Snowshoe and cross country ski trails in the Snoqualmie Pass area

SNOWSHOE ROUTES

Be Advised Winter Activities are riskier than mild weather trips. Please take more precautions while traveling in the back country during winter. Bring proper equipment and emergency supplies/clothing.

Also be aware this information is at least one year old, so use it as a guide only. Check into it further before following any of these directions. I am not aware of any changes but there may be some. Have fun outdoors.(Dec,2007)

Snowshoe routes

Amabilis Mountain: This trip starts at Exit 63 (Cabin Creek). Park on south side.

Walk north across I-90 to F.S. Rd. 4826. Start snowshoeing on the right-hand side (not on!) of the groomed x-c tracks on this road. About ¼ mile along this road past the Kongsberger ski cabin, turn right onto F.S. Rd. 4822 and start climbing! Stay to the right. when going up the road, as there might be skiers coming down. Give them the right-of-way. Cross a small creek. At approximately 2 miles., you reach a fork.

If you go left (clockwise), this is the shorter route to the top. At approximately 3 miles, cross a road and head up to the ridge crest. Turn right. and follow to the actual summit. If you go to the right back at the 2-mile fork, this is the longer of the two routes to get to the top--or join the two to make a loop (some navigational skills needed to complete this loop).

Views of Lake Keechelus Valley and the South Cascades to the south & Three Queens Mts. to the north.

8 miles 2,100' gain 4,554' high point

Sno-Park groomed parking permit required.

Some snowmobiles on F.S. Rd. 4822.

Commonwealth Basin: This trip starts out near the Exit 52 interchange. Park in the parking lot(s) for the Summit West ski area or park along S.R. 906 east of the Visitor Center. Cross the road & walk west. along the snow bank underneath the I-90 overpass. As the road bends past the overpass, you need to walk up the snow bank to get into the Pacific Crest North parking lot area.

From here, you are on your way to go up the basin. Good navigational skills are most helpful. You are in a heavy forest canopy but can follow alongside the banks of Commonwealth Creek (on the west side) and use this as your landmark. Views of Guye Peak are to the west. and Red Mt. to the north. At approximately 2.5 mi., the valley narrows enough that you will eventually have to cross Commonwealth Creek.

This is a good turnaround point before crossing the creek! There can be high avalanche danger up the basin beyond the creek.

4-5 miles 1,000' gain 4,000' high point

No Sno-Park required.

No snowmobiles in this area.

Keechelus Ridge: Take Exit 62 eastbound, I-90. Go north over the interchange & then head back west on I-90 approximately 1-1/2 mi. to the “Price Creek W. Sno-Park” exit 61. (There is no other way to access this Sno-Park if you come from the west.) A small trail leads northwest. from the Sno-Park to F.S. Rd. 4832. Head west on this road a couple hundred feet. Climb to the north onto a small side road, F.S. Rd. 124.

This road climbs steeply up the sides of Keechelus Ridge alongside Price Creek for ½ mi. before heading west away from the creek. The best “cross-country” trail is approximately 1.3 miles out of the Sno-Park. Snowshoe up the slope away from the snowmobile track, staying right when the road goes left. Parallel Price Creek as you go uphill but stay on bench above creek. Go approximately 1 mile before crossing F.S. Rd. 4934, just below ridge crest at 4,300’. Merge with F.S. Rd. 124 to make loop. This trip is for snowshoers who like to climb!

6.5 miles 2,100' gain 4,900' high point

Sno-Park ungroomed parking permit required.

Shared use with snowmobiles in this area.

Kendall Peak Lakes: Take Exit 54 off I-90. Go north underneath I-90 straight ahead to the Gold Creek Sno-Park. This route heads up F.S. Rd. 9090 straight ahead on the west. side of Gold Creek Valley and up towards Kendall Peak Lakes. Good views of Rampart Ridge on the east side of Gold Creek Valley, north towards Alta Mt. & Chikamin Ridge, & south towards the ski areas, Mt. Catherine, and even Mt. Rainier from the top! At approximately 1-3/4 mi. the road takes a sharp right hairpin turn.

The left spur road. gives you views of the ski areas. If you stay to the right, this proceeds up towards the lakes. The road heads east and then north., as it stays on the west side of the crest. Switchback turns at approximately 2.5 & 3.5 miles. Stay to the north& follow Coal Creek at approximately 4-1/4 mi. keeping the creek on your left (west side) to the lower Kendall Peak Lake.

Try not to approach the 3rd lake, as this is extremely steep and very avalanche prone.

7-9 miles 1,700' gain 4,400' high point

Sno-Park ungroomed parking permit required.

No snowmobiles in this area.

Lower Gold Creek Basin: Take Exit 54 off I-90. Go north. under overpass a few hundred yards. & turn right onto F.S. Rd. 4832 & head east approximately 1 mile. on this road that parallels the westbound lanes of I-90. Park along the shoulders of the road near the small bridge, which is over the outlet of Mardee Lake as it goes into Lake Keechelus. Snowshoe north onto F.S. Rd. 142 to enter the east side of this valley. This valley starts at approximately 1 mile in width and continues to narrow as you proceed up the valley on the east side of Gold Creek.

You will see Kendall Peak to the northwest, Rampart Ridge to the east., Alta Mt. on the northeast, & Chikamin Ridge to the north. Part of this route travels through private residential property in Ski-Tur Valley. Please respect private property and do not trespass on driveways or property. Avalanche slide paths are on either side of the valley off the Kendall Peak area on the west or Rampart Ridge area on the east. Try to stay in the middle of the valley as much as possible or follow the creek up the valley. As the valley narrows at approximately 3.5 mi. at the creek, you will find this to be a good turnaround point rather than crossing creek!

6-7 miles 400' gain 3,000' high point

Sno-Park ungroomed parking permit required.

Limited snowmobiles for Ski Tur Valley residents only.

Mount Margaret: Views of Lake Keechelus and Mt. Catherine to the south and the east side of Snoqualmie Pass. Take Exit 54 & turn north, proceeding under the I-90 overpass. Go a few hundred yards and then turn east onto F.S. Rd. 4832, which parallels the westbound lanes of I-90. Proceed to where the road ends by a snow-bermed turnaround. Park on the shoulder side of the road--do not block the turnaround. Follow the road southeast for approximately 1.5 miles from the snow-bermed road end. The road follows curves around the base of Rampart Ridge.

After crossing Wolfe Creek, the road climbs and switches back. At approximately 3.2 miles, the road splits. The left fork continues to climb another ½ mile to approximately 3,600’ and the trailhead to the Mt. Margaret hike. Stay to the east side of the clearing as you proceed up hill. Can continue to the ridge crest then to the north. The last ½ mile is in the trees all the way to the crest/ridge just below the true summit of Mt. Margaret & you will be able to see Lake Margaret below and the Mt. Stuart range to the northeast.

9 miles 2,800' gain 3,600' high point

Sno-Park ungroomed parking permit required.

Shared use with snowmobiles in this area.

Talapus Lake: Take Exit 45 (F.S. Rd. 9030) off I-90. Go north and follow F.S. Rd.

9030 west 1 mile until the junction with F.S. Rd. 9031. You may have to park down at this junction, depending on snow level and where it has been plowed. Follow F.S. Rd. 9030 to the right approximately 2.5 miles up to the Talapus Lake trailhead. You will go through some switchbacks. You will have occasional views of Bandera Mt., as well as Granite Mt. to the east. After about a mile on the actual trail (3.5 miles), you will come to Talapus Creek and will be following it approximately ¾ mile to the lake. Be aware of avalanche potential near the lake. If the avalanche danger is “moderate to high”, stay away from lake basin area.

8.5 miles 1,600' gain 3,280' high point

Northwest Forest Pass required.

No snowmobiles in this area.

NOTATIONS: The snowshoe routes listed above are neither marked nor maintained *. You should always carry a map, compass, & other 10 Essentials and also have good route-finding skills when venturing into the backcountry. Always be dressed for winter weather and be prepared for winter driving conditions (call ahead for the D.O.T. Road Report at: 511) when traveling in snow country.

Always check ahead for avalanche conditions by calling the N.W. Avalanche Hotline: (206) 526-6677.

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Snoqualmie pass snowshoeing areas to explore in the winter. Great snowshoe trails in the forest east of Seattle, Washington.