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Hike to Wallace Lake via Greg Ball Trail

Gold Bar, Washington

4.5/5
based on 2 reviews

Details

Distance

8.2 miles

Elevation Gain

1500 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Brandon Baker

As part of the Wallace Falls State Park, this lake is often overlooked and passed over as the masses converge on the famous falls. You will not find many hikers veering left at the fork and heading to this area, which makes it a very attractive trail for those seeking out peace and quiet. Be sure to head towards the far end of the lake for great views and a rocky beach to relax on.

An alluring State Park for its massive waterfall display, Wallace Falls is a high traffic destination along Highway 2, but don't overlook Wallace Lake as the falls steal the limelight. Head East on Highway 2, once you enter the town of Gold Bar keep on the lookout for the State Park signs and turn left (right around milepost 28). From here the route is well signed and it is very easy to navigate to the large parking area. Bring your Discover pass for parking and hit the road early on weekends as this is a very popular area to explore and inherently becomes quite busy.

Follow the well-defined trail to the falls and when the route splits keep left, follow the trail past a toilet facility and onto the Greg Bail Trail; this is about 2.4 miles from where you started. From here you wind through the gentle hills with towering old growth overhead. In the distance you can catch the vigorous falls penetrating in your ears and keep your eyes peeled for sights of the river through the crevices of timber. You will run into an old road, take a right and follow to Wallace Lake. Trek along the left side of the lake for another half mile to reach a rocky beach where the sun shines directly upon the waterfront and Mount Index lingers above in the skyline. In my opinion this is where the best view is found and therefore the best place to eat lunch, chill out, and snap some photos.

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Features

Chillin
Photography
Hiking
Bathrooms
Beach
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Food Nearby
Forest
Lake
Picnic Area
River
Scenic
Wildflowers

Reviews

Love this one! It’s a great place to go when you are looking for some quiet time since it isn’t super busy. This is also a great place to paddle board

This was a lovely hike! I did it in late April and it wasn't too muddy, but what I really loved was that there were so few people on the trail. It was very peaceful. The only thing to note is that the initial left turn towards Wallace Lake is actual only 1.4 miles from the trailhead. And if you take that all the way to Jay Lake, it's about six mikes one way. The hiking terrain is easy though so even thing it's longer, you don't have a ton of elevation gain. I definitely recommend this hike!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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