green lakes trail washington

The Green Lake Trail is a moderately strenuous but relatively short hike to a pocket lake set among a rare high-elevation rain forest. A way trail goes on the west side of the middle lake so you can walk around the lake. A great early season hike, the fairly level trail follows the Greenwater River upstream through a cathedral of old-growth Douglas fir, arriving at the first of two lakes at 1.7 miles. Pioneers first settled at Green Lake in the 1860’s, and the area was annexed into Seattle in 1891. The Greenwater Lakes Trail is a small portion of the larger Greenwater Trail #1176, specifically a segment from the northern trailhead to Echo Lake.

It is a glacial lake, its basin having been dug 50,000 years ago by the Vashon glacier, which also created Lake Washington, Union, Bitter and Haller Lakes. Visit a trail where rushing rivers, placid lakes, and wild forests line the trail. The water level was lowered in 1911 to form more park space, cutting off the water inflow and outflow routes. The trail's wide, ambitious grade rewards accordingly for your efforts, ascending through stands of humbling firs, passing a picturesque waterfall, and ending on the shore of a lovely mountain lake. There are two switchbacks on this part, the only switchbacks you encounter on the whole route. Once you get through the meadows, you slowly climb again to the Green Lakes area. On the south end of the lake, is a confusing junction with the Broken Top Trail. Need to Know Horses are allowed on the trail so you'll notice multiple horse fords along the way. There are two trails that go on either side of the South Green Lake, eventually going southeast towards Broken Top.

Green Lake is a freshwater lake in north central Seattle, Washington, within Green Lake Park. As you walk, watch for the deer and elk that make this area their home. Eventually the trail, and the creek, level out at about 6000' and there are some meadows. This is the smaller of the two with side trails to secluded shorelines, worth the time to explore. The park is surrounded by the Green Lake neighborhood to the north and east, the Wallingford neighborhood to the south, the Phinney Ridge neighborhood to the west, and Woodland Park to the southwest.

The Greenwater River is your constant companion on this hike, winding with you through cool, old-growth forest along this quiet path to two basin lakes. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/green-lake-trail https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/greenwater-lakes-trail The main trail goes to the east of the middle lake.