Finally, this section of the PCT was redesigned and moved, to make it much more horse-friendly, and a totally new trail was created by 1978 to Spectacle Lake, and then east to Waptus Lake to meet the old trail. Trailhead is 3000 ft. High point is 5400 ft. Starting at Snoqualmie Pass, follow the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) first through forest then climbing to a scenic ridge crest and then along Kendall Katwalk, one of the most impressive walks on the Washington state portion of the PCT. She was not immediately identified. One of our group members decided to explore the lesser-traveled path northward and later told us that it was a fun scramble that cut out 0.5 miles of distance. Despite being much less popular, the shortcut shaved off a mile and routed us away from another stretch of scree. There, perched atop a rock about twenty feet above, was a large marmot, casually watching the hikers below. The famous Katwalk photos are almost all taken from the north end so you might not even realize you are there until you have crossed over. Snoqualmie to Spectacle Lake, PCT. If the name Kendall Katwalk conjures up an image of a narrow pathway blasted out of a steeply sloped rock face, thats part of it. I had . By the time I got here, it was 6 pm and I had been hiking hard for 6 hours. Go Hiking Trip Reports Pete Lake #1323,Pacific Crest (Alpine Lakes) #2000,Spectacle Lake #1306,Kendall Katwalk #2000. 325. Kendall Katwalk hike, Washington. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. I guess that's the cost of not needing advanced reservations; campsites were a free-for-all. The "katwalk" is found where the trail narrows to a thin ridge, featuring steep rocky slopes along either side of the path. We took off our shoes and socks, then tied them to our packs. Fitbit data: 45,380 steps, 466 floors. Fear not, however; it's about eight to nine feet wide, which exits onto more pathway that leads you farther into the wilderness, and as I'm told, to some alpine lakes beyond. While this section of trail is not particularly steep, it is 2.6 miles long and can feel especially long if you are tired on the way down and were thinking the day is over at the waterfall. " Jackie Clark OpenMapTiles OSM 12.2 Miles Out and Back 5,420' High 3,038' Low 2,621' Up 2,620' Down 8% Avg Grade (5) 20% Max Grade (12) Toolbox Kendall Katwalk 12 Miles Roundtrip 2600 Feet Elevation Gain I first heard about this hike last summer and have been wanting to check it out ever since. March 18, 2021 . If you get the chance to visit the Pacific Crest Trail, this section is a most worthwhile choice. There is a point where the path no longer parallels the valley, but turns and takes you to the other side of the mountain, onto new ridges and overlooks. For those with enough fitness, energy, and willpower, consider going an extra 1.25 miles to two beautiful Alpine Lakes on the Pacific Crest. As I sat and ate, I pulled bits of bread from my sandwich, and tossed them away, with the birds swooping down on them. But the whole package includes old growth forest, gorgeous wildflowers, and stunning views into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from both sides of the pass below Kendall Peak, where the Katwalk begins. Gravel Lake is to the north. Search. The trail then entered a shaded section of forest, which soon evolved into the final set of switchbacks we would have to take on our adventure. We saw a bear foraging for berries, picas, mountain vistas, streams. These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. This is a section of the Pacific Crest Trail so you will find everything from day hikers to people backpacking end to end on the trail. Its pretty amazing. The cost of the project? We saw a lot of vibrant purple wildflowers blooming in this section, which I later learned was Fireweed. Mountaineers Books is a registered trademark of The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Drive I-90 to Exit 52 at Snoqualmie Pass. Its an up and down half mile to the Kendall Katwalk (6.6 miles, 5370 ft). Something about the obvious intrusion of man onto an almost fairy-tale landscape has attracted hikers and backpackers for decades. 17.42 miles, 4916ft gain/4782ft loss. Yeah. On the right hand side is the main parking lot which handles 50 vehicles. And so Kendall Katwalk was born. Heading up towards Park Lake, I grabbed this photo of Spectacle Lake with some amazing peaks in the background. This is the unmaintained Commonwealth Creek Trail, a portion of the original Cascade Crest Trail, the precursor to the PCT.You'll continue on along the wide trail, climbing gently past the lush and varied vegetation lining the trail. Listen and look for the small chirping pikas which are abundant here. Register Not seeing a title that fits your trip? The Kendall Katwalk is a hike along the Pacific Crest Trail from Snoqualmie Pass to reach the Kendall Katwalk. The next several miles flew by. The most difficult part was blasting a trail through the Kendall Katwalk, a steep rock cliff on the ridge between Kendall and Red Mtn. Virtual Tour of Kendall Katwalk. The forest opens up after the switchback pair into open talus and reaches a summit at the Alpine Lakes Wilderness boundary (2.0 miles, 3830 ft). Alternatively, you can continue past the bootpath on the trail to where it crosses a pass on the east side of the ridge. The switchbacks led to the Alaska Mountain saddle. One of our group members who brought a dome tent was able to set up his tent on a tall boulder overlooking the lake. At 5784 feet, the northernmost peak is the highest and the most visited. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District, 55 Hikes around Snoqualmie Pass (Manning & Spring - Mountaineers Books), Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Pass (Nelson & Bauer - Mountaineers Books), Buy the Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass Gateway No. You are now following near the Pacific Crest. May 7, 2016 - If the name Kendall Katwalk conjures up an image of a narrow pathway blasted out of a steeply sloped rock face, thats part of it. Kendall Katwalk is a 12-mile hike that follows the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) northbound starting at Snoqualmie Pass. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. The trail begins in deep forest, with close views of the river during the early stretch. 207S map, Buy the Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass No. At 3.6 miles, the trail "splits", and can be deceiving; as you exit the woods and come out into the open, you can climb some rocks in front of you, and continue on, or go to the right, which remains a nice dirt path. June 10, 2022; By: Author bloomberg fields dictionary I traversed the east side of the Collar Mountain and between Ridge and Gravel Lakes. Rainier provides the backdrop for Mt. (22), A Weekend in the Enchantments: 4 Peaks in a Row, Getting Back Into the Swing of Things: Triple Couloirs Car to Car, Surprise in the Wilderness: An Alpine Lakes Tale. The path becomes slightly steeper before crossing long stretches of talus and sub-alpine meadow, with accompanying open views of the Pass and surrounding landscape. At the Cooper Lake trailhead, we met up with the 5th member of our party. ** Trip will initially open to Olympia, June, July, August, September, October, November, Seattle MAC - Conditioning Hike - Kendall Katwalk, CHS Tacoma August Hikes - Kendall Katwalk. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Shortly after the split, you again enter the woods into what I refer to as the "second section", also covered in canopy. Before it was completed, some people were probably going up Gold Creek to Ptarmigan Park, and getting up on the ridge next to Spectacle Lake from there. 500 feet beyond, stay right at the signed junction and climb to a switchback, entering shady forest. 38 miles with that much weight and all the vertical hiking made me realize that Im no longer 25 years old. We missed the turn to the true peak, but we enjoyed the views from atop the almost-peak. At the end of the off ramp, turn north and within 100 meters there is a dirt road on the right. Kendall Katwalk There had been lots of recent foot traffic on the trail. The Forest Service does an incredible job of maintenance on these trails!! Sunrise from the Katwalk Sunrise from the Katwalk with the 4 Brothers in the background Sunrise on Red Mountain By 6:30am we were ready to start hiking. July, and still some snow on the top. It seemed like I would never reach the Katwalk, though I was told by several hikers that I was "getting close". These are Ridge Lake and Gravel Lake. At this point there is another major switchback to the north. There are many options to turn back sooner but it only gets better the farther you go. The best feature that the Alpine Lakes Wilderness has to offer is that for most trails, with the exception of a handful of extremely popular routes (I'm looking at you, Enchantments), advanced reservations are not required. In the distance to the south, Mt. From here this section of the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the Kendall Katwalk, a striking span cut into a curtain of rock. Kendall Katwalk trail This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Youll quickly gain the narrow ridgeline and cautiously follow it to the top. Share. Ridge Lake via Kendall Katwalk and PCT This run was done in early summer along the Pacific Crest Trail. Traverse a steep hillside through beautiful old-growth forest, eventually breaking out into open talus at about 5000 feet of elevation. From Kendall Katwalk, we also got a great view of the Summit at Snoqualmie, a popular local ski resort. At 2.25 miles, there is a small waterfall on the uphill side of the trail. Red Mountain commandeers the landscape to the north, with Mt Thompson just beyond. kendall katwalk to spectacle lake. I decided to just keep walking. Kendall Katwalk RECOMMENDED ROUTE Intermediate/Difficult 4.7 (39) Areas WA North Cascades Snoqualmie Pass " A beautiful hike with stunning views - one of the 100 Classic routes in Washington! updates, images, or resources. Up to this point we had complete solitude. This is pretty much what a lot of the trail looked like. We dashed through the creek as quick as we could and found ourselves on warm solid ground on the other bank. By the end of the summer, a 4-foot-wide trail cut straight across the 50-degree cliff, with an 800-foot drop belowand no guardrail. Heres a screen shot of where my camping spot was: Based on the condition of my knees, I knew there was no way I could do 55 more miles. Gravel Lake - Ridge Lake - 15.2 Miles Round-Trip Gravel Lake is located 7.6 miles from the Pacific Crest Trailhead, just off Exit 52 on I-90 west of Snoqualmie Pass. you can take at this route/place. The views were beautiful and the temperature was perfect for a good strong walk. Featured Image Caption: Crossing the Kendall Katwalk. This includes side trips, extensions The Katwalk, so named because of the sheer drop on one side, and a cut rock face to the other, is a short (40-50 feet) expanse. In season, the slopes feature a dazzling array of wildflowers, including lupine, paintbrush, phlox, penstemon, and columbine. Total distance (Round Trip) 12 miles to the Katwalk and 14.5 miles if go to two beautiful lakes beyond the Katwalk. Here, take the unmarked boot path straight up the mountainside. This is a popular hike so get there early or you might be walking with quite a few other folks. August 24, 2018 March 15, 2019 Posted in August 2018, Uncategorized Tagged kendall katwalk, PCT, spectacle lake. Tiene un lago y es calificado como difcil. Past the Katwalk, the high airy ridge changes gradually to less rock and more soil and vegetation. You can choose to follow the road up or take a side trail through the campground, like we did, to the Cooper Lake trailhead. Stay to the right; the left is merely the connector trail from the upper parking lot. Chikamin Ridge. The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. I was pretty hurting by then. We left camp bright and early the next day. The Kendall Katwalk has some pretty sweet views, but it does skirt around a main objective for hikers in this area: the summit of Kendall Peak. The next half mile to the trail split (2.6 miles, 3775 ft) is a gradual descent. These Photos Prove It. After two miles of uphill climb, you break out into the open, onto a massive rock bed. Our group, already exhausted from over ten miles of backpacking that day, decided to take our chances with the creek crossing. Did you know WTA has a mobile app? We started on the trail though the forest under sunny skies. Les infos sur l'aroport, de la carte aux htels en passant par les informations aronautiques. Let me tell you -- the creek was ICE COLD, but we had already committed. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. On August 28, 2016, I packed up WAY too much gear and headed to the PCT parking lot on Snoqualmie Pass. - Easy access, it's right off I-90 - Even on a somewhat hazy day, we could . Back to Login. Then go across a steep hillside in old growth forest until you break out into open talus and heather at 5.1 miles and 4850 ft. Walking the entire main Kendall Katwalk on the Pacific Crest Trail. Parking Meters Greenwich, Kendall Katwalk. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. I ran into a unique problem that I had never considered would be an issue. It's pretty cool. My knees were getting pretty sore, but I just couldnt stop. Kendall Katwalk to Ridge Lake, a pretty piece of the PCT. The trail leading to the Glacier Lake junction was abundant with wild blueberries ripe for foraging. At 5400 feet, the trail turns a corner to the right and changes heading to almost due east. It's 11 miles round trip and 2,700 feet of elevation gain with a high point of 5,400 ft. A beautiful run with stunning views - one of the 100 Classic routes in Washington! The trail is steep, rocky, and exposed with Rainier views behind and Lundin Peak and Red Mountain ahead (5.25 miles, 4900 ft). It is definitely not a trail for children, but anyone else who loves to hike should put this trail on their bucket list! At the top we found a cast-iron tube containing a Mountaineers registry. Mar 23, 2015 - If the name Kendall Katwalk conjures up an image of a narrow pathway blasted out of a steeply sloped rock face, thats part of it. Le sentier longe un lac et sa difficult est value comme difficile. After traversing so much scree the previous day, a relaxing return route through the forest was welcomed. And so Kendall Katwalk was born. Something about the obvious intrusion of man onto an almost fairy-tale landscape has attracted hikers and backpackers for decades. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. We had a late start to our day, but there are certainly worse ways to start a day. Wildflowers/Meadows Mountain views Dogs allowed on leash Ridges/passes Old growth Fall foliage Parking Pass/Entry Fee It's a short walk to the trailhead, equipped as most better ones are, with restrooms and an information board. It's 11 miles round trip and 2,700 feet of elevation gain with a high point of 5,400 ft. From Kendall Katwalk, continue 1.5 miles to the secluded Ridge and Gravel Lakes. 207 map, You can improve or add to this guidebook entry, Washington Trails Association Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Its incredible to me that there are THOUSANDS of miles of this trail- and that people built them. The trail to the Katwalk begins in the mixed fir and hemlock that quickly yield to thick patches of huckleberry and salmonberry flanking the path. Rainer. Friday was quite brisk with hard blowing mist especially along the shale trail below Chikamin. It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear some of their stories. Tax ID: 27-3009280. Sign up for Outside+ today. Instagram photo by @_goldyyloxx (Stephanie Mair). The most difficult part was blasting a trail through the "Kendall Katwalk", a steep rock cliff on the ridge between Kendall and Red Mtn. After climbing up and over the ridge near Kendall Peak, we passed through the Kendall Katwalk, a short, narrow pathway blasted out of the steep cliffside.