Shaw Lake

Shaw Lake is a small backcountry pond within Wallace Falls State Park, reached by hiking old logging roads from a locked gate on Sultan Basin Road. The roughly 8-mile roundtrip route follows decommissioned logging roads through DNR property before entering the state park, where the forest thickens and the lake appears in a quiet basin. Tent pads, a picnic table, and a metal campfire ring at the lake make it a viable overnight destination, though the approach is road walking rather than trail hiking.

Views from the clearcut sections along the way include surrounding foothills, and animal tracks in winter snow are a common sight. The route is accessible year-round, with snow adding interest in winter months but never making the road impassable. This is not a destination for dramatic alpine scenery, but it serves well as a low-elevation, low-commitment outing in the Sultan Basin area. Dogs are welcome and the flat road grade makes it manageable for a wide range of fitness levels.