My friend Pat M. and I took on a popular local area hike yesterday -- easy but not too easy, and a hike with a scenic destination. Pat is just recovering from a sprained ankle, so we didn't try anything more ambitious. The weather was great, the weekend crowds were back at the office earning a living, and the hike felt just right.
The approach to the trailhead is on a Forest Service road, exiting one mile west of the Denny Creek exit on I-90. The road, soon turning to gravel, is about five miles long. The trailhead is just outside the Alpine Lakes National Wilderness Area. Both lakes are within the Wilderness, and hikers should register at the trailhead. ("Should," but we didn't notice the registration box until after we had completed the hike.)
The trail leads past Talapus Lake at 2 miles -- in itself a beautiful and obvious destination. Our own objective, however, was Olallie Lake, one mile farther up a trail that after Talapus becomes somewhat steeper. We had lunch at lakeside -- only a couple of other couples, and a large, energetic white dog, inhabited the lengthy lakeshore -- and then returned the same way we came.
The trail is forested and sheltered from the sun its entire length. The Forest Service is apparently doing trail work, and at times the trail seems to branch off into several alternative and equally plausible routes. The proper route is marked with red ribbons, however, and if you keep your eye on the ribbons you won't go astray. The trail passes at some height above Talapus, but a number of short side trails lead down to picnic spots along the lake.
The trail is well maintained, soft under foot, generally free of rocks, and a pleasure to stroll along. An excellent hike for novices, and an enjoyable short hike -- 6 miles round trip, 1,300-foot elevation gain -- for hikers of any degree of experience.
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