Hiking at Lake Easton on Washington’s Snoqualmie Pass

Looking for more beautiful trails near Snoqualmie Pass?
Take a hike to Mirror Lake, or follow the Iron Bear Trail to Teanaway Ridge

CURRENT INFO

Find information about Lake Easton State Park on the Washington State Parks webpage. For trail information and reviews, visit the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website or AllTrails. Please note that the AllTrails listing only provides a map for the trail along the southern side of the lake, but it is possible to do a full loop around the entire lake.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Lake Easton is a Washington State Park, so be sure to bring your Discover Pass or else purchase a day pass from one of the machines located by the day use parking lots. In winter, you’ll purchase a Sno-Park permit instead.
• Restrooms are located at the main day use area near the swimming beach and playground.
• There are plenty of places to picnic, including a number of tables at different spots along the north shore within the state park boundaries.
• Pets on leash are welcome.
• The trails here can generally be hiked from mid-spring through fall, and in winter snowshoe trails are available.
• Part of this route follows the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, which runs along the southern side of the lake. If you like to bike, this is a great opportunity to ride the trail, and you don’t have to stop (or start) at Lake Easton. The Palouse to Cascades Trail, formerly called the John Wayne Pioneer Trail (and still identified as such on many signs near Lake Easton), extends 250 miles from North Bend, Washington, to the Idaho border.

ROUTE TIPS

• As mentioned above, navigation can be a little tricky, as this hike connects multiple trails with a few segments along the road. Heading counter-clockwise from Lake Easton State Park, you’ll walk along the road heading west from the RV campground, crossing a bridge and continuing until the paved road turns to dirt.
• Continuing ahead, you’ll soon see a sign pointing left toward “Iron Horse State Park John Wayne Pioneer Trail”. Follow it. The main path heads south through an area filled with snowshoe trails.
• When you reach the John Wayne Trail, turn left. You’re now on a former railroad grade following the south side of the lake.
• Eventually, you’ll pass a small dam and come to the tiny town of Easton. Cross the railroad tracks in Easton, then turn left onto the main road (Railroad Street), which will take you across the river and back toward Lake Easton State Park.
• Once across the river, look for a trail heading into the woods to your left. Stay on this trail, which winds and meanders with little side routes, all the way back to the park.
• You’ll pass the Lake Easton Resort & RV Park and cross the state park entrance road before reaching the final section of the trail. This last part takes you up a short series of switchbacks through a verdant forest for a sweeping view over Lake Easton. It then descends back to the lakeshore, at which point you’re only a skip and a hop away from the parking lots.

HIGHLIGHTS

Lake Easton is beautiful, no doubt about it. The downside is that it can be hard to escape the sound of the nearby freeway for long. The advantage, however, is that as a result this hike doesn’t get the streams of visitors that many Snoqualmie Pass hikes see. If you’re looking for an easy hike that’s also easy to reach from I-90, then Lake Easton is a great option. Enjoy it for what it is, a peaceful walk around a gorgeous lake, even if you haven’t quite left civilization behind.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Even at five miles long, the gentle pace of this hike makes it pretty doable for kids. Plus there, are fun surprises to discover – an old railroad tunnel, modern railroad tracks (possible train sightings!), a beach with a playground, and (in our case) caterpillars!

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

As any Seattle area hiker knows, Snoqualmie Pass is blessed with an abundance of hiking opportunities. Avid hikers can easily pair a visit to Lake Easton with other hikes in the area. Mirror Lake is a good option if you’re looking for something a little further from the freeway. Lake Easton State Park is also a nice place to paddle and swim (when the weather cooperates). In winter, bring your snowshoes for a fun day out.

You’re not far from food options here, either. Fulfilling the boys’ desire for cheeseburgers, we headed to Mountain High Burgers, located just across I-90 from Lake Easton, after our hike.

We didn’t originally plan to hike around Lake Easton. No, we had been looking forward to a longer hike along the Cooper River, a hike that would take us further into the wilderness and away from the freeway. But plans change, and we found ourselves in need of a shorter hike where we could still easily meet up with our friend from Yakima. Decisions were made, and Lake Easton was our new destination.

We arrived around 3:30 in the afternoon, grateful to leave the Seattle rain behind and see a little sunshine peeking through the clouds. Our friend met us at one of several small picnic areas along the lakeshore within Lake Easton State Park, and we followed the trail counter-clockwise along the lake. At times we were surrounded by Douglas Fir and vine maple, at other times the trees parted for views across the water. Under cloudy skies, Lake Easton was a deep jade green — dramatic, yet small enough to feel almost cozy. Considering the wet June weather, cozy sounded pretty good to me.

Not long after starting on our hike, we came to a parking area with a boat ramp providing easy lake access for small watercraft. Past the boat ramp, picnic tables appeared along the shore. Not just picnic tables, either — I was glad to find an open restroom as well. We took a break while my younger son, T, played at the playground near the swimming beach. No one was brave enough to go for a dip in the June gloom, although a few hardy souls enjoyed their time on the shore.

From the swimming beach, we headed up a short trail and through the RV campground. Few people were out, but the place was packed with RVs, sitting sleek and silent (no need for generators when you have sites with full hook-ups) under the trees. Once through the campground, we continued left along the main road. Here, the traffic along I-90 really roared. At this point, it didn’t exactly feel like a hike, especially when you could see semi-trucks whizzing by only a hundred feet away. But this section was short-lived, and after crossing an old concrete bridge (and taking in the stunning view it offered), we were back in the woods.

By now, I was enjoying a conversation with my older son, J. He’d had a bit of a rough afternoon, and was just beginning to ease into the hike, his mood brightening. The rest of the party was ahead of us, but we didn’t mind. We followed the signs as they pointed the way toward the John Wayne Trail (now officially called the Palouse to Cascades Trail). As we walked, T ran back to join us. Emotions were high, and T was struggling. It didn’t help when it began to rain in earnest. As we turned onto the John Wayne Trail, a refurbished railway bridge led across a small cove along the lake. J and I were impressed; T was not.

He perked up a little when we came to a tunnel further along the trail. Tunnels are always exciting! In this case, it was also a good place to take shelter from the rain for a snack break. Sometimes, the effects of a little snack and a drink of water are nothing short of miraculous.

Beyond the tunnel, we continued our hike, and soon both boys were walking harmoniously by my side. I said a silent prayer in thanks for the healing power of nature, something we all need from time to time. I’d been feeling anxious all morning myself, and here on the trail, I could feel the anxiety melting away. Before long, even the rain subsided.

As we came to the eastern tip of Lake Easton, we passed a small dam and began looking for a place to cross the railroad tracks on our left to continue our loop around the lake. Michael and our friend, Dustin, found a spot that looked promising. We crossed the tracks, then headed onto a gravel road. As it turns out, we crossed too soon, and found ourselves inadvertently walking along a private road. Fortunately, the town of Easton lay just beyond. Stepping out onto the main road, we realized we should have stayed on the John Wayne Trail longer. In Easton, the trail comes to a crossroads that, conveniently enough, crosses the railroad tracks and connects with the main drag in Easton, Railroad Street. Clever name, right?

At any rate, we made it to Easton and to Railroad Street, even if our method wasn’t exactly above board. Reader, if you hike this trail, please stay on the trail until you reach the main road crossing the train tracks! As hikers, I know how important it is that we respect not just our public lands, but the private property of others who live nearby.

Now that we were back on track, we turned left onto Railroad Street and followed it across the river, then left again onto a brushy trail leading back into the forest. It was a pleasant trail, if a little overgrown. The boys were really into it by now, and delighted in the twists and turns as they ducked under vine maple branches.

We continued past the old Lake Easton Resort and RV Park, which has probably seen better days. Near the state park entrance, we crossed yet another road, following the hiker sign to continue on the trail. I must say, at this point the forest was enchanting. Even with the gentle hum of the freeway in the background, I was taken in as I climbed the switchbacks through stately evergreens. Electric green maple leaves sparkled with fresh raindrops, and the forest, still damp, smelled divine. At the top of the trail, we were treated to a wonderful view of the lake below.

On the way down, the boys chatted happily. It was the home stretch! Back at the start again, we took a few moments to sit at one of the picnic tables, appreciating a last chance to visit before saying goodbye to Dustin. T found a fuzzy caterpillar on the bench, and his greatest regret was bidding goodbye to his new forest friend.

“He lives here,” I explained. “He’ll be happiest here in his home.”

For us, too, it was time to head home. Well, first cheeseburgers and milkshakes, then home! As usual on a Sunday evening, westbound traffic along I-90 was slow, but I didn’t really care. I felt rejuvenated, no longer anxious or worried, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that the rest of my family felt the same. It’s amazing what a little walk in the woods can do for the soul. Sometimes, you don’t even have to stray far from the road to find it.