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Talapus Lake located near North Bend, WA, and it's a perfect destination for beginner backpackers !
BUT...
In the summer, this hiking trail is heavily trafficked, and limited number of designated camping spots by the lake, makes this trip hard to plan...
In this post I want to share a few tips that I wish I knew before planning the trip...
Best Tip :
If possible, try to go mid-week... Head out late in the afternoon ( about 3-4 pm )... By that time, most day hikers are gone, and there are more chances to snatch a nice camping spot by the lake !
Second Best :
We found designated camping spots only at Talapus Lake, but nothing around Olallie Lake ( which was our second choice )
Driving/directions :
Close to Seattle ( about an hour drive ), and easy to find... Even though the last mile or so is dirt road, it's wide enough, and potholes are drivable even for sedans...
Parking :
Another reason to plan your trip mid-week is it's hard to find parking on a busy summer weekend ( often, you'd have to park half a mile away from the trailhead )
Fees :
You'll need a Discovery Pass AND to pay additional $5 Northwest Forest Pass ( the letter you can just pay cash at the trailhead, or buy beforehand at local REI )
The hike :
The trail is very well maintained, and marked making it impossible to get lost... The trail ascends gently making it perfect for kids, dogs, and first time backpackers...
It took us about 2 hours to get from the trailhead to the lake ( making one stop at Olallie Lake for a quick picture, and another stop to hydrate ), and less than 2 hours on the way back...
>>>IMPORTANT<<<
Camping at the lake :
Lake camping is on "first come first serve" basis...
We were lucky to snatch a decent spot by the lake... There are only 4-5 designated camping spots around the lake... If you're not that lucky, you'll might have to share a spot with others, or camp someplace else away from the lake...
Camp fires are not allowed ( but doubt anybody will say anything if you start a small one "to keep bugs away" )...
The lake is pretty small, and acoustics is superb... so try to keep it quiet to respect others around you...
At night, the moon shines super bright, so you might bring your sleeping mask ( and maybe a pair of earplugs to get a good night sleep ).
Gear To Bring :
It's an easy hike/backpacking trip, so you won't need much !
Water is definitely one things you won't have to worry about ( bring a water filter, or a stove to boil water ).
A bug spray is definitely a must ! I'd also recommend to bring a mosquito face net ( worked great for us ! ).
With many trees all around, it would make a great "hammock camping" destination ( if you've never tried before ) !
If you can fit it in your backpack, bring a float/mattress to relax on the lake...
Love fishing ?
Despite of how small Talapus Lake is, it offers great fishing ! The lake has mainly small wild rainbow trout, but it's fun to catch and release !
Wildlife :
Because of its popularity, wildlife is used to people, and feel quite comfortable ( sometimes kinda demanding :)) begging for food... Even though you're not suppose to feed them, we shared a few nuts with a few chipmunks...
DON'T LEAVE FOOD lying around cause those furry thieves will get get into your backpack/tent !
And definitely don't leave food in the open for the night to avoid attracting bigger "visitors"...
All in all, this is a perfect "introduction to backpacking" trip for people of all ages, and physical abilities !
