After hiking under the “Colossus of Roads,” also known as I-90 (looking up at the concrete span is an impressive contrast from the valley floor), the hike turns a steady up-hill and into more undeveloped terrain. This trail sees a lot of traffic so be prepared to make frequent stops to say hello to passers-by. However, the farther you go the less crowded it becomes and the better the views and features get.
Melakwa Lake is what you think of as an alpine lake. The water is a greenish hue from the snow melt and so clear that you can see the trout swimming between the rocks and branches.
The lake is actually a set of “upper” and “lower” lakes with a small tributary connecting the two. It looks like a great place to camp with a number of sites surrounding the lake.
