Melakwa Lake
| Distance: | 0 miles | |
| Time: | 0 hours | |
| Elevation Gain: | 0ft | |
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Description:
Denny Creek begins with the wide, gentle, well-maintained grade of a popular and heavily used trail. Novice hikers and small children will find the walking easy and pleasant up to the Denny Creek crossing at 1 mile. This is the destination for many who wish to picnic or play in the natural water-slides of the creek. After crossing the creek on a new log bridge, the trail climbs through forest and open hillsides. It becomes rougher and rockier as you climb towards Keekwulee Falls (1½ miles). At 2 miles the trail provides relief from the switchbacks as it flattens out briefly, before climbing again up to Hemlock Pass (4 miles). The pass is the high point of the trail. From here it slowly descends another ½ miles to the outlet of lower Melakawa Lake.
From the south end of Melakwa Lake look north to Melakwa Pass framed by Kaleetan Peak on the left and Chair Peak on the right -- two favorites among Northwest peak-baggers. For more adventures follow the trail along the western edge of the lower lake and climb to the smaller, Upper Melakwa Lake or pick your way through rocks and snow for another mile to Melakwa Pass (5400'). From here look down into little Chair Peak Lake and the drainage that fills popular Snow Lake just on the other side of Chair Peak.
Directions:
Drive I-90 east to exit 47. Turn left (north). Turn right at the "T" in the road pass beneath the highway, and shortly thereafter turn left onto Denny Creek Road (FS #58). Drive three miles to the Denny Creek campground. Just after the campground turn left on to a gravel road and follow across a bridge to its end and the trailhead parking lot.
