Moss Lake via Swan Loop Road
9.5 mi · ▲ 1,155 ft · 3 hr 45 min
Moss Lake via Swan Loop Road is a 9.5-mile out-and-back in Seattle Public Utilities near Lake Marcel, WA. The route reaches Moss Lake at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 1,155 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade. It scores 75/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Moss Lake via Swan Loop Road
9.5 mi · ▲ 1,155 ft · 3 hr 45 min
Elevation 343–785 ft
Out & Back · Seattle Public Utilities
Trailhead: 47.70918, -121.83855
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 73°F / low 49° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:41 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Swan Loop Road, heading SE.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Stones, heading NW.
- 100 ftBear left onto Short Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Loop Trail, heading S.
- 1 miReach Moss Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Short Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Stones, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Swan Loop Road, heading E.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 7:22 PM for the 8:41 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:48 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Swan Loop Road 4.6 mi · ▲ 461 ft
- Swan Loop Road 6.9 mi · ▲ 982 ft
- Swan Loop Road 7 mi · ▲ 977 ft
- Swan Loop Road 7.5 mi · ▲ 1,013 ft
- Swan Loop Road 7.6 mi · ▲ 1,007 ft
- Knowhere & North of Knowhere via Swan Loop Road 7.9 mi · ▲ 1,013 ft
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