Greenwater Lakes

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 4 miles Round

Northwest Forest Pass Required

This is the perfect hike for families, as it has everything a kid would be looking for in a hike: it's easy, you get to cross the river multiple times over awesome log bridges, and not just one lake - but two! Although this hike was super easy, it is beautiful enough that even the avid hiker will enjoy being here for the day!

This hike pretty much sums up what hiking in the Pacific Northwest is all about: tall cedars, raging rivers, lakes and friendly hikers. As you start out on this trail the beauty is almost immediate as it meanders through the forest of cedars amongst a bed of ferns. If the beauty doesn't suck you in the smell of the forest and sound of the river will - it entices all of the senses and you are sucked in from the very first step. Aaron and I were in hiking heaven on this hike for sure and really enjoyed the slower pace to just be together and have some great conversation.

This is one of the most well maintained trails I have hiked on in a long time as well, making every penny that I spend every year on my Northwest Forest Pass worth it. The trail wanders back and forth over the river, crossing with very sturdy, well made, log bridges. It is also a popular horse trail, and we had the privileged of leap frogging a wonderful couple out for the day as well with their horses. The trail has very well marked horse fords if you are into the equestrian version of hitting the trail, so crossing the river is even safe for our hoofed friends.

I highly recommend this hike for all levels of hikers. There are also some great camping sites on both lakes, as well as further up on the river. And, if you are so inclined, only 5 miles further up the trail is Echo lake - which many backpackers make their destination. Aaron and I didn't go that far on this trip, but it is on our to do list for sure. Maybe our next over-nighter will be spent up there.

Directions: from Highway 410, drive through Enumclaw. As you pass through town, from the last light out drive 10 miles to Forest Road 70 (you will drive through the small town of Greenwater and FR70 is just after that)

Turn right onto FR70 and go 9.3 miles then turn right (at 9 miles you will cross a bridge and the right hand turn is the next road on the right 0.3 miles after the bridge.... we passed this road on our first trip). You will cross over another bridge and the parking lot is just a short distance from there.

There are bathroom facilities at the trail head, but the day we were there TP was scarce: thank goodness we always pack biodegradable TP in our packs ;o)