The Kendall Katwalk Trail is actually a part of the world famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which runs 2,650 miles from the border of Mexico in the south to the border of Canada in the north. We started off our journey by meeting up with our party at the Kendall Katwalk trailhead. We reached Ridge Lake shortly before dark and found it to be just as packed as Spectacle Lake. But worth the price? 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. 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. On this particular day, with bright sun in the sky, I saw some people up ahead looking towards the hill. This little guy didn't seem to mind the scree fields! Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. The second section passes through forest still exhibiting damage from the summer storm of 2011, when the trail had to be closed briefly in order to clear gigantic blowdowns.Approaching the 2-mile mark, the trail breaks out into open talus, enters the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, then begins slowly dropping 100 feet. This is the ridge just to the NW of the Katwalk. Enter the meadows below Kendall Peak and enjoy broad views as far as Mt. Keechelus Lake and the Snoqualmie ski resort are other notable landmarks. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to 0.25 mile before Kendall Katwalk. I was thinking I should probably stop at Park Lake, butI kept going. 0. Despite being much less popular, the shortcut shaved off a mile and routed us away from another stretch of scree. We dashed through the creek as quick as we could and found ourselves on warm solid ground on the other bank. To the right is the main parking lot, large enough for over 50 vehicles. 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. 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. 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. Gravel Lake is the larger of the two and is a slightly greater drop from the saddle between them that the Pacific Crest Trail passes through. So the path was nearly snow-free back in the forest past the clearing. For those with enough fitness, energy, and willpower, consider going an extra 1.25 miles to two beautiful Alpine Lakes on the Pacific Crest. Miles hiked: 11. We saw a bear foraging for berries, picas, mountain vistas, streams. Despite having our tent side walls fully rolled up to facilitate ventilation, our tent got soaked with condensation overnight. Once full, these logbooks are archived at the University of Washington. 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. Many campers found a place to camp on the peninsula between the two halves of Spectacle Lake, which was probably the right move to get great views at both sunrise and sunset. 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. Advertisement. Day 2. The trail is steep, rocky, and exposed with Rainier views behind and Lundin Peak and Red Mountain ahead (5.25 miles, 4900 ft). At the top we found a cast-iron tube containing a Mountaineers registry. 19 miles in 8 hours with some significant descents. Pete Lake, Spectacle Lake. Much of the trail between Spectacle Lake and Waptus Lake probably already existed. The trail was blasted out of the sheer rock face using dynamite. Continue straight. 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. Pretty little Ridge Lake, from my perspective, was warm enough to swim in without freezing to death, actually very pleasant after all day trudging in the sun. August 24, 2018 March 15, 2019 Posted in August 2018, Uncategorized Tagged kendall katwalk, PCT, spectacle lake. When we got to Spectacle Lake, it was PACKED since it was Labor Day Weekend. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. I ran into a unique problem that I had never considered would be an issue. The Kendall Katwalk, a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail, is one of the most popular hikes near Snoqualmie Pass, so in good weather conditions, be prepared to share the bounty. This makes the Alpine Lakes Wilderness the perfect destination for spontaneous backpacking trips or backpacking with large groups. PCT Snoqualmie to Pete Lake Images : SummitPost.org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering Heading north from near Snoqualmie Pass, it follows the Pacific Crest Trail climbing about 2700 feet over 5 or 6 miles. Climb two more switchbacks under Kendall Peak (5.6 mi, 5100 ft) and at the 5400 feet summit, turn due east. 99% of travelers recommend this experience. Catherine and the Snoqualmie ski slopes. A Northwest Forest Pass or equivalent is required. Our advice: just keep following the trail you will know when you reach the Katwalk. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The creek was flowing shin-deep water with no easy rock hop or log crossing around it. At 4.25 miles, there is a nearly flat ridge to cross. At 2.25 miles, a small waterfall on the steep uphill side of the trail alerts you to the stream crossings ahead. We dashed through the creek as quick as we could and found ourselves on warm solid ground on the other bank. Because we started the day late, we opted to fully skip Glacier Lake. Many campers found a place to camp on the peninsula between the two halves of Spectacle Lake, which was probably the right move to get great views at both sunrise and sunset. The rock faces of the Katwalk gradually transition into a more mellow soil and vegetation traverse. With interstate 90 appearing as a narrow ribbon in the valley below, the height of the climb became obvious! I then held a piece in my fingers to see what would happen; one of the birds immediately flew onto my hand, grabbed the food, sat for a few seconds, and then flew away. On the right hand side is the main parking lot which handles 50 vehicles. Jul 21, 2019 Private User Jul 14, 2019 Hannah. It had actually taken me about 2 more hours to get down there. The trail is steep, rocky, and exposed with Rainier views behind and Lundin Peak and Red Mountain ahead (5.25 miles, 4900 ft). Didn't make lake Aug 24, 2019 Raj Hiker. Apparently these beautiful flowers are some of the first plants to regrow after a wildfire in North America - isn't nature awesome? For a backpack pack, continue on to Spectacle Lake just off the the Pacific Crest Trail. Off highway 90, exit 52. There are many options to turn back sooner but it only gets better the farther you go. Its an up and down half mile to the Kendall Katwalk (6.6 miles, 5370 ft). Chikamin Ridge. Virtual Tour of Kendall Katwalk. Et la mto aronautique pour les pilotes, les METAR (METeorological Aerodrome Report, message d'observation des conditions mtorologiques pour l'aviation) et les TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast : message de prvision court terme des conditions mtorologiques pour l'aviation). In the distance to the south, Mt. This trail is also the first part of Section J of the Pacific Crest Trail just north . At the end of the off ramp, turn north and within 100 meters there is a dirt road on the right. We had originally been planning to camp at Glacier Lake for our first night, but after considering a multitude of factors (the sun was setting earlier in the day this time of year, our group had an aggressive goal of traversing 16 miles in a single day, and our group was tired from the extra mileage between Salmon La Sac and Cooper Lake), we decided to set up camp at Spectacle Lake instead. Snowshoe Up Artist Point. Most hikers familiar with Snoqualmie Pass seem to have heard of Kendall Katwalk. In season, the slopes feature a dazzling array of wildflowers, including lupine, paintbrush, phlox, penstemon, and columbine. Cross over two streams which in high water can be tricky. Look for a obvious gravel opening in the vegetation that has been eroded from use. 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. 38 miles with that much weight and all the vertical hiking made me realize that Im no longer 25 years old. Just beyond this stump is a bootpath (not well traveled) which leads straight uphill to the northernmost summit of Kendall Peak. This is Park Lake. Route: Alaska Mountain and Central Alpine Lakes Trail. It sounded fantastic. Kendall Katwalk (and Beyond) - Hike Left: View of the Kendal Katwalk, Looking North; Right: Hike KML Profile from Canon GPS Logger Hike Notes Length: 22.1 miles (according to Garmin HCX) Duration: 10.5 hours (7:30 am - 6:00 pm) Elevation Gain: 4,565 ft (total), 5,583 ft max elevation, starting @ 3,058 ft Location: Snoqualmie Pass At 2.25 miles, there is a small waterfall on the uphill side of the trail. Just ahead of Alaska Mountain, we found a white-furred marmot hanging out on the scree. Dogs are also able to Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. Here, you will encounter steeper, smooth switchbacks that curve their way through the forest. As only one very small part of the Pacific Crest trail, Kendall Katwalk trail is an astounding, beautiful, and breathtaking journey across just about every natural "feature" one could want in a trail excursion. As I sat and pulled out my sandwich, birds took a sudden interest; these are the infamous "Grey Jays", or more appropriate "camp robbers", known for their tendency to readily walk off with edible items whenever they surround a camp site. 10 minutes later I was on the trail, it was noon and the weather was spectacular. I put on microspikes by the switchbacks. One of our group members who brought a dome tent was able to set up his tent on a tall boulder overlooking the lake. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/kendall-katwalk, https://www.wta.org/site_images/hikes/0-dsc_3354-kendall-katwalk.jpg/@@download/image/Kendall Katwalk. 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. I Tried to Sew My Own Ultralight Tent. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. A beautiful lake viewed off the edge of a steep cliff. It's not the most beautiful forest I've been in, and other than a couple of stream crossings, it's monotonous. From Kendall Katwalk, hike another 1.5 miles to Ridge and Gravel Lakes for a longer day hike or a nice backpacking trip and day hike access to Alaska Mountain and the scenic Needle Site Gap. A small stream splashed down rocks and across the trail. We enjoyed a nice breakfast at camp as we waited for the sun to rise over the surrounding mountains and cast its warm rays on our tent. Jaw-dropping views on this hike to Kendall Katwalk on the PCT near Seattle, Washington with Tmber. After assessing a couple of options, we decided to use this route from AllTrails as inspiration. Log in and send us Its incredible to me that there are THOUSANDS of miles of this trail- and that people built them. In general, this is not a hike for most people once the snow starts to fall. Go Hiking Trip Reports Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section J - Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass, Kendall Katwalk, Gravel Lake - Ridge Lake, Spectacle Lake, Deep Lake, Peggy's Pond, Surprise and Glacier Lakes I sat in class drawing cartoons to make the time pass. All Rights Reserved. The Pacific Crest Trail runs 7.6 miles through old growth forests, high peaks and across the dizzying Kendall Katwalk to a high camp between Gravel and Ridge Lakes.The lakes are achievable in a long day but more comfortably reached as an overnight, and are often the first leg of a popular multi-day trip past Chikamin Peak to Spectacle Lake. This is the ridge just to the NW of the Katwalk. Rainier, fitting between the cracks of the pinnacles of Kendall Peaks. In order to run the singletrack along the ridge, a ledge has been blasted into the rock facehence the name "Kendall Katwalk." It followed Section J of the Pacific Crest Trail. Seattle, WA 98104. Trailhead is 3000 ft. High point is 5400 ft. It was one of our group member's first time traversing scree fields, and he needed to take it slow to avoid rolling his ankle. Another cloudless day! What an unbelievable undertaking. Our group, already exhausted from over ten miles of backpacking that day, decided to take our chances with the creek crossing. The trail winds around at first, then heads into a series of lengthy straight sections. This area is affectionately known as Kendall Gardens. As you continue beneath the shadow of Kendall Peak, keep an eye out for a tight set of switchbacks at just over the 4.5 mile mark. I decided to just keep walking. This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips Blasted in the granite with dynamite, the Katwalk is wide and safe to cross. View of the Kendall Katwalk Gravel Lake Ridge Lake 207 map, You can improve or add to this guidebook entry, Washington Trails Association The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Its not particularly dangerous, but if standing above a 2000 foot cliff and looking over the edge is something you dont like, I wouldnt recommend it. The extra mileage would have been better spent later in the trip for summitting peaks or exploring the Glacier Lake junction. 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. Sign the Mountaineers Log book at the top and become part of hiking history. After building the trail up to the ridge, Warren and his crew installed camp in the summer of 1976 at Gravel Lake, just north of what would become the Katwalk. In todays dollars, the Katwalk cost about $42,000 per foot; at 600 feet long, thats $25.2 million youre walking on. 3300 feet if you do Gravel and Ridge Lakes. 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. Ascend 100 feet and then begin an ascending traverse at 45 from the fall line to summit. The route that led west took us to a well-maintained wooden bridge that crossed in front of a waterfall. Best used from June until September. This includes side trips, extensions (Maybe Ill take a few more days and only do 15 miles per day)! Wildflower displays are generally best in August after the snow is gone. I arrived at the Spectacle Lake and found a nice flat (albeit hard) place to put my tent. This run was done in early summer along the Pacific Crest Trail. and peak combinations. Guidebooks unfailingly include this popular section of the Pacific Crest Trail, usually conjuring images of a vertigo-inducing shimmy across an exposed cliff-face hundreds of feet in the air. The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Pretty nasty. 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. nzhou 4 months ago Kendall Katwalk(11/8/20, 8:00:20AM) jennifer.k.maurer 4 months ago Kendall Katwalk. carrie.liang122 4 months ago Kendall katwalk. It is a segment of Section J of Pacific Crest Trail and the construction was completed in 1979. updates, images and resources. The trail begins in deep forest, with close views of the river during the early stretch. This is pretty much what a lot of the trail looked like. Though not super steep, the trail is relentlessly up, for a long time. We saw the first people on the whole trip at Spectacle Lake.