Lake Serene & Bridal Veil Falls

The hike to Lake Serene is an extremely strenuous one, but it is one of my favorites in Washington. If you have mobility issues, I do not recommend this trail because there are many roots, rocks, and stairs. This 7.2-mile round trip hike has an elevation gain of about 2,000 feet. 1,300 of these feet will be gained during the last couple of miles of the hike. You can turn this 7.2-mile hike into an 8.2 one by taking a one-mile detour up to a section of Bridal Veil Falls. This hike is very popular, so be sure to arrive early to guarantee a parking spot. My fiancé and I arrived at the trailhead at 8am and the main parking lot was already close to being full. To park here, a Northwest Forest Pass is required. Also, be sure to pack plenty of food and water!

While this hike is one of the harder ones I have done, it is also one of the most beautiful. The day that my fiancé and I hiked up to the lake it was rainy and misty. These conditions added to the awe factor of surrounding scenery for me (as I have mentioned in other posts I LOVE hiking in gloomy weather). The trail will start out with a gentle incline through a mossy deciduous forest where you will pass by wildflowers and wild salmonberries. Since it was raining the day we hiked, the muddy trail created a wet surface that attracted banana slugs. Make sure you’re watching where you walk if you hike in rainy conditions so that you don’t step on these adorable slugs. Unfortunately, we passed by a few casualties.

After about 1.5 miles you will hear the roar of Bridal Veil Creek and see Bridal Veil Falls peeking at you through the trees. A little further a sign will be posted at a split in the trail to either continue to Lake Serene or go up the hill to your right to a section of Bridal Veil Falls. Since I had brought my drone to capture the lake and falls from above, we decided to skip the hike up to the falls and instead admired it through the trees and from the bridge. I don’t regret this decision because the hike up to Lake Serene was very strenuous, so I’m glad we didn’t add on another mile by taking the detour. If you do decide to do this detour, I recommend doing it before you hike up to the lake. If you attempt to do it afterwards, you will be exhausted, unmotivated, and there’s a chance that you might accidentally walk past the split if you aren’t paying attention.

From this sign, Lake Serene is less than 3 miles ahead of you. Right after the bridge you will come to another section of Bridal Veil Falls flowing down over a small rocky cliff. I couldn’t believe how pretty this area was. Being surrounded by the lush forest and two little waterfalls flowing into a clear pool makes you feel like you are somewhere tropical.

The hike from this point on is the hardest. You will be continuously climbing uphill using stairs, rocks, and roots. We had to stop multiple times to take a break. It took us about two hours to climb up this hill to the lake. The views surrounding this uphill journey are gorgeous, so make sure you soak them in when you take your breaks.

You’ll know you’re close to the lake when you reach a tiny waterfall and pool. The trail starts to open up and becomes rockier during the final section of the hike. The northern part of Mount Index will peek at you through the trees.

Mount Index will continue to tower above you until you reach Lake Serene. You will be able to see small waterfalls flowing down from snow patches on the furthest side of the lake. A thin wooden bridge will cross over Bridal Veil Creek leading you to more viewpoints of the lake and the valley.

We found a spot along Lake Serene to take a break and eat some snacks. There were a few chipmunks running around us. I shared part of the crust from my peanut butter and jelly sandwich with them.

While we were taking a break, I also took the opportunity to fly my drone. I wasn’t able to fly it too far because the fog was interfering with the sensor connecting my drone and remote. I was still able to capture plenty of pictures of Lake Serene, Bridal Veil Falls, and Mount Index.

Note for the reader: I share these locations so that others can see beautiful places and enjoy nature as much as I do. Please be respectful of the outdoors and what condition it is in when you visit. Don’t go off trail, leave no trace, and pack out what you came in with.