Lake Serene — Attraction in Carnation

Style: Day Hike Difficulty: 7.1/10 (Novice) Distance: 11.8km | Altitude Gain: 650m Class: 1 (flat ground, hands rarely needed) Terrain Difficulty: 4.5/10 Path Finding: None Type: In & Out Popularity: Very High ! See below the summary for information on these statistics !

(I don't have any good photos of this hike unfortunately)

Detailed Summary: We did this hike during a weekday, so we were the only people on the trail pretty much. Although, my hiking partner has been to this hike on the weekend, and has told me that there is hundreds of people on this hike then, with barely any parking left. DON'T GO ON THE WEEKEND IF YOU CAN AVOID IT! This hike is very popular amongst seattlites due to its easy terrain and low difficulty!

Anyways, the hike starts out by passing a few waterfalls. To cross these there are stones close together that you can walk across. This is the hardest terrain in the whole hike, since the rest is just roots and steps. The hike is very basic, just long and decently steep.

The hike is about 11.8 kilometres, and 650 metres gain. Of course it's a class 1, since it does not even go past a 5 on terrain difficulty. The path is clear, so no path finding will need to be done. It took us about 3.5 hours, so it's very quick. almost a half-day hike. Although, we did go quite quick for the most part.

At the end, there is the massive lake serene of course. We went during late winter, so there was not much snow, but the entire lake was frozen over. The lake was super cool being frozen over, much different than how it is normally. On the "lunch rock," which is its official name, we were the only people there. If you're on the weekend though, except the entire rock to be covered in people. All in all, it's a hike that I would only ever do once on a weekday, I probably won't be doing this one twice.

I post lots of hike reviews here on google maps, so if you're looking for a hike to do in Washington State, USA, consider checking my profile to see how I rank different hikes, and which hikes might be right for your skill level.

! Statistics Information: The #/10 statistics are based on day hike/climbs (so no backpacking routes count) I consider a hike/climb to be any route where the route class is not above a 3, meaning no climbing equipment or ropes are required. To be a hike, the route must not exceed a class 2, although, I still group regular hikes in with hike/climbs since they can both be done by non-climbers without equipment. To be a day hike or day hike/climb, the route must be able to be done in a singular 16-hour day while walking (no jogging or running needed). Half-day and several-hour routes are also included in...

I recently hiked to Lake Serene, and it was an incredible experience — challenging but absolutely rewarding.

Here are a few key takeaways that may help future visitors:

Parking:

The parking lot is reasonably sized, and I didn’t face any major issues finding a spot. That said, it’s always a good idea to start early, especially on weekends.

Hike Details:

The round trip to Lake Serene is about 8.6 miles in total. It took me around 2 hours 30 minutes to ascend and about 2 hours to return, making the hiking portion just over 4.5 hours.

We spent an additional 1 hour at the lake, so the total trip time came to around 6.5 hours (excluding stops at Bridal Veil Falls).

The trail is definitely on the harder side — expect a lot of rocky paths, uneven terrain, and a steady uphill climb.

Good footwear and plenty of water are highly recommended.

While the hike can feel strenuous, the scenery along the way and especially at the lake makes every step worthwhile.

At the Lake:

Lake Serene itself is breathtaking. The water is crystal clear, reflecting the surrounding mountains beautifully.

You can relax by the shore, enjoy a snack, or even take a refreshing swim if you’re prepared for cold water. The peaceful setting makes it the perfect reward after a tough climb.

Timing Tips:

If you plan to include Bridal Veil Falls in your hike, add an additional 1.5 hours to your trip. In that case, I strongly recommend starting early in the morning to make the most of your day.

Overall:

Though the hike is tough, the view from Lake Serene is worth every bit of effort. If you enjoy challenging hikes with incredible payoffs, this trail should be...

Parking: lots of parking, at 2:35pm there were surprising number of cars, probably 40 or so

Crowds: many people coming down, trail work near the top, only a handful of people around the lake

Up:1:20

Down: 1:10

Weather: cool and cloudy

Snow: none on or around the trail, a bit in the shadows on the mountain flanks, lake was ice free

Conditions: trail is in excellent condition, the first mile or so is through thick undergrowth and thus not as pretty, from there you spend the remainder of the hike in beautiful forests, an occasional tree across the path, trail work near the top

View (8/10): no sweeping long distance panoramas here, but a beautiful blue colored lake with cliffs rising high above it on one side, there are many either old or unofficial trails around the lake which can provide unique and beautiful views unlike the ones you typically see, of course these views are a bit more dangerous to get to so be careful

Photography (9/10): beautiful blue lake photography opportunities, best in my opinion on an overcast but no foggy or rainy day

Would I do it...