Trail Distance: 8.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,000 ft
Terrain Rating: Easy to Moderate
Hike In: 9:50AM
Hike Out: 3:23PM
Trailhead: Lake Serene trailhead off US 2, about 1.5 hours from downtown Seattle.
Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls is a very popular hike in the summer. I would recommend coming here on a weekday to enjoy its full beauty. We did this hike on a Monday and it was perfect! There were 2 groups at the falls and 3-4 groups at the lake.
Starting from the parking lot (don’t forget your Northwest Forest Pass!), it’s 1.7 miles until the detour to Bridal Veil Falls. You’ll want to do this first, because your legs will tire out at the end. The falls are beautiful and it’s easy to see why it is named Bridal Veil Falls. We took a few pictures here and then headed back down to the trail junction.
From there, it’s about 2.3 miles up countless switchbacks to Lake Serene. The hike is generally shaded and it’s not too bad of an ascent. I didn’t feel the need to have hiking shoes because the terrain isn’t too crazy. Nike’s were perfect for this hike! Once you reach Lake Serene, you might be in complete awe of it’s beauty! I wasn’t brave enough to go in for a dip (it was pretty cool outside, even at the end of August!). There were a few bugs but nothing too horrible because of the dragonflies.
For such a quick hike, the reward is spectacular. We had lunch here and hung around for an hour before heading back down the way we came.
Gear Specs:
- 3L of water
- 2 bars and a sandwich
- Nike sneakers
- Osprey Pack
- Extra clothes packed away: extra socks, hat, rain jacket
- Emergency Gear: Map & GPS, Headlamp, reduced First-Aid Kit, Swiss Army Knife, hand/feet warmers
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