Lake Dorothy Trail #1072

Explore the shores of one of the largest lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on this popular route.
Total Distance: 7.2 miles
Total Ascent: 900ft
Highest Point: 3100ft
Difficulty: Easy
Our Hiking Time: 3h 30m
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
To get there, take Highway 2 out to the Old Cascade Highway, located between milepost 45 and 46. Take the Old Cascade Highway out toward the Money Creek Campground, crossing the railroad tracks and continuing for a mile before turning right onto the Miller River Road (Forest Road #6410). Follow this road 9.5 miles until it ends. Confusingly, the road number changes to #6412 at roughly 4 miles – ignore this and continue onward to the trailhead. View Google Directions >>
The trail begins easily, following the East Fork Miller River for a little over a half-mile until Camp Robber Creek joins it. Take a moment at the bridge to enjoy the rushing water before plunging back into the old growth forest. The trail steepens once across the bridge, but stairs, elaborate boardwalks, and countless volunteer hours have tamed the once-rocky trail. At scarcely a mile-and-a-half a junction points you to the log-filled lake outlet and a view of the narrow lake. The trail then continues along the entire length of the lake and then over a ridge to Bear, Deer, and Snoqualmie Lakes, eventually connecting with the Snoqualmie Lake Trail #1002.

There's a lot more to Dorothy Lake, and you can learn all about it in Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many other hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!