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Trip Report    

Day Hike - Annette Lake

7 of us enjoyed perfect summer conditions this morning as an Early Tuesday Naturalist Hike. Avian highlights included 4 types of thrushes, 3 warbler species, swallows skimming over the lake, a junco's nest with four eggs, a pair of Rufous hummingbirds, and delicious wading temperatures. Beargrass is lovely right now.

Courtenay Schurman Courtenay Schurman
July 01, 2025
  • Road rough but passable

  • 7 of us from the Mountaineers started our adventure at 6:40 Tuesday morning to kick off July. Doing so meant we could enjoy 25 bird species and relatively cool (albeit humid) summer conditions. Several of us thought the approach road had been "repaired" a few years ago but it's back to being potholed. I took 3 riders in my Mazda CX-5 and drove that .25 miles slowly. A Northwest Forest Pass is required; the pay kiosk at this location was covered BUT the Granite Mountain kiosk across the road (north Exit 47) is available if you're in a pinch for a parking permit.

    The facilities were open and well-stocked with toilet paper. Only 2 cars were in the parking lot when we arrived around 6:15. We're guessing backpackers; we saw smoke at the lake near where a campsite would be and guessed they were cooking over a wood fire which we thought would be banned by now. Fortunately the smoke didn't get out of control.

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We took a leisurely 1.9 mph pace hike with stops to enjoy the foliage and birds. Varied, hermit, and Swainson's thrushes, Pacific wrens, seven Steller's jays, 8 swallows skimming the lake surface for bugs, a pair of Rufous hummingbirds, and a dark-eyed junco on a nest of 4 eggs were some of our avian highlights.

Fluffy beargrass is beautiful up near the lake. We also saw Cow Parsnip, Coral Root, some ginormous spent trilliums, and beautiful foxgloves in the clearing under the power lines.

We reached the lake around 9 a.m. and spent an hour enjoying the view, snacking -- and four of us even waded (one swam!) - the lake was a remarkably pleasant temperature. Two folks went in without wading shoes, surprised at the loamy quality of the lake bottom (not sharp rocks/squelchy mud). We paused at the amphitheater-like opening on the south side of the lake, away from the waterfalls and camp site with smoke.

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Beware: the bugs are still present and irritated a few of the hikers. I pulled out my head net for the hour at the lake; as long as you keep moving, they're not that bad.

The trail has seen tremendous improvements in recent years - a few years ago my daughter counted all the ladder steps but I didn't this time -- the streams are running with lots of water and in places there is still a little mud (once it dries up, the bugs won't be as bad). If they bother you, stick to the sunshine areas, they didn't seem to like the warmth/brightness as much.

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We didn't see any other hikers on the way up, but after we left our break spot at 10, I counted 50+ people coming in, including several as parent-child pairs of backpackers, a Retired Rovers group of 6, and 5-6 dogs who were already panting in the heat. The parking lot was full along the edges with room in the middle for more cars when we returned just before noon.

I'd offered an add-on option to do the Asahel Nature Trail but temps were already above 80 F, three had to leave, so... maybe next time. Traffic coming through Seattle was a breeze at that time of day, so I think we made the right choice. All in all a lovely outing.

(FYI rant ahead) I picked up 3 dog poop bags that were NOT THERE when we hiked in, so I know the guilty parties were among the owners of those 6 dogs. Please, PLEASE, EVERYONE remember Leave No Trace principles: remove ALL signs of your presence, from pistachio shells and orange peels to tissues and poop bags, EVEN IF YOU INTEND TO PICK THEM UP ON THE WAY OUT.

Nobody - NOBODY - likes to see them, especially if you forget on the way out. If I can carry my dog's bags (for ten years now) and other dogs' poop bags, you can SURELY carry one. Or better yet, have your dog carry it on their leash or harness. WE GOT THIS. SAVE OUR TRAILS. ESPECIALLY NOW. IT'S UP TO US TO DO OUR PART, EVEN OUR DOGS.