Source Lake Overlook

I got out of work and wasn’t sure if I wanted to go on a hike, but 10 hours in front of computer necessitated that I exercise. As I pulled up to the parking lot, the clouds were beginning to invade the sky.

There was a sign on the trailhead saying they were doing maintenance – blowing rocks. I had been on the trail a couple of times before and compared to many other trails in the area, it is smooth and well-kept. But you can’t complain up-keep on the trail, especially since this is such a popular one.

I had never been up to the overlook before; I always went to Snow Lake instead. The trail is smooth and gradual, but once past the turn-off for Snow Lake it becomes somewhat rougher. You end up going the length of Alpental Valley and wrapping around the valley short of Chair Peak. There was still a considerable amount of snow on the ground once the trail started wrapping around and I didn’t make it to the very end, but I was far enough up the valley to get a view, albeit somewhat obstructed, of Source Lake.

Quite honestly, this hike isn’t on the top of my list. With the amount of lakes at Snoqualmie Pass, I prefer to end a hike at a lake, rather than a couple of hundred feet above. However, if you frequent Alpental to ski, this trail provides an excellent view of the backcountry.