Joe Lake
Snoqualmie RegionBest Jul–Sep
A rugged bushwhack through the Gold Creek valley to a remote alpine lake with established camps and big mountain views.
About This Trail
The Gold Creek Trail starts easy, following the valley floor through old-growth forest with gentle ups and downs for about 5 miles to the Alaska Lake junction. The real work begins after that turnoff. The trail to Joe Lake sees minimal maintenance, and the route pushes through slide alder, vine maple, and downed timber. Expect to duck, crawl, and bushwhack through overgrown meadows marked by faded survey tape. Navigation skills and patience go a long way here.
Beyond the brush, the trail steepens sharply as it climbs toward the lake. Loose rock and steep grade demand careful foot placement. The final push rewards with a trout-filled alpine lake surrounded by meadows, alpine ponds, and wide mountain views. Established campsites sit along the shore, making this a solid two-day backpacking objective.
Joe Lake also serves as a connector for ambitious loop routes. Experienced scramblers link up to the PCT via the ridge above the lake, connecting to Kendall Katwalk or looping through the Gold Creek Rim. These extensions push into serious off-trail terrain with steep scrambling and wet brush on the ascent to the ridge crest.
Forecast
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“Today a friend and I hiked/ran up the gold creek trail to Joe Lake, scrambled up to the PCT, and finished at the Kendall Katwalk TH.”
Last report: Sep 5, 2025
Scorecard
Permits / Passes
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- Unmaintained trail with heavy brush and downed logs past Alaska Lake junction
- Loose rock and steep terrain near the lake requiring careful footing
- Route-finding required through overgrown meadows with faded survey tape
- Significant mosquito presence mid-summer
- Stream crossings may be difficult during high snowmelt
Getting There
Gold Creek Pond parking lot off I-90 exit 54 (Hyak). Follow the Gold Creek frontage road 0.9 miles, then turn left for 0.5 miles on a rough dirt road with potholes. Northwest Forest Pass required. Lot fills on summer weekends but this trail sees far less traffic than neighbors like Snow Lake.
Follow Gold Creek Trail for 5 miles of easy valley walking to the Alaska Lake junction. Turn off toward Joe Lake where the trail deteriorates rapidly. Look for survey tape and machete cuts through the brush. The final 3 miles gain most of the elevation with steep, loose terrain near the lake. Total distance is 16 miles round trip. Allow a full day or plan for overnight.
Start early for a day trip to allow time for slow travel through the brushy unmaintained section. For overnight trips, midday starts work fine since the first 5 miles move quickly. Summer days are long enough to make this manageable as a dawn-to-dusk day hike for fast hikers.
Recent Reports
Today a friend and I hiked/ran up the gold creek trail to Joe Lake, scrambled up to the PCT, and finished at the Kendall Katwalk TH. I did a similar adventure solo in July 2023 and wasn’t sure I ever wanted to do it again, due to the steepness of scramble up to the PCT and to a lesser extent the steep trail up to Joe lake and all of the wet brush.
I hiked the Gold Creek Rim loop, July 26-28 with my dog. Day 1: Started at Rampart Lakes backdoor trail.
This was a fine trip. From Gold Creek trailhead to Alaska Lake and then on to Joe Lake on day 1 and then back out to Gold Creek trailhead on day 2.
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