Saturday, October 21, 2023

Gold Pond Loop Trail, 2023

 


 

 

Gold Pond

 

 


 Reflections

 

Gold Pond is a beautiful small lake located about 4 miles east of Snoqualmie summit.  We have walked around the pond a couple of times in the past and it was one of the ungroomed cross-country areas where I went while taking skiing lessons.  It is such a scenic spot that on one visit we encountered a clothing ad photo shoot and on two other occasions weddings.  

 

 


 Fall colors



The deciduous trees, mostly cottonwoods and some vine maples, were showing off their autumn colors.


 


 Fireweed gone to seed

 

 


 Looking down from one of the viewing platforms, at Bob taking pictures.  From this angle, the water was a spectacular blue-green color.

 

 

 

 

View from about half-way around the loop


 

There were lots mushrooms of different colors and sizes

 

 

 

 

Sign at the junction where the Loop and the Gold Creek trails meet

 

 Gold Pond Loop is a very short, approximately 1 mile around, level walk, partly on a paved surface and partly on boardwalks.  There are benches located here and there along the loop trail and information placards posted by some of the view points.  The Gold Creek Trail branches off and upward and is posted as not maintained after 5.4 miles.  We have been up that one too, but not this year. 

 

 


 

Weeks Falls

 

We also made two brief stops.  One at Weeks Falls where the water was crashing over the rocks and down a narrow gap to become a fast-moving stream.  The second stop was at Alpental just as the fog was lifting.




Alpental, fog lifting

 

 

Count for the day:  Besides a wedding party of indeterminate number, 19 people, and 3 dogs.


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