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Trip Report    

Day Hike - Wallace Falls & Lake

9 of us braved high rain season for another Tuesdays with Court adventure and encountered a closed portion of the trail (deep swamp between Lake and Falls), 2 California quail, a pair of deer, and 2 ruffed grouse among the many surprises. All returned soggy, a bit cold, but happy to have gotten out.

Courtenay Schurman Courtenay Schurman
March 24, 2026
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • The one back-track we had was on a low section of trail between Wallace Lake and Wallace Falls that was passable two weeks ago when my co-leader led this trip in the reverse direction, but is a deep swamp right now. Many thanks to the post someone (related to Girl Scouts) made on WTA from Saturday.

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    This stretch is currently NOT wadeable in conditions like we had (though one of our party had to actually test it -- "Deep," was his opinion), so we turned back and took the road, adding maybe .25 miles total walking distance, so not too bad. With all the snowmelt from last week and high rains from today, I'm guessing that section will remain impassable through the week but might be good to go come April.

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9 of us from the Mountaineers braved inclement rainy weather to do a 9.8-mile loop, clockwise, up the Railroad Grade to Greg Ball Trail to Wallace Lake, then down in a loop past the Falls. We left the cars at 7:30 and returned at 12:30, wet, muddy, a bit cold, but happy to have been out.

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Have a Discover Pass available and oh, was it ever nice to have HAND DRIERS in the restrooms, just the thing for cold, wet hands! There was plenty of parking even when we came down; we probably saw two dogs and 25 people on the Falls part of the trail on the morning.

Fortunately everyone in our group had lots of foul-weather experience and sufficient rain gear, hats, gloves, and trekking poles. A very hardy group. Poles are not needed but are certainly helpful for the descent from the Falls, as the steeper terrain and rooted, muddy areas made us all watch our footing. Only one slip on the day.

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We kept moving at about 2.4 mph pace to stay warm, and noted 12 bird species including California quails (a pair calling "Chi-CA-go at the parking lot), a few ruffed grouse, Pacific wrens, robins, varied thrushes, and a few song sparrows mixed in with chickadees, kinglets, and juncos. We also saw a pair of deer at the parking lot.

A lot of tree root balls are exposed, all from trees that have toppled toward the west from winds coming down the mountains from Stevens Pass.

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All in all a wet but enjoyable morning with mysterious fog and mist and great attitudes by all participants. I'd hike with this group again anytime!