CHS 1 Hike - Mason Lake

7:00am at the  Issaquah Transit Center off SR-900.  (Not the one at Issaquah Highlands.)

Those who are comfortable carpooling are encouraged to do so.  Driving individually is OK too. 

Mason Lake is a beautiful little spot along the I-90 corridor that is reached via a saddle that is often under snow until early summer.   By June we're all going to be anxious to get into the high country, and Mason Lake should just be opening up, so let's go for it.   In order to meet CHS 1 goals for June we'll also take the side trail up to less-visited Little Mason Lake.  Depending on the status of the spring snowmelt we may need microspikes while crossing over the saddle.

The trail starts at the popular Ira Spring Trailhead, so we'll get an early start to avoid the crowds.    

The final road to the trailhead can be rough, so a high clearance vehicle is preferable though not necessary.  A Discover Pass is required at the trailhead.

On the way back we'll stop in North Bend at either the North Bend Bar and Grill or Scott's Dairy Freeze.