I'm Ashley, a commercial photographer from Seattle, Washington. Traveling, taking photos, and getting outdoors are all hobbies of mine that continually energize and inspire me.
If you’re looking for a winter adventure that will take you off the beaten path, look no further than snowshoeing at Skyline Lake in Washington State. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, this serene lake is the perfect destination for a peaceful and invigorating day trip. With its stunning views of the surrounding peaks and forests, Skyline Lake is a true winter wonderland. Whether you’re an experienced snowshoer or new to the sport, this is a trail that will surely leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the rest of your day.
Snowshoeing in Washington is one of the most magical things to do during winter, so in this blog, you’ll learn what to expect when snowshoeing to Skyline Lake!
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Sometimes in winter we need a little push to get outdoors and this should be yours! Skyline Lake is the perfect beginner/intermediate snowshoe hike in the Stevens Pass area. There’s a solid amount of elevation gain, which gets the blood pumping and provide great exercise. Not to mention you get views of Alpine Lake Wilderness and Glacier Peak Wilderness on a clear day plus there is low avalanche risk.
One of the main reasons why someone should snowshoe the Skyline Lake trail is because of the stunning views of the surrounding peaks and forests. The trail winds its way through dense forests and offers breathtaking views of the Cascades. It’s a true winter wonderland that is sure to leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the rest of your day. Not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the trail is also relatively easy and well-marked, making it suitable for both experienced snowshoers and beginners. So grab your snowshoes and head to Skyline Lake for a truly unforgettable winter adventure.
The Skyline Lake trail is located in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. It can be accessed from the Stevens Pass ski resort, which is located on Highway 2 between Leavenworth and Everett. You’ll start by parking in the north Stevens Pass parking lot. There’s a service road that you’ll begin the hike with next to an electric substation. Then you’ll walk through residences and ski area buildings until you reach a break out to the snowy slopes and forest. The trail itself winds its way through dense forests and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and the Skyline Lake itself. Be aware that there will be cross country skiers and snowboarders out there so know your snowshoeing etiquette!
When it comes to snowshoeing the Skyline Lake trail in Washington State, the best time to go is typically in the winter months when there is enough snow to support the activity. This can vary depending on the location and elevation of the trail, as well as the weather conditions. In general, the months of December through March are the best times to visit Skyline Lake for snowshoeing. Keep in mind that the weather in the Cascades can be unpredictable, so it’s always a good idea to check the forecast before heading out and come prepared with the proper gear and clothing.
The key to staying warm and dry in winter is having a good layering system with your gear. The goal when hiking in winter is to avoid getting wet from snow or sweat. If your gear gets wet, it will make you extremely cold when you stop and at certain temperatures might even freeze. Not to mention it’s difficult to dry clothing during these colder months too.
Now, I don’t want to scare you off by telling you how cold you can be! If you layer correctly, I promise you will stay warm and comfortable when hiking and prevent hypothermia too.
Pro tip: I always start off with a light layer and pack the rest of my layers in my backpack. If you do this you’ll always know that you have a warm, dry layer to change into or throw on if you start to get too cold. It may be a little cold in the beginning, but I promise you’ll start to warm up as you gain elevation on your hike and you won’t have to take layers off once you’ve started your hike. If you sweat a lot, bring an extra base layer to change into at the viewpoint.
Your first layer of clothing will be your base layer. Merino Wool wicks moisture/sweat and is a great option since they are breathable, warm, and sustainable. Cotton is not a great option to wear when hiking because when it gets wet it stops insulating you. Cotton absorbs moisture and sweat like a sponge and can lead to hypothermia. Icebreaker has a women’s base layer 1/4 zip and a men’s base layer top that is perfect for snowshoeing. I’ve also recommended Icebreaker’s base layer bottoms below as well.
Icebreaker Oasis Long Sleeve Base Layer Top for Women
Icebreaker Merino Tech High Rise Leggings for Women
Icebreaker Tech Crewe Base Layer Top for Men
Icebreaker Tech Base Layer Leggings for Men
A fleece provides an extra layer of insulation, which can be crucial for keeping you warm in cold temperatures. In addition to its insulating properties, a fleece is also lightweight and easy to pack, making it an ideal choice for a mid-layer. It can be easily removed or added depending on the temperature and your level of activity. Whether you’re tackling a snowy mountain trail or just taking a leisurely walk through the woods, a fleece is an essential piece of gear to bring on any winter hike.
Patagonia 1/4 Zip Better Sweater for Women
Patagonia Full Zip Better Sweater for Women
Patagonia 1/4 Zip Better Sweater for Men
Patagonia Full Zip Better Sweater for Men
An insulated jacket is typically made with a waterproof outer layer and a synthetic or down insulation, which helps to trap body heat and keep you warm. When choosing an insulated jacket, it’s important to select one that is appropriate for the weather conditions you’ll be facing. If you’ll be hiking in extremely cold temperatures, a jacket with a higher fill power (a measure of the warmth-to-weight ratio of the insulation) may be a better choice. Overall, an insulated jacket is an important piece of gear to bring on any winter hike to ensure that you stay warm and comfortable.
Arc’teryx Thorium Down Hoodie for Women
Patagonia Down Sweater Hooded Jacket
Arc’teryx Thorium Down Hoodie for Men
Patagonia Silent Down Jacket for Men
Your waterproof shell jacket will keep you dry – it’s very important to have a reliable shell. Matt, my husband, bought a Gore-Tex shell five years ago and still wears it on every winter hike. You may splurge a little bit more on the Gore-Tex shell, but it’s definitely worth it.
Gore-Tex is a waterproof, breathable fabric that is perfect for protecting you from the elements, including rain, snow, and wind. One of the main benefits of a Gore-Tex jacket is that it is fully seam-sealed, which means that every seam is sealed with tape to prevent water from seeping through. In addition to its waterproof qualities, a Gore-Tex jacket is also highly breathable, which means that it allows moisture (such as sweat) to escape, helping to keep you comfortable and dry during your hike.
Arc’teryx Sentinel Jacket for Women
Arc’teryx Sabre AR Jacket for Men
If you tend to get really cold I would recommend buying some insulated pants to go over your leggings. The insulation layer is designed to trap body heat and keep you warm in cold temperatures. Insulated pants can also have additional features like zippers or vents to help regulate your temperature, as well as reinforced areas to protect against wear and tear. Some insulated pants are also designed with a stretchy or flexible fabric to allow for greater mobility during your hike. Definitely grab a pair if you get cold easily!
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants for Women
Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Pants for Men
I normally wear leggings when I’m out hiking, but sometimes in the winter I’ll add an extra layer. A good option for winter hiking pants are fleece lined leggings. Sometimes I’ll wear mine on their own or add an extra layer on top. I have gore tex ski pants that I’ll add on top of the leggings if I want to be sure I won’t get wet at all. I definitely recommend bringing an outer shell, gaiters, and wearing leggings
Arc’teryx Beta AR Rain Pants for Women
Arc’Teryx Macai Snow Pants for Men
Waterproof hiking boots are good for a winter hike because they help to keep your feet dry and warm in wet and cold conditions. Winter hiking boots are also insulated to help keep your feet warm in cold temperatures. This can be especially important if you’ll be hiking in areas with deep snow or if you tend to get cold easily. Overall, waterproof warm hiking boots are an essential piece of gear for any winter hike, as they help to keep your feet dry and warm and ensure that you have a comfortable and enjoyable hike!
Merrell Thermo Chill Mid Waterproof Boots for Women
Merrell Thermo Chil Mid Waterproof Boots for Men
Gaiters help keep snow out of your boots and off your pants. I normally wear gaiters when I don’t wear my ski pants. If you don’t end up needing them, they pack very small and won’t take up too much room in your backpack. In case there is an off chance you’d need to throw them on. I’d bring your hiking boots to an REI or Backcountry store to try on different gaiters with your shoes. You definitely want to find some that work best for you!
Outdoor Research Crocodile Gore-Tex Gaiters for Women
Outdoor Research Crocodile Gore-Tex Gaiters for Men
Microspikes are great for late fall, winter, and early spring hiking. They help you walk on icy surfaces by giving you the ability to dig into icy surfaces so that you avoid slipping or falling. They’re made for ice and can handle a little bit of snow, but they’re worth throwing into your pack in case you need them! I have the Yaktrax Diamon Grip All-Surface Microspikes, but I’ve heard great reviews on the Kahtoola Microspikes as well.
Yaktrax Diamond Grip All-Surface Microspikes
If there’s a lot of snow on the trails and you want to dive right into that powder then you’ll definitely need snowshoes. I have a whole blog post on how to snowshoe, which gives a larger list of recommendations for snowshoes, but I recommend the Tubbs Wilderness Snowshoes for Women and the Tubbs Wilderness Snowshoes for Men.
Tubbs Wilderness Snowshoes for Women
Tubbs Wilderness Snowshoes for Men
Trekking poles with baskets are important because they help distribute weight and reduce the impact on your joints as you’re hiking uphill. I opted to buy snowshoes that came with trekking poles, but if you only need trekking poles then I’d recommend the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles.
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
Wool socks are ideal for hiking and skiing and really anything outdoor related. I once had someone recommend me SmartWool socks on a chairlift because I was telling her my feet get really cold and I will never go back.
Smartwool Full Cushion Crew Socks for Women
Smartwool Full Cushion Crew Socks for Men
I wear my ski gloves when I go out hiking in winter. I spent a bit of money on them since they’re gore-tex, but they were definitely worth it because I’ll have them for years. They also came with glove liners, which help with warmth too. You’ll definitely want mittens or gloves because your hands will get cold once you stop moving!
Outdoor Research Sensor Gloves for Women
Outdoor Research Gore-Tex Mittens for Women
Arc’teryx Rho Glove Liners for Men
Outdoor Research Gore-Tex Gloves for Men
My hands are always cold and I bring hand warmers with me everywhere. I also bring them for my feet too! I love a good reusable hand warmer because they’re better for the environment, but you can get one use hand warmers as well. Definitely bring some hand warmers with you to warm you up!
Zippo Rechargeable Hand Warmer
Wearing a beanie on a winter hike is a good idea because it helps to keep your head warm in cold temperatures. Your head is one of the areas of your body where you can lose a lot of heat, so it’s important to keep it covered in the winter. A beanie is a simple and effective way to do this. Grab yourself one below!
Flipside All Weather Slouch Beanie
I personally don’t use a buff, but I do when I ski. They protect you from the cold, sun, and wind. If there’s a lot of wind on the mountain you’ll definitely want to throw one of these on!
Buff Windproof Multifunctional Headwear
I never used to bring sunglasses with me on my trips, but now I don’t leave the house without them. You’ll definitely want them in winter because there’s a glare off the snow that makes everything brighter to the eyes. You’ll want to wear polarized sunglasses to help with ‘snow blindness’, which is when exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can give your cornea a sunburn. This sunburn can disorient you, which isn’t good when you’re climbing a mountain.
Ray-Ban Erika Sunglasses for Women
Ray-Ban Justin Sunglasses for Men
If you’re hiking for sunrise or sunset, I’d bring a headlamp along! I always keep a headlamp in my backpack in case of emergencies and they’re lightweight so they won’t add too much weight in your bag.
You’ll definitely want a day pack to bring your water, extra layers, and snacks up the mountain with you. If you need help choosing a day pack that fit your body, head into REI and test them out! The workers there will help you out and fit it perfectly to your body.
Osprey Skimmer Hiking Backpack for Women
Osprey Manta Hiking Backpack for Men
I bring a portable charger with me everywhere. Electronics tend to lose their battery faster in cold weather so I definitely recommend grabbing a portable charger for all your adventures. A power bank is a convenient and essential piece of gear to bring on any winter hike to ensure that you have a reliable source of power for your devices and a backup heat source if needed.
Bringing a warm drink in a thermos and snacks with you while snowshoeing is a lot of fun once you reach your viewpoint! I like to think of it as a little snowy picnic. I usually bring hot chocolate or tea and then snacks like cliff bars, fruit jerky, or popcorn. I always bring more food than I need just in case of an emergency.
I wouldn’t use a hydration pack when snowshoeing in the cold because the tube will freeze up. This has happened to me when skiing and leaves you with a pouch of water that you’re not able to drink. I always bring my water in a Nalgene bottle!
Being aware of avalanches is important when hiking or snowshoeing in winter. Always check avalanche conditions before you head out to snowshoe. When snowshoeing in areas prone to avalanches, it’s important to take necessary precautions to ensure your safety. This includes wearing an avalanche transceiver, carrying a shovel and probe, and knowing how to use them. It’s also a good idea to get trained in avalanche safety and rescue techniques. Before heading out on your snowshoeing trip, be sure to check the avalanche forecast and stick to routes that are safe and within your ability level. If you do find yourself in an avalanche situation, try to stay on top of the slide as much as possible and use your hands and feet to swim towards the side or the direction the avalanche is traveling.
Don’t forget to read my Leave No Trace blog post on how to protect the environment you’re recreating in and the proper etiquette while out on the trail! The Leave No Trace principles are a set of guidelines designed to help outdoor enthusiasts minimize their impact on the environment. These principles include planning ahead and preparing, traveling and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly, leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impact, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. By following the Leave No Trace principles, we can all do our part to protect the natural places we love and ensure they remain pristine for future generations. Whether you’re hiking, camping, or snowshoeing, it’s important to always be mindful of your impact on the environment and strive to Leave No Trace.
Skyline Lake is the perfect snowshoe adventure for beginner/intermediate snowshoers in the Washington region. This hike will definitely get the blood pumping, but it’s definitely worth the work as you’re surrounded by beautiful views the entire hike. Let me know if you take the trip up to Skyline Lake and have fun snowshoeing!
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