AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
2023-05-10, Tolt-MacDonald Park footbridge, 16.jpg
Steven Pavlov · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tolt-MacDonald Park

Ames Lake–Karen's, 7 sights

3.1 mi · ▲ 623 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Ames Lake–Karen's, 7 sights is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in Tolt-MacDonald Park near Carnation, WA. The route passes Tolt-MacDonald Park Beach and Karen's before reaching Ames Lake at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It climbs 623 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi59 – 532 ft · steepest grade: 16%4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 47.64420, -121.92300
Nearest town Carnation, WA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ames Lake–Karen's, 7 sights

3.1 mi · ▲ 623 ft · 1 hr 21 min

Elevation 59–530 ft

Out & Back · Tolt-MacDonald Park

Trailhead: 47.64420, -121.92300

Weather Aug 4: Mostly clear, high 84°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 5:50 AM · sunset 8:39 PM

Transit-accessible: Sr 203 & NE 40th St stop 553 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftPass Tolt-MacDonald Park Beach.
  3. 400 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Tolt Bridge, heading W.
  6. 450 ftBear right onto Mossy Mountain Way, heading NW.
  7. 0.7 miBear right onto North Road, heading W.
  8. 50 ftSharp left onto The Spine, heading W.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Lower Spine, heading W.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto North Road, heading W.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto The Spine, heading W.
  12. 400 ftContinue straight onto North Road, heading N.
  13. 0.2 miBear right onto Cousins, heading NW.
  14. 150 ftBear left onto Almost Gone, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder, heading W.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto West Road, heading W.
  17. 350 ftTurn right onto Slow Burn, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder South, heading W.
  19. 200 ftTurn right onto Singe, heading W.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Slow Burn, heading W.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Pitzilla, heading W.
  22. 50 ftBear right onto Slow Burn, heading W.
  23. 50 ftTurn right onto Blair Witch Project, heading W.
  24. 150 ftTurn left onto Hot Wok, heading NW.
  25. 150 ftTurn left onto In & Out, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftTurn right onto Green Mamba, heading W.
  27. 50 ftBear left onto Hot Wok, heading W.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto In & Out, heading W.
  29. 50 ftBear left onto Hot Wok, heading W.
  30. 50 ftTurn left onto In & Out, heading SW.
  31. 50 ftBear right onto Hot Wok, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Green Mamba, heading SW.
  33. 50 ftPass Karen's.
  34. 50 ftTurn left onto Whiplash, heading SW.
  35. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  36. 500 ftBear left, heading SW.
  37. 50 ftReach Ames Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  38. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  39. 0.1 miTurn right onto Green Mamba, heading N.
  40. 50 ftContinue straight onto Hot Wok, heading N.
  41. 50 ftBear left onto In & Out, heading N.
  42. 50 ftTurn right onto Hot Wok, heading N.
  43. 50 ftBear right onto In & Out, heading N.
  44. 50 ftContinue straight onto Hot Wok, heading NW.
  45. 50 ftBear right onto Green Mamba, heading NW.
  46. 50 ftTurn left onto In & Out, heading NW.
  47. 50 ftTurn right onto Hot Wok, heading NW.
  48. 150 ftTurn right onto Blair Witch Project, heading W.
  49. 150 ftTurn left onto Slow Burn, heading NW.
  50. 50 ftBear left onto Pitzilla, heading NW.
  51. 50 ftContinue straight onto Slow Burn, heading NW.
  52. 50 ftTurn right onto Singe, heading W.
  53. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder South, heading W.
  54. 200 ftTurn right onto Slow Burn, heading NW.
  55. 50 ftTurn left onto West Road, heading NW.
  56. 400 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder, heading W.
  57. 50 ftTurn right onto Almost Gone, heading W.
  58. 50 ftBear right onto Cousins, heading W.
  59. 150 ftBear left onto North Road, heading W.
  60. 0.2 miContinue straight onto The Spine, heading S.
  61. 350 ftContinue straight onto North Road, heading N.
  62. 100 ftTurn left onto Lower Spine, heading N.
  63. 50 ftTurn left onto The Spine, heading N.
  64. 50 ftSharp right onto North Road, heading N.
  65. 50 ftBear left onto Mossy Mountain Way, heading N.
  66. 0.7 miBear left onto Tolt Bridge, heading E.
  67. 500 ftTurn left, heading E.
  68. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  69. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  70. 100 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/ames-lake-karens-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

72% dirt5% boardwalk5% gravel18% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 84°F55°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity76%
Rained 0.1″ 2 days ago
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 5:50 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:39 PM
Wed 90°58°
Thu 93°59°
Fri 86°56°
Sat 84°56°
Sun 83°53°
Mon 85°54°

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Sr 203 & NE 40th St stop 553 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Carnation, Washington