Came on a weekday in the summer in 2023, arrived at 9:00 am and the parking lot was about 2/3 full. It is a small parking lot, and by the time we left in the afternoon, a few cars were parked along the forest road leading up to the parking lot. The forest road leading up to the trailhead was pretty well maintained -- a few small potholes, but very avoidable. Just drive slowly around the turns, I thought there was decent space for 2 cars to pass slowly as needed. The trail was in perfect condition. We enjoyed that it was a relatively wide path, not TOO many rocks/roots (for our older dog to navigate), was shaded pretty much the whole way, and was not too steep (by WA standards). We only identified 1 spot at each lake with decent day use access to the lake, and these lake access areas were small. We didn't have an issue with that as the trail was not crowded, but I imagine it could be an issue on busy summer weekends. read more

Talapus and Olallie Lakes - Ollalie Lake - Hiking Near Me - North Bend, Washington

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If you're looking for an easy - moderate hike with beautiful lake views, highly recommend Talapus and Olallie Lakes! This one had been on my list for a while, so I'm glad I finally got to do it. As some other reviewers have said, be prepared for a crappy road to the trailhead and also a small parking lot. I feel like that's standard for a lot of Washington hikes, though. Come early and you won't have a problem is my motto! This hike is definitely doable for people who are just starting out hiking - I'd even say older kids (like 3/4 and up?) could tackle this one without too much of a problem. And of course, our dogs loved it too. About halfway into the hike you see one of the lakes which is a nice moment for a respite if needed. If not, power on to the next! Up at the top, if you go early, expect to run into some campers... There are signs that clearly say there isn't any day camping, but that's definitely relative and based on perception. There were campers in EVERY spot that had a good view of the lake, making it really hard to find a good spot to catch a full view of the lake. All in all, a good hike that will take up about half your day. We arrived at about 8 am and we were out by 11. read more

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After you get off exit 45 be ready for a bumpy ride to arrive at your destination. The road is narrow and has A LOT of potholes. At some points there is only room for one car so you might be in a tough spot if you're on that part of the road and there's another car coming from the other direction. It's actually pretty dangerous so I'd really recommend driving slowly. You'll most likely have to swerve around the potholes to make sure your car doesn't bump up and down. It took me about 10 minutes to get up to the parking lot after getting off the exit. There's not a lot of parking here, probably 20 spots or so depending on how well other people park. I'd recommend getting here early to avoid the crowds and snag one of the coveted spots (I'd say arrive by about 8:30am-9am?). If you get here later then cars will park on the side of the road which limits the driving lanes even more. I'd recommend either coming early or some time in the afternoon like after 2pm. There are quite a bit of mosquitoes so bring some bug spray if you want to. The hike itself is pretty easy and doesn't have a lot of rocky parts. I liked that there is a lot of shade because of the tall trees that block the sun. If you hike about 2 miles you'll get to the first lake which is Talapus Lake. If you continue going up another 2 miles or so you will reach Olallie Lake. The round trip is ~8 miles. It took about 65 minutes for me to go up and roughly 60 minutes to go back down. Overall I thought both lakes were nice. For Talapus Lake you can actually sit on a log and be closer to the water. Olallie Lake is bigger and there are more places you can sit. Both views are nice but not amazing relative to the other beautiful views from PNW hikes. If you want to swim in the lake you can, but other than that it's just a nice hiking trail that has a couple nice lakes along the way. read more

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There are VERY few parking spots in the lot and you will have to park on the road leading up to it. The road is very pothole-y as of mid September 2023. Don't take a car you like or is prone to flats. But the drive up is OK. The hike itself is well maintained. The problem is the lake views are blocked by many logs and trees which means there's only a small enough opening to view the lake in its entirety. It gets crowded fast because there's just not that much space. Not too difficult. Low to moderate difficulty. read more

Date of visit: October 26, 2020 Arrived at the trailhead @ 8:30 and there were about 6-8 other cars in the lot. The trail became snowy about a mile in. I didn't use spikes or poles but it may make things easier. Got a little slick in a few spots. The lakes are both very pretty with the snow as a backdrop. The first half mile on the trailhead is pretty muddy, some large mud puddles here and there. Snow appears once you start to make the incline towards Talapus lake. Lots of people admiring the stunning views (a bit hard to maintain 6ft apart). The trek to Oallie lake was fairly easy. I didn't have micro spikes but I definitely recommend them. Lots of snow falling off the trees so that was fun, keep your hood up. When I came back down the lot was full and cars were parked for a loooong way down the road. There were a couple cars parked in odd positions that made the exit a tight squeeze in my car. Overall highly recommend and love the beautiful serenity. read more

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Came here on a weekday late afternoon, lots of big potholes on the road leading up to it, would not recommend for a vehicle that's not high clearance. The parking lot is small but there were still spots (yay weekday hiking). The trail wasn't too steep, all covered by trees and shade, was quite pleasant. Good signage as well, there's signs pretty much at every intersection which is helpful. The lakes were alright, not super amazing but quite pretty. Not too many people on the trail although we did see a few. read more

Don't forget to bring bug spray! You get two lakes for the price of one with this beginner hike. Nestled in the Snoqualmie area, the trailhead is located a ways up in the mountain after a drive up a pothole-ridden, gravel road. Drivers, please take the curves slowly! We almost had an incident when someone decided to race up the road as we were headed down. The parking lot is tiny and you'll find a lot of visitors parked out along the road. Keep an eye out for incoming and outgoing cars, especially at the mountain road is so narrow. While the trail itself is fairy wide, the terrain can get a bit rough with tons of exposed tree roots. My group got turned around a few times as well because the path isn't as noticeable at certain points. Be on the lookout for well-worn signs amongst the trees, as without them, we probably would've gotten lost. :P As other reviews mention, you'll reach Talapus Lake first with its gorgeous vista. There was a group camping out there (which I don't think is allowed..) so we didn't get the best access to the water. But it's definitely worth taking a pit stop though! ;) At a certain point, you'll come across a crossroads where the path on the right across the stream takes you to Pratt Lake and the Olallie Lake path continues to the left. Once at Olallie, the trail continues around the lake bowl for those who want to keep going. As with all PNW hikes, start early - we were surprised with how crowded the road got! Also, be sure to pick up a Northwest Pass, which is $5 for the day and can be purchased online. And once again, don't forget the bug spray - you'll need it! read more

Talapus and Olallie Lakes - Talapus Lake - Hiking Near Me - North Bend, Washington

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Two words to describe this hike - beautiful lake. The hike itself is on the easier side of moderate, but the lakes at the end of them are very beautiful; especially the Talapus lake. Hike is around 7 miles round trip with around 1100 ft elevation (as recorded on the apple watch); the elevation is pretty spread out making it less challenging than others I have been on. I went on this hike on a weekend and the parking queue was very long, at around 10 AM. One reason for that was probably the popularity of this hike/area for camping. The parking area doesn't accept discover pass, so either pay cash using an envelope or use some other national park passes. People looking for a good day out should definitely try this out; but don't expect yourself to be challenged if you are in good physical shape. read more

Talapus and Olallie Lakes - Talapus Lake - Hiking Near Me - North Bend, Washington

Very easy, well maintained trail with multiple lakes. Great for beginning hikers, kids, families and dogs. Difficulty: Easy Round Trip: 6.2 miles (This is to Olallie Lake, you pass by Talapus lake first) Elevation Gain: 1220 ft Time: 1 hour up, 50 minutes down Drive: Exit 45 off I-90. The FR 9030 roas has lots of potholes on the gravel road. Drive slowly and carefully. Parking: Small parking lot. The Talapus Lake Trail main parking lot can only fit about 20 cars. I arrived on a Sunday morning at 11:00 am. The parking lot was full and there were many cars parked on the side of the road. I was lucky enough to catch someone right when they were leaving. Trail: There are various lakes on the Talapus Lake trail. Talapus Lake is the first stop at 1.5 miles. Olallie Lake is the next stop at 3 miles. You can continue farther to Pratt Lake for another 2.5 miles or so. The trail starts off in the shaded forest. The rooty trail is rocky in some areas but the overall trail is very wide, accessible and nicely maintained. The majority of the incline gain is to Talapus Lake. There are some switchbacks but it is very gradual and not that steep. Make sure you stay on the trail! There was a part where it looked like that trail forked off and we actually went the wrong way into a rocky, bouldering terrain. Noticing that there was no foot traffic, we immediately turned around. The trail flattens up after Talapus lake. Most of the trail is shaded which was nice because it was very hot that afternoon. Talapus Lake is nicer than Olallie Lake. The water in Olallie Lake wasn't as clean and pristine as Talapus Lake. I didn't get a chance to visit Pratt Lake but probably will do so in the future. Bugs: Bring bug spray. Lots of pesky mosquitoes! *Northwest Forest Pass required* Parking box available at the trailhead. It's $5 for the day if you do not have a pass. read more

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Lots of great reviews with detail here already, but here's my two cents. First off, yes, the parking lot is small and was full by the time my daughter and I arrived at 9:30am on a Saturday, and there were many cars already parked along the road. By the time we left at around 2pm, the cars parked along the side were quite far down the road. The gravel entry road is approximately 2 miles long. It does have a good amount of potholes but its not too bad so the forest service must grade it regularly. There are also embedded rocks on the road here and there which can be difficult to see if the sun is dappling through the trees. Entry requires a Northwest Forest Pass. There is a pay station at the trail entrance or you can purchase at various retailers or online prior to going. The trail begins as wide and flat but soon transitions into switchbacks with a grade that's manageable, but still steadily uphill all the way. In addition, the trail is full of roots and large embedded rocks so you have to watch your footing pretty much all the time. To me, an "easy" or "beginner" hike should allow looking around without worrying about tripping. Also, there are several log bridges on the way to the first lake which, for me, were really scary. One is not much more than a foot wide, and another, tilted at a crazy angle. The drop to the rushing stream below is only a couple of feet, but you'd definitely hurt yourself on rocks if you fell. Finally, the "path" down to the lake itself is steep and VERY "rooty". For these reasons, I would not consider this a beginner's hike. More of an "intermediate beginner's hike". Saw lots of people with dogs, and family's as well - some with babies and small children, who seemed to do quite well with the trail conditions and the wonky bridges so don't be disuaded by me. After all, it's only my opinion. read more

Well maintained trail with great views of the lakes. This is a much more quiet hike compare to Rattlesnake or Wallace Falls which is a great thing! Still very fun and lots of things to see. Did the hike in 4 hours including stopping for pictures a couple times. Definitely a good hike for people who are looking for a moderate trail to start. read more

Given the proximity to Seattle and easy distance/elevation gain, I thought this place would be a madhouse. Was pleasantly surprised! It was much quieter than the nearby Denny Creek hike. In just a few miles, you get to see two pretty lakes. Trail is well-maintained. Great for kids, beginners, or people who feel like a relaxed, easy hike. The lakes really shine on sunny days, but they're pretty even on overcast days. read more

Talapus and Olallie Lakes - Talapus Lake - Hiking Near Me - North Bend, Washington

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Gorgeous!!! So worth the hike! And wear your bathing suit on a hot day, you'll kick yourself if you don't when you get to the gorgeous mountain lake. Great hike for kids too, my 4 and 6 yr olds were challenged but had a great time! read more

Despite our best efforts, my husband and I never seem to be able to get out of the house early enough for Seattle area hikes. We arrived at the Talapus trail-head at about 11:30 and the tiny parking lot was full, with additional cars lining the side of the road. Although this is a popular hike, it was not unbearably crowded. This entire hike is just so pleasant. You start out walking through a shady forest, and soon hear the rush of Talapus Creek, and get several nice views of the creek along the way. The incline is quite gentle, and although it is 1220 foot elevation gain, it feels very easy most of the way. Before you know it, you have reached Talapus Lake - this is quite pretty, although the preferred area to view the lake seems rather small. After moving on towards Ollalie Lake, the hike seems to be more secluded - I think many people (especially those with kids) turn back after reaching Talapus. The only awkward thing is that when we reached Ollalie Lake there wasn't a very good resting place because there were people camping all around the lake. I honestly would not want to camp here, it is way too populated and not private at all. Although the lake is very pretty, I was put off by the fact that we couldn't rest anywhere without feeling like we were invading other people's space. Despite that, this was one of the most enjoyable hikes I have been on. read more

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It was a fun hike that wasn't to challenging. The path was well worn and easy to follow. I finished the hike up at around 11am and the parking lot was packed! I suggest getting there before 10am if you want a decent parking spot. read more