Amabilis Mountain Snowshoe
Snoqualmie RegionBest Dec–Mar
Summit snowshoe near Snoqualmie Pass with panoramic views of Kachess Lake and the surrounding Cascade peaks.
About This Trail
Amabilis Mountain rises above the Cabin Creek Sno-Park near Snoqualmie Pass, offering one of the more accessible summit snowshoe experiences along the I-90 corridor. The route follows Forest Road 4822 through a series of switchbacks, climbing steadily through dense forest before opening up near the summit ridge where views stretch across Kachess Lake to Kachess Ridge, the Three Queens, Chikamin Ridge, and Mount Rainier on clear days.
The standard route gains about 2,100 feet over 4.75 miles each way. An optional shortcut cuts through the pines past the two-mile mark, saving some road distance but adding steeper terrain. Nordic skiers also use this route, and snowshoers must stay off groomed tracks to avoid conflicts. The parking lot at Cabin Creek fills quickly on weekends, so early starts pay off.
Late winter through early spring delivers the best conditions: consolidated snowpack, longer days, and corn snow on the descent. By late March, lower sections begin melting out, requiring hikers to walk bare ground before reaching continuous snow cover higher up.
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“We brought snowshoes and microspikes but only used the microspikes, and even those were hardly necessary.”
Last report: Apr 10, 2026
Scorecard
Permits / Passes
Safety & Considerations
Persistent Hazards
- Shared route with nordic skiers - stay off groomed tracks
- Dogs not allowed on groomed ski surfaces
- Lower sections melt out in late season, creating an awkward bare-ground approach
- Summit ridge exposed to wind
Getting There
Cabin Creek Sno-Park at I-90 Exit 63. Sno-Parks Permit required. The lot fills by mid-morning on weekends. Arrive before 8am for a guaranteed spot. No overflow lot nearby.
Follow the road from the sno-park through switchbacks. The route is generally well-tracked in winter. An optional shortcut through the trees past the two-mile mark steepens the grade but saves distance. Stay off groomed ski tracks throughout.
Early starts beat both the parking crunch and soft afternoon snow. Aim for trailhead by 7-8am on weekends. Weekday visits avoid the crowds entirely.
Recent Reports
The road is open. Parked at pull out at ~3000'.
The snow melted out at the lower sections of the trail, you would have to walk for about 20 minutes from the "Road". After that the snow coverage becomes OK and you can ski up OK, however, the snow is melting quickly.
Many melted out patches in the first mile, after which snow cover is continuous. We brought snowshoes and microspikes but only used the microspikes, and even those were hardly necessary.
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