Trip
Day Hike - Tunnel Creek to Surprise Creek
Let's experience an explosion of fall colors via a one-way traverse passing five beautiful alpine lakes- (Mig, Hope, Trap, Surprise & Glacier). Tunnel Creek TH to Surprise Creek TH. Day Two of Hwy #2 WA Fall Hikes.
Contacts
- Thu, Oct 2, 2025
- Seattle Hiking Committee
- Day Hiking
- Adults
- Strenuous
- Challenging
- Mileage: 14.5 mi
- Elevation Gain: 3,425 ft
- High Point Elevation: 5,800 ft
- Pace: 2.0 mph, average moving pace
- 5 (10 capacity)
- 1 (2 capacity)
- Tue, Sep 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
- Wed, Oct 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
Known for exquisitely saturated fall colors, swimmable lakes, colorful meadows, ripe berries, and excellent views. Trap Lake, set in an alpine cirque in a cluster of craggy summits, the trail climbs to Trap Pass (gap on the northern ridge of Thunder Mountain) before descending to Surprise Lake, and back to civilization.
Trails: Tunnel Creek, PCT, Surprise Creek.
WTA Link (to Trap Lake - out & back)
Day Hiking Central Cascades book -hikes #26, #27 & #28
GAIA route (elevation incorrect, per usual)
Registration priority will be given to those hikers (and waitlisters) on my Larch Lake shuttle hike on October 1st until 8:00 p.m. on October 23rd.
Monitoring fires, AQI, and weather. Hazardous conditions, AQI 90+, or extreme weather will initiate a change of location or cancellation. Its been challenging this year.
Plan to be on the trail for 8-9 hours.
8:00 am Surprise Creek TH. Then, we'll load into a car or two and shuttle for 3 road miles to Tunnel Creek TH. (near Steven's Pass).
Hope & Mig Lakes
-
Green Trails Alpine Lakes West (Stevens Pass) No. 176S - See full route/place details.
Required Equipment
- Navigation
- Headlamp
- Sun protection
- First aid
- Knife
- Fire
- Shelter
- Extra food
- Extra water
- Extra clothes