Total Ascent: 400ft
Highest Point: 3100ft
Total Distance: 2 miles
Location: N 48° 1.5420, W 121° 41.2200
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Easy
Most weeks we head out the door with a couple of destinations in mind. We mostly want some alternatives just in case we find trail access washed out or closed, but sometimes weather conditions also play a role. This week heavy rain prodded us toward a very short but popular destination just off the Mountain Loop Highway: Boardman Lake. Despite being well-prepared and very use to hiking in the rain, we just didn’t feel up to facing the rain after such a short summer.
This short trail wastes no time diving into the trees. The forest here is mature, and only becomes older as you press deeper under the canopy. The junction of Evans Lake appears almost immediately, veering off to the right. The walk out to this tree-lined lake is not more than a few hundred yards, though the marshy shore is not nearly as welcoming as Boardman. Either way, the wide trail continues to wander through old-growth forest. In about a half-mile the trail begins to angle downward toward the water and a small gravel beach. From here, unofficial waytrails continue around the rocky shores of the lake, providing access to quiet viewpoints and secluded picnic spots. Hop across the logs that have collected at the lake’s outlet to find the five official campsites.It almost goes without saying that a hike of less than a mile is a good option for the whole family. But it is worth noting that the trail is very friendly, with only a few roots and rocks to trip up little feet. And campsites are decent, and make for an excellent introduction to backpacking. However, perhaps because it is so easily accessible, the lake is popular in the summer months, and snagging a campsite may be challenging. Thankfully the lake is large enough that there is more than enough shoreline to go around. Find a quiet spot for a snack and enjoy a landscape that seems more wild and remote than you might expect.
To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Follow the MLH for nearly 16 miles to FR 4020, signed for multiple trailheads including the Boardman Lake Trail. Take a right and follow the gravel road about two-and-a-half miles to a junction. Head left and continue a little over two miles to the trailhead. - Nathan
9 Comments:
I watch for your new posts every week. Thank you for sharing these amazing experiences. We're coming to Seattle for a week in May and each new trail you post just makes it that much harder to decide what we're going to do during our visit!
Your pictures are so vibrant! I was wondering what type of camera you use? I can never seem to get the colors to pop like that!
Hi Kristine, I'm glad you like the pics! We use a Nikon D7000 and a Nikon D60.
Great review and post on the trail. Love the lake view. Something to look forward to if we get to hike there.
I'm looking to get a digital camera and have been considering the nikon D7000 for landscape photography. What do you think about the camera? Thanks. Rebecca
The D7000 is a great camera, I would categorize it for enthusiasts, so it might be a bit more high end then you need if you're just starting out. If you're pretty comfortable with SLRs, then it wouldn't be a bad way to go. I started out with D60, and then moved up after a couple of years, but I definitely got a lot out of that camera, and I still do. If you're looking to get into landscapes seriously, definitely think about getting post processing software like Adobe Lightroom to make corrections to your images.
Have used a nikon SLR alot, but new to digital. right now considering the D7000 or D700, as I'd prefer not having to upgrade later. How much can you enlarge photos with the D7000 and maintain sharpness/resolution? I've heard that it doesn't do well in low light...what do you consider its pros and cons? thanks1 rebecca
Going from a D7000 to a D700 is a sizable jump, with the biggest difference being a crop sensor (called DX by Nikon) on a D7000 versus a full frame sensor (called FX by Nikon) in the D700. Nikon lens are either in FX or DX format. Pretty much any new DX or FX lens can be used interchangeably on a DX or FX camera. The difference is a FX lens on a DX camera will give you a 1.5x zoom factor. If you've very serious about getting professional image quality, and don't want to reinvest at a later time, you'll want to go with an FX format camera and lenses. If it were me, I would actually consider the new D800 over the D700, which is a bit more pricey, but has huge advantages over the D700. Here's a decent link:
http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D800-vs-Nikon_D700
thanks for your input. rebecca
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