John Guilford's Hikes

Date: 2026-06-30

Location: Hope, Mig, and Josephine Lakes

People: (including myself): Happy Hikers

			  	Alt.	Miles
Trailhead:		9:00	3185	0
Hope Lake:		10:00	4380	2.2
Leave Hope:		10:30
Mig Lake:		11:10	4680	3.3
Josephine Lake:		12:54	4960	6.4
Leave Josephine:	1:15	
Mig Lake:		2:50	4680	9.4
Hope Lake:		3:15	4380	10.3
Trailhead:		4:30	3185	11.9

You start off on the Tunnel Creek Trail up to Hope Lake.  Near the lake there was a large tree across the trail.  Some hikers coming down the trail had recommended to us to go "up and over".  We interpretted that to mean going up the hillside over the top of the tree as going under the tree or trying to climb over it looked nasty. 

It turned out going over the tree was the better way to go.  We ended up bushwacking through steep brush eventually ending up by the toilet by the lake.  The rest of our party, a ways behind us, went under or over the tree instead. 

We waited for more of our party to catch up.  It was a bit buggy near Hope Lake, so we didn't want to wait too long.  Most of the group wasn't going further than Mig Lake, but three of us opted for the longer hike, on the PCT to Josephine Lake.  Once all three of us got to Hope, we set off. 

The trail is relatively flat for a while after Hope Lake.  We passed Mig Lake and started climbing a hillside.  Despite it being almost July, it was cool and cloudy.  The temperature was in the upper 40s, and I'd wished I'd brought a hat and gloves.  The brush was wet from overnight drizzle which got my pants wet a bit.  But the climb kept me warm.  Near the top of the hillside we started running into patches of snow. At first they were next to the trail, then we had some that cross the trail but which we could go around.  Eventually we had to start crossing the snow patches.  Along the way Kathy made a couple small snow men.  One patch, nearer the lake, involved a relatively long traverse of the snow. 

We eventually reached an overlook that looked down into Josephine Lake several hundred feet below us.  It had a fantastic greenish-blue color.  The trail continues (the PCT to Stevens Pass with a side trail to the lake) down to the lake after circling around to the far side.  Due to time, we opted to have lunch at the lake overlook view rather than descending to the lake itself. 

At lunch, I put on my rain jacket more for warmth than for rain protection. 

It would have been prettier in the sunlight, but the clouds gave an interesting feel to the hike. 

Josephine Lake from our lunch stop

Trees in the low clouds

Hope Lake reflection