Snow camping with kids near Stevens Pass

Submitted by kkicinski t3_11609za in Washington

We were planning to build a snow shelter with my kids and sleep in it at Gold Creek Pond tomorrow. However, the forecast is now calling for rain tomorrow night and Monday morning. Not great for snow camping. The forecast for Stevens looks much better, with snow instead of rain. However, I’m not as familiar with the Stevens Pass area so I don’t have a go-to spot. Because of kids, I need a very short 1-mile max hike in, safe from avalanche and a clearing for making an igloo.

Any suggestions or recommendations? TIA.

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snacks- t1_j96lbll wrote

There is a major winter storm rolling into the Steven’s Pass area until Wednesday, so I probably wouldn’t take kids camping in an unfamiliar spot this week. Stick with something/some place you know.

Valhalla lake is not an option given your parameters.

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Careless-Internet-63 t1_j94opi2 wrote

The distance is a bit of a stretch and you'd have to snowshoe in, but skyline lake is my absolute favorite winter destination at Stevens. Very good snowshoe hike and super cool spot, I haven't personally built snow shelters there but I know people who have

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kkicinski OP t1_j94pnpy wrote

Thanks! We have snowshoes but the problem with Skyline Lake is that you have to park in the ski resort parking lot. We won’t get there early and it’s a holiday weekend. I’m looking at Valhalla Lake, it sounds like it’s pretty flat for a quarter mile. That would be perfect. Have you done that one?

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Careless-Internet-63 t1_j94sspu wrote

I have not, but last time I did skyline lake I was able to park on the side of the road and walk to the trailhead because the ski resort lot was completely full

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SalesMountaineer t1_j982mw8 wrote

Skyline is great! Another good option, but longer drive is Mount Baker Ski Area. Park in Heather Meadows lot (paid parking for overnight, book and pay online.) You could hike all the way up to Artist Point but there are plenty of good spots much closer to the lot. Have fun!!

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blue-marmot t1_j9fhs8y wrote

We just did White Pass Nordic Area and it was great.

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