Sunday Creek and Sunday Lake Trail #1000
Escape the crowds by following this route through difficult to follow trail and a creek ford on your way out to a quiet, forested lake.
Total Distance: 6.4 miles
Total Ascent: 300ft
Highest Point: 1900ft
Total Ascent: 300ft
Highest Point: 1900ft
Difficulty: Hard
Our Hiking Time: 4h 30m
Required Permit: None
Our Hiking Time: 4h 30m
Required Permit: None
To get there, take I-90 to exit #31, taking a left into North Bend. After the outlet malls, take a right on North Bend Way and an almost immediate left onto Ballarat Street. After four miles the road splits, veer left onto the North Fork County Road (Forest Road #57). Continue a little over 14.5 miles to Road #5720 and Gate 30. View Google Directions >>
Begin by finding the unmarked trailhead, about 14 rough miles down Forest Road #57. Start looking to the right for a gate labeled “Gate 30,” about a mile after you cross Sunday Creek. Once you’ve found an unobtrusive place to wedge your vehicle, start down the brush-lined logging road. Within a mile, your next challenge appears – a marsh has long since reclaimed the road. Tip-toe your way through the muck.
Once past the swamp, continue to Sunday Creek. There is no bridge, and it can be very difficult to cross when the waters are high. Once across, you’ll need to find the roadbed again. Depending on where you chose to cross, this could require some backtracking. Once you find it, blowdowns and overgrowth are more of an issue along this final leg to the lake. After three miles the first indications of the lake appear, the first marshy sections of what will eventually become Sunday Lake.There's a lot more to Sunday 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!
Once past the swamp, continue to Sunday Creek. There is no bridge, and it can be very difficult to cross when the waters are high. Once across, you’ll need to find the roadbed again. Depending on where you chose to cross, this could require some backtracking. Once you find it, blowdowns and overgrowth are more of an issue along this final leg to the lake. After three miles the first indications of the lake appear, the first marshy sections of what will eventually become Sunday Lake.There's a lot more to Sunday 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!
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