Lake Serene Mine Route Information

Lake Serene Mine

Map Annotations:

• (A) - The new Lake Serene trailhead is very fancy, with two outhouses.
  
• (B) - When you get to this sign, ignore it and continue up the old mine road.
  
• (C) - The 'parking lot' is the site of the Lake Serene Mine. Also the old Lake Serene trailhead.

Microsoft TerraServer gives an overall view of the route from the Lake Serene trailhead, towards Lake Serene. Compare this image with the TOPO! map above. The trailhead area and US 2 can be seen in the upper left of the image. The old roads can barely be made out, and the Lake Serene mine 'parking lot' seems to be visible in the image as a light colored clearing, seemingly near the steep gully which carries the mine adits.

Driving:
Drive US 2 east 12.8 miles from Sultan to the bridge over the Skykomish. Turn right on the Index River Road, and continue for only about .25 miles, until the turnoff to the new trailhead on the right. Park here and enjoy your Trail Park Pass dollars at work.

Hiking/Bushwhacking:
Hike up the old mine road, which is now gated and serves as the Lake Serene trail. The road is generally wide, but there are a few sections that have washed out and the trail meanders around these. After about 1.25 miles, a large berm is encountered on the left. This is the intersection of another old road from the east, which is shown on older maps. A sign directs hikers to continue up on the main road.

After about 1.5 miles, a trail sign directs hikers off the old mine road, to the left, onto the Lake Serene trail. At this point, ignore the sign and continue up the old roadbed. After less than .25 miles, the road forks; take the left fork for a few more feet. You will then reach a large open gravel area which used to serve as the parking lot for the old Lake Serene trailhead, and earlier, the loading area for the Lake Serene Mine. The lower mine adit is located here, just a few steps away in the cliffs above. Allow about 45 minutes to an hour to reach this point from the trailhead.

To reach the lower adit, climb up a steep bulldozer track a few feet, until you see a short path taking off right to the lower adit, about 30 feet away. The spray-painted graffiti marks the mine entrance.

To reach the upper adit, continue on the bulldozer track a few hundred feet, past the grotto flower memorial. The old Lake Serene trail can be seen taking off here, to the upper left and starting a contour of the hillside. Follow the trail a few more hundred feet, passing over some large mossy rocks. At about this point, some red flags on the right might indicate a rough route up the steep wooded hillside. Climb up this, through the brush first, then up the steep woods until you start entering the steep gully that holds the lower adit. If you climb up at the right place, you will reach a step in the gully which holds a small waterfall. The upper adit is tucked directly behind the waterfall, somewhat hidden. Allow about 15 minutes from the upper parking lot area.