Alpine Lakes Wilderness #20 and #21 - Margaret Lake and Lake Lillian

The Fourth of July ended about the way you would expect in my neighborhood — loud.

The fireworks kept going until midnight. While everyone else was celebrating, my Golden Retriever had a very different opinion of the evening. Every explosion sent another reminder that dogs and fireworks rarely agree. He spent the night anxious while the neighborhood continued its annual attempt to recreate a small battlefield.

So when the alarm went off early the next morning, there was definitely a part of me that questioned my decision-making.

But quiet mornings in the mountains have a way of making a short night of sleep seem like a fair trade. I was at the trailhead by 6:15, ready for Margaret Lake and Lake Lillian.

Compared with some of the popular hikes on the west side of Snoqualmie Pass — places like Granite Mountain where an early start can still mean plenty of company — this trail felt different. Quieter. More remote. A place where you could actually hear the forest waking up.

It also wasn’t exactly an easy stroll between two lakes.

On a map, linking together alpine lakes can look deceptively simple. In reality, this hike makes you work for each destination. Instead of one steady climb followed by an easy return, the trail repeatedly drops and climbs. You descend toward Margaret Lake, climb again, descend again toward Lillian Lake, and spend much of the return trip paying back all those downhill sections you enjoyed earlier.

The mountains always collect their debts.

Somewhere along the way, I managed to lose the trail pretty badly. It is amazing how quickly confidence turns into confusion when the obvious path suddenly disappears. While trying to find my way back on route, I heard a sharp whistle from the rocks.

A marmot.

There it was, standing among the rocks, keeping watch over the hillside. Getting briefly lost was not part of the plan, but stumbling across a marmot certainly made the detour feel worthwhile. Sometimes the trail gives you something unexpected.

Eventually I made my way to Lake Lillian, where a group of backpackers were enjoying the kind of slow morning that comes from spending the night in the mountains. One of them asked if I needed any water.

A small gesture, but a good reminder of the kindness you often find on trails. Everyone is out there having their own adventure, but people still look out for each other.

I thanked them but didn’t linger long. Today was not a backpacking trip. It was a morning mission.

On the way back, I ran into two older gentlemen just beginning their hike.

“Finally running into someone on the trail,” one of them said.

I knew exactly what he meant. There is something special about finding a little solitude on a summer weekend in the Cascades. They were excited to have the trail mostly to themselves.

I just hoped they were ready for what was ahead.

By noon I was back home. Hot shower. Warmed-over leftovers for lunch. The kind of tired that feels earned.

I’m pretty sure later today I’ll convince myself I’m going to read for a while, open a book, make it through a few pages, and wake up realizing the mountains won again.

A pretty great end to the weekend.

If You Go: Margaret Lake and Lillian Lake

Location: Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Snoqualmie Pass

Distance: Approximately 8–10 miles depending on route and turnaround points

Elevation Gain: Roughly 2,500–3,000 feet with multiple climbs and descents

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging

Expect:

• Quieter trails than many west-side Snoqualmie Pass classics

• Beautiful alpine lakes with good backpacking opportunities

• More elevation change than the mileage suggests

• Navigation challenges in some sections — carrying a map/GPS is recommended

• Wildlife possibilities including marmots, birds, and other alpine species

Tip: Don’t underestimate the return trip. The repeated descents mean you will still have climbing left even after you turn around.