Heather Lake
Mountain Loop trail to the lake
The Route
A forest trail on Mount Pilchuck’s northeast side climbs to Heather Lake.
- Heather Lake TrailheadSecond-growth switchbacks
- Old Logging RoadBrief roadbed section
- Rock & Root AscentRougher middle trail
- Lake ForkOutlet endpoint
- Optional Shoreline LoopAdds 0.8 mile
Second-Growth Switchbacks
The trail begins left of the parking area, climbing through second-growth forest past large stumps with old logging notches. It briefly follows an old logging road before resuming the climb.
Roots, Rock & Wet Ground
The middle ascent is rougher, with exposed roots, rocky tread and small runoff channels. A clearing and a large upturned root mass precede the final half-mile; nearer the lake, the grade eases across marshy ground and boardwalks.
Lake Outlet or Shoreline Loop
WTA's narrative gives 4.2 miles return to the lake outlet. The shoreline circuit adds 0.8 mile, explaining the guide's 5-mile headline. Both forks at the lake form that loop through woods, shoreline rocks and marsh, below Pilchuck's northeast slope.
Terrain Along the Route
The forest trail includes rocks, exposed roots and wet sections before reaching the lake.
WTA lists 5.0 miles in its statistics but 4.2 miles to the outlet in its narrative; shoreline exploration and the chosen endpoint affect the total. Reference Set: 2026-10-23.
Weather
Current forecasts open at the providers below. NWS forecasts describe a terrain grid cell, not an exact summit.
Access
Heather Lake Trailhead, Mountain Loop Highway, WA
Driving Approach
Take Mountain Loop Highway past Verlot, cross the bridge about one mile beyond the ranger station and turn onto FR 42. Heather Lake's signed trailhead is 1.4 miles along that road, below the separate Pilchuck lot.
Parking & Facilities
WTA describes parking on the right, additional signed parking near the trailhead, a vault toilet and a garbage can. Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is listed.
Forest Fee Payment
Forest fee sites accept the Northwest Forest and America the Beautiful passes. The forest's day-use scan-and-pay option works offline if the Recreation.gov app is already installed.
Source information checked 2026-10-23. Road snapshots are dated separately.
Reports
Heather Lake Mountain Loop Reports
This is the Snohomish County Heather Lake feed, not other Washington lakes with the same name. Reports may stop at the outlet or complete the 0.8-mile shoreline circuit.
Forest Access Alerts
Official FR 42 and Heather Lake restrictions are published by Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Links open the publishers’ report pages. Reports are not automatically imported or filtered to a forecast date.