Bumping Lake Trail

Bumping Lake is idyllic, with wide blue waters surrounded by low mountains. It’s an ideal spot for a coffee walk in the morning, or a weekend trip with the whole family on a sunny afternoon. The trail is mostly gently undulating, providing no major challenges in terms of length or elevation gain. Wildflowers, wild berries, and forest line the trail. You’ll be able to appreciate a few old-growth conifers as you walk.

The hiker begins in the forest near the cabins at the end of the road. Walk down to the lakeshore, where you’ll need to fill out a wilderness permit. Hike west, roughly following the curve of the shore. There’s a bit of a hill between the trail and lakeshore at this point, so you won’t have water access.

At 1.5mi, you’ll walk over a footlog to cross Boulder Creek. After 3 more miles in the forest, you’ll complete a similar crossing over Cedar Creek. Especially impressive trees define the next stretch of trail.

Continue up through a stretch of gently inclined trail. A junction with Swamp Lake Trail comes soon, and then you’ll drop down to cross Cougar Creek again. If the water is high, take your time crossing.

A 0.3mi later, you’ll run into Fish Lake Way. At this junction, you can either take Fish Lake Way 0.2mi to see the Bumping River or turn around and return to your car.

If you have young ones and the water is high, we recommend turning around at the second crossing of Cougar Creek, which is still a lovely outing.

Hiking Route Highlights

Bumping Lake

Originally constructed in 1925, the Heybrook Lookout gives hikers a spectacular vantage point in all seasons. The lookout has been rebuilt and upgraded several times, each time growing in height. The current lookout was built in 1965 and was most recently improved by the Everett Mountaineers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you swim in Bumping Lake?

Yes, you can swim in the lake. Some people also boat and fish here.

Can you have fires at Bumping Lake?

You can normally have fires at the lake, but fire bans may be instated when the wildfire risk becomes high. Please check current conditions and rules before starting your fire.