Hikeoftheweek.com

Quick Facts

Location: Skykomish River Valley

Land Agency: Washington State Parks

Roundtrip: 11.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,575 feet

Contact: Wallace Falls State Park (360) 793-0420; www.parks.wa.gov

Notes: Dogs must be leashed.

Green Trails Map: Index, WA-No. 142

Access: From Everett follow US 2 for 28 miles east to Gold Bar. Turn left onto 1st Street and proceed for .4 mile. Then turn right onto May Creek Road and continue for 1.5 miles to Wallace Falls State Park and trailhead.

One of Washington’s busiest and most popular state parks, you’d be hard pressed to find solitude at Wallace Falls. Yet, while thousands of hikers take to the trails each month to the park’s spectacular series of thundering waterfalls, you can still find solitude in the park. But, you’ll have to work for it!

There are miles of trails and old woods roads in the 4,735-acre state park with some of these routes lightly traveled. One of the loneliest spots in the park is Jay Lake, reached by a long but enjoyable hike. To reach it, follow hordes of happy hikers to the Woody Trail. Then continue to the Railroad Cut-off Trail taking this short but steep path .1 mile to the old logging railroad grade now a wide trail. Turn right and after a third of a mile reach the Greg Ball Trail.

A former board member and director of the Washington Trails Association (WTA), Ball launched WTA’s volunteer trail maintenance program back in 1993. It has since grown into the largest state-based program of its kind. In 2004 at the age of 60, Ball passed away after battling cancer. He had designed this trail to Wallace Lake.

Paralleling the North Fork of the Wallace River, this trail gracefully meanders through mature second growth. After a half mile the way steepens and the forest grows darker. But an agreeable grade and forest soon returns. At about 3.0 miles from the trailhead the river can be seen cascading through a narrow chasm. About a half mile farther the trail terminates at a DNR Road. Turn right on the road for a short 0.1 mile to a junction with an old road taking off left. Then follow this near level forested way for .5 mile to the southern tip of large and tranquil Wallace Lake.

Continue left 0.7 mile on an old road along the lake’s forested shoreline to its outlet stream near inviting Pebble Beach. Then cross the creek (good luck keeping your boots dry) and continue on a lonely stretch of trail to Jay Lake. Pass some moisture loving Sitka Spruce, a rarity this far inland from the coast—then hop across another creek crossing.

One more boot soaking creek crossing must be negotiated before you arrive at the quiet and more than likely deserted Jay Lake. Find a backcountry camping area (inquire with the park for camping permit) and picnic table set amidst a grove of hemlocks. The lake’s shoreline is brushy making it difficult to reach its waters. But none-the-less the location is soothing and feels quite remote. Pretty amazing too when you consider that while you listen to quiet breezes and thrush song at Jay Lake, hundreds of hikers are wearing down the tread near the waterfalls.

For information on lodging and other attractions near Jay Lake visit www.snohomish.org

Enter our new contest to win two of my guidebooks (Day Hiking North Cascades and Day Hiking Central Cascades). Just correctly guess how much snow will be on the ground at the Paradise Ranger Station at Mt Rainier National Park on Father's Day (June 19). Visit www.snohomish.org/index.php?page_id=597 for details and to make your prediction!