Day Hike - Margaret Lake

PLEASE NOTE: The meeting place has changed from South Bellevue Park and Ride at 8 am to Preston Park and Ride, I-90 Exit 22 at 8:30 am.

Directions will be send to all who register soon after registration closes at 5 pm on Oct. 8. Registration is closing 24 hours earlier to allow participants who wish more time to arrange carpooling to the meeting place. 

PLEASE NOTE: Chris Ensor has taken over from Sarah Jones as leader for this trip. Sarah has had to stand down due to illness.

Also, we will be meeting at Preston Park and Ride, I-90 exit 22 at 8:30 am NOT at South Bellevue P&R at 8am.

We'll need a couple volunteer drivers with forest service passes or annual national parks passes. I have an annual national parks pass and can drive. 

Directions to the trailhead: From Preston P&R, drive east on I-90 to exit 54. Turn left (north) under the freeway and right on the frontage road (FR 4832) signed “Gold Creek.” At 3.9 miles from the freeway turn left onto FR 4934, and in 0.25 mile look for the parking lot on the left.

The trail to Margaret Lake is 6 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. This trail starts on an old logging road, leads through old clearcuts—now nicely regrown as lush berry meadows and forest stands—and enters lush old second-growth forest. 

Fall hikes can be rainy and cold. Like Sarah Jones I do not cancel for rain, so please bring layers and rain clothing appropriate for the forecast. We will follow Sarah's other instructions to hike at an easy/moderate paces with lots of breaks and to keep the group together to make sure no one gets lost. Please plan to stay with the group and hike at the groups' pace. We will not do any scrambling or side hikes on this trip.