Alpine Lakes Wilderness #10 - The Return to Snoqualmie Lake

Edward Leonard
2 days ago
3 min read

The Long Way Back to Snoqualmie Lake

It had been about 20 years since I last ran the trail to Snoqualmie Lake.

Back then, I was in my mid-30s and thought nothing of doing things like running Mount Si as a two-hour “fun run.” The trail to Snoqualmie Lake was just another outing—something to move through quickly, another checkmark in a week of miles.

This time, it took me six hours round trip. Probably twice as long as it did 20 years ago.

And that’s okay.

The Fitness You Keep (and the Fitness You Lose)

There’s no mystery to what changed. I didn’t maintain that level of fitness.

In my 40s, work took over. Stress crept in quietly, and over time I gained about 50 pounds. It didn’t happen all at once, and neither did the recovery. It’s taken the last five years to work my way back down close to where I used to be.

What I’ve learned is that fitness isn’t something you achieve once and keep forever. It’s something you either practice or slowly lose.

Running, for me, is no longer optional. I’m not particularly fast, and I never really was. But it’s a core part of who I am. Without it, things start to drift—physically, mentally, everything.

I won’t let that happen again.

What I Missed the First Time

The biggest difference between then and now isn’t just pace—it’s attention.

Twenty years ago, I likely ran right past things that deserved a pause. This time, I made a point to take the side trip to Otter Falls.

Otter Falls

It would have been a big miss.

The falls aren’t far off the main trail, but they require a decision—to slow down, to step off the direct path, to trade a little efficiency for a better experience. Twenty years ago, I would have kept moving. Today, I know better.

That small detour says a lot about the difference between who I was and who I am now.

A Different Kind of Progress

It’s easy to look at a six-hour effort and compare it to a three-hour version from decades ago and feel like something was lost.

But that’s not the whole story.

The version of me from 20 years ago:

Moved faster
Covered ground efficiently
Probably missed more than he realized

The version of me today:

Still showed up
Still covered the distance
Noticed more along the way
Made better choices about what not to skip

There’s a quiet tradeoff that comes with age. You give up some speed, but you gain perspective. If you’re paying attention, you also gain appreciation.

This hike wasn’t about chasing an old time. It was about proving something different—that even after drifting away from it for a while, I can come back. Not the same, but maybe better in ways that matter more.

If You Go

Trail: Snoqualmie Lake (via Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road)Distance: ~16 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: ~2,600–3,000 feet

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (long distance more than steepness)

Highlights:

Otter Falls (short side trip, highly recommended), Big Creek Falls
Forested trail with gradual climbing
Remote feel compared to more crowded I-90 corridor hikes
The lake itself—quiet, expansive, and worth the effort

Tips:

Don’t skip Otter Falls. It’s an easy detour and one of the highlights of the trip.
Pace yourself. This is a long day, even if the grade is moderate.
Start early. You’ll want plenty of daylight, especially if you’re moving at a relaxed pace. Also, the parking fills up fast on weekends.
Expect changing conditions. Snow can linger into spring at higher elevations.
Road access: The drive along Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road has improved over the years, but always worth checking conditions.