Lake Elizabeth

Located just a few miles away from Highway 2 near Skykomish, Lake Elizabeth used to be a family-friendly 0.7-mile round trip hike that was easily accessible by car, however, in 2016 the road leading up to Lake Elizabeth washed out. Adventurers looking to reach Lake Elizabeth now drive 3.9 miles down Money Creek Road and park at the washout before embarking on an approximately 9-mile out and back hike with around 1300 feet of elevation gain.

The hike is beautiful and meanders up the remaining sections of Money Creek Road while paralleling Money Creek itself for most of the hike. Amazing views of the creek, surrounding mountains, and even a few waterfalls are afforded while continuing the journey up hill. The wildflowers during the summer bring out hundreds of butterflies as well, which makes the hike seem more like a stroll in a botanical garden than a hike along an old road. Lake Elizabeth will become visible on the right-hand side when the trail starts to flatten out about 4 miles in. There is a small overgrown trail leading down to the lake, and it runs around the perimeter of the lake. The lake is nestled in the trees and is great for wading for dogs or children.

A few important notes on the hike: There are a few sections where the road has washed out which require scrambling over rocks and are likely impassible during the winter and early spring due to high water levels. Also, be sure to bring plenty of water with you as the water in the area is contaminated from old mining activities, so even with a water filter, it is not safe to drink. Lastly, it can be very buggy up at the lake, so bring bug spray with you!