Snowshoe Snoqualmie’s Gold Creek Pond Trail
New to snowshoeing? Or just need a fun day-trip getaway?
Try snowshoeing the Gold Creek Pond Trail east of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State.
With easy access just off I-90 at Exit 54, you can start snowshoeing through the tall evergreen trees on the edge of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest just minutes after parking your car. Although Gold Creek Pond Trail is basically flat with only a 10 ft elevation gain, the area itself sits at 3,000 ft. and usually has a lot more snow than the lowlands. This makes it is a great place to go if you yearn to get out of the rain and possibly experience a little more sunshine during the winter months.
There is ample parking along Forest Road 4832 (which parallels I-90) although it gets pretty busy on weekends and holidays. The road is narrow and can be icy, so be sure to bring proper footwear. A Sno-Park permit is required and costs $20. a day unless you purchase a seasonal pass. You can find more information on Sno-park permits and how to get one at: https://www.wta.org/go-outside/passes/passes-and-permit-info
There are also a couple of portable toilets stationed near the gate at the entrance. However, be warned—they may not always be clean. A much better restroom is located at the Snoqualmie Pass Visitor Center rest stop just one exit away at Exit 53. Address is: 603 WA-906, North Bend, WA 98045 (And they are open 24 hours.)
Once parked, you can put your snowshoes on right at your car and follow Forest Road 114 which is closed to vehicles and not plowed in winter. Snowshoe this wide beautiful road lined with trees 0.3 miles to the junction with the wide spur which turns off to Gold Creek Pond. There are signs to guide you, although at times, they may be covered with snow. However, there are several entrances to the pond loop making it pretty easy to find.
The 2.8-mile roundtrip loop trail around Gold Creek Pond is very scenic with a spectacular view up the Gold Creek valley with Chikamin Peak at its head. The high frosted peaks of Snoqualmie Mountain, Kendall Peak, Mount Thompson and Alta Mountain also rise above the tree line, with Rampart Ridge to the east. There is a small island in the middle of the pond, and you may see beaver dams, ducks, geese, ravens, crows, and other wildlife.
Multiple wooden bridges cross streams leading into the lake from Gold Creek, which runs parallel to the pond. On the end closest to the Gold Creek Pond trail entrance, there is an open park area with picnic tables and a bathroom. Many families bring their kids to play here and build snowmen.
If you prefer to dodge the large majority of people who congregate around the pond, you can simply continue snowshoeing straight on the unplowed Forest Road 114 after leaving your car and bypass the lake until later in the day like we did.
The Gold Creek Trail follows the snow-covered road over a mile before entering the national forest. We loved seeing the short stretch of homes and cabin rentals through the trees. Be sure to stay on the road/trail for everything else is private property. In fact, a couple of snow mobiles passed by us pulling carts of supplies behind them, the only way to get food and other things up here to these cabins in winter.
The snow was tracked down by others who had gone before us, but some of the drifts along the side were almost 2 and a half feet deep. (This was the day after Christmas, December 2020.) The farther we went, the more the tracked snow narrowed. We did end up stomping down our own trail in certain parts.
About a mile and a half from Gold Creek Pond we saw a sign to the left and turned toward a trailhead that circles another smaller pond. The quick .3 loop around Heli pond was far less tracked than Gold Creek Pond. So glad we went around this loop with so much untouched snow! This loop also has a small wooden bridge crossing a tinkling natural spring at one end of the pond.
After circling Heli Pond, our legs started to get a little tired, so our family turned back toward Gold Creek Pond, but the Gold Creek Trail continues for many more miles.
By the time we returned to the Gold Creek Pond loop area it started to snow and many people had already cleared out making us very thankful we had bypassed this trail loop earlier and then came back when it wasn’t so jam-packed.
I would highly recommend coming early to get a parking spot. We arrived later than we would have liked and started our snowshoe hike at 10:30 am. and ended at 2:15 pm. We figured we did about 4 miles snowshoeing up the Gold Creek Trail and circling the two pond loops. This was only my second time snowshoeing and my legs were done for the day.
I would highly recommend snowshoeing Snoqualmie’s Gold Creek Pond Trail, especially if you are a beginner or are snowshoeing with young children. You do not need to go far to have fun and have a great day. Snowshoe as much as you want and enjoy the impressive scenery. You might even want to bring a thermos of hot cocoa to celebrate the end of your outdoor trek!
Directions: Coming from Seattle turn onto I-90 east. On I-90 east take Exit (Exit No. 54), Hyak-Gold Creek. Make a left-hand turn under the freeway then turn right onto Lake Mardee Rd continue onto NF-4832. You can park along the side of the road nearby the gate.
Also, note A Sno-Park pass is required. (Get Your Snow-Park Pass Here)
Quick Facts
The Gold Creek Pond (Trail # 1250)
About a one-mile loop with little elevation gain.
LOCATION Snoqualmie Region -- Snoqualmie Pass
To extend your hike you can continue down Forest Road NF-114 to Gold Creek Trail, Helli pond
Get a Snow Park Permit at: https://parks.state.wa.us/130/Winter-recreation
For the latest trail conditions, you can call the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in North Bend at 425-888-1421
Get the latest avalanche forecast at the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center website www.nwac.noaa.gov/ or call their Avalanche Information Hotline at 206-526-6677
Watch Our Route
Guest Blogger: Darlene Panzera
Darlene Panzera is a multi-published author of sweet, fun-loving contemporary and historical romance. She has also written a children’s book series with her daughter, Samantha, based on their horses, and enjoys camping, hiking, and all kinds of adventure and travel in the great outdoors. www.darlenepanzera.com
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Thanks for you blog it help me a lot to understand the basic items that we need while I travel in snow
Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to read my blog post about Snowshoeing on Snoqualmie’s Gold Creek Pond Trail. I’m thrilled to hear that the information provided was helpful. Wishing you safe and enjoyable snow adventures ahead!
-Samantha