Trail Description: A hike to the lake is certainly worth the effort, but a walk halfway through a lovely forest past waterfalls is a worthy effort, too.

The path almost immediately enters a research natural area that, except for the damage created by humans along the trail, has evolved untouched as a lush old-growth forest filled with fallen moss-covered giants, old trees straddling rocks, and seedlings bursting from rotting logs amid an abundance of salmonberries, maidenhair, deer and lady ferns, devil's club, bunchberry, skunk cabbages, and even shy single delights on mossy logs - just to begin a list.

Note, too, as you walk the beginning section of trail how even in the driest years little streams bubble from rocks above the path, demonstrating how an established and undisturbed forest stabilizes water runoff, which dries up early in the summer on exposed logged-off trails. The trail winds above the highway for an easy 0.5 mile to a bridge over Twentytwo Creek. Pause here for sure to enjoy the beauty of the busy little waterfalls and to follow short way paths through the pools and giant cedar trees.

Beyond the creek, the trail starts its stiff upward climb toward the lake in another 2 miles. Half that distance, however, will reward you with still more opportunities to admire trees, shrubs, and flowers before coming face to face with a pretty, full-scale, two-step waterfall. For many, that may be destination enough.

For those who climb on, though, a pretty lake lies at 2,460 feet with an almost permanent snowfield at the end. On weekends, of course, hundreds of people, too. No open fires are permitted here. And, please, treat the fragile lakeshore most tenderly.

Directions: On Highway 9, drive north 6 miles from U.S. 2, or south 12 miles from Arlington, to Highway 92 and then east to Granite Falls in 8 more miles. From Granite Falls, follow Mountain Loop Highway a little more than 12 miles to the Verlot Public Service Center. Find the trailhead in less than 2 miles at the end of a short spur road loop to the right.