05-03-25
Kim
joined me for a Saturday hike. It would be overcast with possible light
rain. We chose a short trip to Lake 22. The creeks should be running
higher as well as the waterfalls. Recent reports showed the trail was
snow free to the lake with snow at the far end. The trailhead parking
lot fill fast on a weekend so we left early. We arrived at about 7:37
am. The lot was about half full or a little more. A big van arrived
just after us with 13 hikes on board. That is an efficient way to use
the limited parking spaces. It was not raining as we set out at 7:49
am. I was last here in 2024. Since then, the trail was closed from July
to December 1 for major refurbishing. I was interested to see what they
did. The start now has a whole lot of crushed gravel up to the bridge
bridge near the start. There was some salmonberry in bloom. We crossed
the bridge and came upon a newly built set of stairs and walkway across
the old rocky ledge. It even smelled brand new. After that, it was
mostly just the old wet slabs with a few creeks flowing over it. There
was also spots with the trail widened and/or blasted much
smoother. It is not idea but it is much smoother and wider.
The route continues on some dirt and more wet rock slabs in forest. We came to the bridge next. Two huge trees fell into the creek just barely below the bridge. It would have been smashed to bits if they fell just a little upstream. There was a good flow in the creek. That boded well for the waterfalls ahead. One tree was entirely in the creek and one fell across the trail just past the bridge. Trail workers have cut out some of the tree on the bottom to make it easier to duck and go under it. A lot of work was done during the 5 month closure. Some work is still underway. As we ascended the trail, some spots have been widened and some more boardwalk steps have been installed. The grade of the steps is not steep and there are few big steps except at the bottom. The first steps can be large. The staircases are too narrow to pass on. That was not a problem going up as the route was not too busy. It was more of a problem descending with the crowds.
In places there are signs from the big bomb cyclone we had in late November. In addition to the two trees by the bridge, there were more very large trees the fell and took out bits of the trail. The trees were moved or cut up and a few trail sections were rebuilt. A few spots of former dark forest now have light shining down as the trees are gone. The trail is in an experimental zone created in 1947. It did not have logging. There are many very large trees still standing. I always stop to take photos of some of them. There were fewer wildflowers than I expected on the trail to the lake. We did see some bleeding hearts and a few trillium with some yellow violets. The same flowers that I have been seeing for three or four weeks. Skunk cabbage also showed up in the wetter spots. When we reached the short side trail to Twin Falls, I took it and Kim kept hiking the main trail. The falls were flowing strong. It was a very nice sight. I caught up with Kim early into the open rocky slopes.
There have always been some large rocks on or next to the trail. Not any more. It seems that any good sized rock was blown up. The grade is now wider and much smoother. What rocks that remain are looser though. The usual views north to Three Fingers and other peaks were completely lost in the low clouds. It was hard to even see far below. We exited the open slopes and went back into forest. More staircases and boardwalks now exist. Several of them are still under construction. A few marsh marigolds were also in bloom. We reached Lake 22 at 9:45 am. We took a slow 1:56 going up but with our early start it was still early in the day. There were a few dozen people in sight from the bridge over the outlet. There was still a lot of snow at the end of the lake and many waterfalls dropping down the steep slope. Clouds hid the top of the ridge behind the lake. It looked very winter-like though we were only at 2400' at the start of May. It was cold as well.
We headed around the lake clockwise. We went past most of the people and found a spot on the rocks below the trail. It made for a good brunch spot. We had really good views to the back wall and the waterfalls. Out on the lake we saw a pair of ducks. With my zoom lens we were able to see that they were common mergansers. The male had a striking bright white body with a black back and head. They were diving into the lake looking for food. We finished our break and continued around the lake. We saw some big patches of marsh marigolds then went into forest and back out. Near the end of the lake the route went onto snow. We picked up a boardwalk that was snow free at first. We met a group that was loving the snow. Kim too photos of them and they returned the favor. We were soon back on snow. Much of the route around the back is still on snow. It was mostly well packed down. A few folks stepped just off the snow covered boardwalk and left quite deep postholes. We had much closer looks up to the waterfalls from there. As we rounded the end of the lake the snow ended. It was bare from there back to the trailhead.
There were more marsh marigolds on this side of the lake. We were back at the outlet at 11:40 am. There were hikers arriving and leaving. The trip back was a little faster. We did have to step off the trail many times as hikers passed us going up and down. The now wider sections did allow us to pass where the trail was too narrow previously. The extra staircases were narrow enough to add more spots where we had to wait until others had exited them. In the big open rock section we could now see across the valley though the peaks above were in clouds all day. Just after entering forest beyond the open slope, Kim pointed out a huge tree just below the trail. How could I have missed it in both directions on my previous 28 trips here? It is enormous.
We both went over to Twin Falls and took a break there. I have seen them frozen solid, with a small flown, and roaring like this day. We reached the trailhead at 2:27 pm. We spent 6:38 on the trail hiking just over 6 miles. We took lots of photos and had numerous breaks. I had a jacket on all day. It never did more than sprinkle for a few minutes. My umbrella stayed on my pack. It felt more like a late winter day than a warm spring day. That's okay. There will be many hot days this summer. One more snowy cool day was fin with me. Coming down we had the crowds I expect on this hike. That was fine. I do not do many crowded trails and I knew what to expect this day. It is popular for a reason. The trail is not long and delivers a lot of great scenery from the lake to waterfalls to flowers and some very large trees. It was a fine spring day for a hike to Lake 22.
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Trips - 2025
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The route continues on some dirt and more wet rock slabs in forest. We came to the bridge next. Two huge trees fell into the creek just barely below the bridge. It would have been smashed to bits if they fell just a little upstream. There was a good flow in the creek. That boded well for the waterfalls ahead. One tree was entirely in the creek and one fell across the trail just past the bridge. Trail workers have cut out some of the tree on the bottom to make it easier to duck and go under it. A lot of work was done during the 5 month closure. Some work is still underway. As we ascended the trail, some spots have been widened and some more boardwalk steps have been installed. The grade of the steps is not steep and there are few big steps except at the bottom. The first steps can be large. The staircases are too narrow to pass on. That was not a problem going up as the route was not too busy. It was more of a problem descending with the crowds.
In places there are signs from the big bomb cyclone we had in late November. In addition to the two trees by the bridge, there were more very large trees the fell and took out bits of the trail. The trees were moved or cut up and a few trail sections were rebuilt. A few spots of former dark forest now have light shining down as the trees are gone. The trail is in an experimental zone created in 1947. It did not have logging. There are many very large trees still standing. I always stop to take photos of some of them. There were fewer wildflowers than I expected on the trail to the lake. We did see some bleeding hearts and a few trillium with some yellow violets. The same flowers that I have been seeing for three or four weeks. Skunk cabbage also showed up in the wetter spots. When we reached the short side trail to Twin Falls, I took it and Kim kept hiking the main trail. The falls were flowing strong. It was a very nice sight. I caught up with Kim early into the open rocky slopes.
There have always been some large rocks on or next to the trail. Not any more. It seems that any good sized rock was blown up. The grade is now wider and much smoother. What rocks that remain are looser though. The usual views north to Three Fingers and other peaks were completely lost in the low clouds. It was hard to even see far below. We exited the open slopes and went back into forest. More staircases and boardwalks now exist. Several of them are still under construction. A few marsh marigolds were also in bloom. We reached Lake 22 at 9:45 am. We took a slow 1:56 going up but with our early start it was still early in the day. There were a few dozen people in sight from the bridge over the outlet. There was still a lot of snow at the end of the lake and many waterfalls dropping down the steep slope. Clouds hid the top of the ridge behind the lake. It looked very winter-like though we were only at 2400' at the start of May. It was cold as well.
We headed around the lake clockwise. We went past most of the people and found a spot on the rocks below the trail. It made for a good brunch spot. We had really good views to the back wall and the waterfalls. Out on the lake we saw a pair of ducks. With my zoom lens we were able to see that they were common mergansers. The male had a striking bright white body with a black back and head. They were diving into the lake looking for food. We finished our break and continued around the lake. We saw some big patches of marsh marigolds then went into forest and back out. Near the end of the lake the route went onto snow. We picked up a boardwalk that was snow free at first. We met a group that was loving the snow. Kim too photos of them and they returned the favor. We were soon back on snow. Much of the route around the back is still on snow. It was mostly well packed down. A few folks stepped just off the snow covered boardwalk and left quite deep postholes. We had much closer looks up to the waterfalls from there. As we rounded the end of the lake the snow ended. It was bare from there back to the trailhead.
There were more marsh marigolds on this side of the lake. We were back at the outlet at 11:40 am. There were hikers arriving and leaving. The trip back was a little faster. We did have to step off the trail many times as hikers passed us going up and down. The now wider sections did allow us to pass where the trail was too narrow previously. The extra staircases were narrow enough to add more spots where we had to wait until others had exited them. In the big open rock section we could now see across the valley though the peaks above were in clouds all day. Just after entering forest beyond the open slope, Kim pointed out a huge tree just below the trail. How could I have missed it in both directions on my previous 28 trips here? It is enormous.
We both went over to Twin Falls and took a break there. I have seen them frozen solid, with a small flown, and roaring like this day. We reached the trailhead at 2:27 pm. We spent 6:38 on the trail hiking just over 6 miles. We took lots of photos and had numerous breaks. I had a jacket on all day. It never did more than sprinkle for a few minutes. My umbrella stayed on my pack. It felt more like a late winter day than a warm spring day. That's okay. There will be many hot days this summer. One more snowy cool day was fin with me. Coming down we had the crowds I expect on this hike. That was fine. I do not do many crowded trails and I knew what to expect this day. It is popular for a reason. The trail is not long and delivers a lot of great scenery from the lake to waterfalls to flowers and some very large trees. It was a fine spring day for a hike to Lake 22.
 Kim On Boardwalk |
 Here Is A New Bridge |
 Rocky Old Trail |
 Twenty Two Creek |
 Big Tree Fell Near Bridge |
 Trail Is On Rock Slab |
 Kim & Big Trees |
 Fallen Trees |
 Twin Falls |
 Misty Blasted Trail |
 Reddish Trillium |
 Near Bent Trees |
 Wide New Water Pools |
 First Skunk Cabbage |
 View Of Switchback |
 Lake 22 |
 People On Trail |
 Big Waterfall |
 First Marsh Marigold |
 Reflected Lake |
 Another Reflection |
 Hikers Taking A Break |
 Common Merganser |
 Small Creeks |
 Snow Encroaches |
 More Waterfalls |
 Falling Water |
 Looking Up The Lake |
 Us On A Boardwalk |
 Falls And Mist |
 Kim At Back Of Lake |
 Snowy Lake |
 Twin Marsh Marigolds |
 Bridge In Sight |
 More Skunk Cabbage |
 Back At Bent Trees |
 Bleeding Hearts |
 Kim & Big Tree |
 Twin Falls Again |
 Kim & Falls |
 A Last Marsh Marigold |
 Fungus On Tree |
 Kim Descending Stairs |
 Slug & Orange Peel |
 Under Big Tree |
 Twin Unfurling Ferns |
 Another Big Tree |
 Last New Bridge |
Trips - 2025
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