A pair of trail runners came by and gave us a tip that if we added a mile to our journey north and linked up with the Pacific Crest Trail, there were bridges we could take that would avoid the creek crossing. The creek was flowing shin-deep water with no easy rock hop or log crossing around it. Mountaineers Books is a registered trademark of The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. PCT Snoqualmie to Pete Lake Images : SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering Heading north from near Snoqualmie Pass, it follows the Pacific Crest Trail climbing about 2700 feet over 5 or 6 miles. This section of PCT has a rating of "Most Difficult". Recommend continuing past the catwalk to see some views! Les infos sur l'aroport, de la carte aux htels en passant par les informations aronautiques. by. The Kendall Katwalk, a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail, is one of the most popular hikes near Snoqualmie Pass, so in good weather conditions, be prepared to share the bounty. Kendall Katwalk is a 12-mile hike that follows the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) northbound starting at Snoqualmie Pass. 500 feet beyond, stay right at the signed junction and climb to a switchback, entering shady forest. What an unbelievable undertaking. I cant imagine trying to find it in any snow conditions. This is the ridge just to the NW of the Katwalk. I caught and passed a few on the way up to Kendall Katwalk, which took just over two hours. Its the furthest north I went and it seemed like a HUGE detour to get around the Gold Creek drainage. Leave the trail just before the catwalk to scramble to the summit of Kendall Peak. As I sat and pulled out my sandwich, birds took a sudden interest; these are the infamous "Grey Jays", or more appropriate "camp robbers", known for their tendency to readily walk off with edible items whenever they surround a camp site. The next stretch of the journey grew a bit steeper. 99% of travelers recommend this experience. Just another site. However, once we reached the junction to Glacier Lake we knew that the rest of our day would be relatively flat. The route came with high accolades from a 6th friend who had previously hiked this route 4 other times in the past. Continue up and to the right on the Pacific Crest Trail. App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead. 0. Most of the available campsites were on hard rock, which did not accommodate our ultralight trekking pole tent. We dutifully filled out our names while idly wondering how many of these wed missed on previous hikes. kendall katwalk to spectacle lake. A coalition of hiking and youth groups conceived an approximate route in the 1930s as a Pacific coast counterpart to the Appalachian Trail. At the Commonwealth Creek Trail junction, stay right and the trail heads south through a forest climbing gradually to a switchback with an open space under Kendall Peak (3.0 miles, 3975 ft). Past the Katwalk, the high airy ridge changes gradually to less rock and more soil and vegetation. At 5784 feet, the northernmost peak is the highest and the most visited. Of all the trails I've encountered to date, the majority having waterfall or lake destinations, this one was the longest (14.5 miles round trip), offered the best changes in terrain, and had the most outstanding vista views by far. I decided to just keep walking. Various trail organizations, land management agencies, and an army of volunteers then worked to link regional trails from Mexico to Canada to form the PCT. This is one of my favorite hikes close to Seattle. Despite having our tent side walls fully rolled up to facilitate ventilation, our tent got soaked with condensation overnight. Though not super steep, the trail is relentlessly up, for a long time. Robinsons Head Office Contact Number, Kendall Katwalk 12 Miles Roundtrip 2600 Feet Elevation Gain I first heard about this hike last summer and have been wanting to check it out ever since. One of our group members who brought a dome tent was able to set up his tent on a tall boulder overlooking the lake. After climbing up and over the ridge near Kendall Peak, we passed through the Kendall Katwalk, a short, narrow pathway blasted out of the steep cliffside. And so Kendall Katwalk was born. After a short break, and a snack, I trudged forward, as the path led around open curves, and beautiful vistas of the valley and ridges that surrounded the path. This was a pretty common view. This is the unmaintained Commonwealth Creek Trail, a portion of the original Cascade Crest Trail, the precursor to the PCT.You'll continue on along the wide trail, climbing gently past the lush and varied vegetation lining the trail. In another 0.1 mile, the road splits. Guidebooks unfailingly include this popular section of the Pacific Crest Trail, usually conjuring images of a vertigo-inducing shimmy across an exposed cliff-face hundreds of feet in the air. The trail to the Katwalk begins in the mixed fir and hemlock that quickly yield to thick patches of huckleberry and salmonberry flanking the path. The trail was full of people heading home. Kendall Katwalk A strenuous 11 mi round trip hike with 2,700 ft in elevation gain along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) north of Snoqualmie Pass.