Distance: 2.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
Maps: Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass No. 207
Description: With easy access, lack of avalanche danger, and reliable snow, this snowshoe trip is probably the most popular for families in the area. You start on the Gold Creek Road that parallels the freeway, and walk up the access road to the summer trailhead area. Take a loop around the pond, enjoying the views in different directions. You won’t get lost on this trail, as it’s pounded down to an obvious track. For a longer trip, you can walk farther up the valley, between the cabins, to another set of ponds. Turn around after about 2 miles if you do this, though, as there are some avalanche slopes that travel into the narrowing valley.
Directions: From Seattle, take I-90 east toward Snoqualmie Pass. Take the Hyak exit, turn left at the stop sign, and travel down past the freeway interchanges to the Gold Creek Road Sno-Park, FR 4832. Turn right and follow this road, traveling parallel to the freeway for one mile, until you see the Gold Creek Trailhead off to the left. Park along the road. The basic sno-park pass is needed (purchase ahead of time.) There are porta-potties at the trailhead, but they are usually disgusting, so I recommend using the heated restrooms with flush toilets at the Snoqualmie Pass Exit just before the Hyak exit. This road gets very crowded on weekends and holidays, and it can get really crazy trying to navigate all the parked cars and people walking.