Philippa

The route into Philippa is not a maintained trail. It can be overgrown and hard to follow. Even experienced off trail hikers can have difficulties finding their way up this old boot tread if they can find it at all. Stong navigation skills and the proper equipment to navigate, map compass and altimeter, are strongly recommended. Once the boot tread is found from the end of the road (see driving directions) the path heads up the valley for approx 2 miles. It terminates briefly in a rockslide down to Philippa Creek. There may be cairns or flagging here. Traverse the rockslide down and to the right aiming for a large tree at the base of a small water fall and cross the creek here to pick up the old tread. After crossing the creek the way trail becomes steep and sometimes muddy, climbing root ladders and steep sections of huckleberry. Gain approx 500 vertical to the top of the timber and traverse the rockslide area up and to the left underneath the large buttress. This area is choked with slide alder and can be difficult to navigate. You want to top out on the left side of the rockslide near Philippa Creek to find the tread again. Once across the going is very steep for 200 vertical before the terrain levels out again towrd the lake. Multiple blow downs and debris often cover the path - stay to the right of the creek. Once you reach the lake you'll find fishing opportunities from the outlet end of the lake. A raft could be handy. The lake was last stocked with Rainbow Trout and Coastal Cutthroat Trout and the fishing can be excellent.

Getting here:

Hancock Day Pass may be required.  -I-90 east Exit 27, take left and continue onto SE N.Bend Way past the Casino. Take left onto Meadowbrook Way SE, cross river and take a right on SE Reinig Rd continuing ~ 1.8m to its end. Take left on 468th Ave SE which will become N. Ford Rd SE; bear left uphill at SE 72nd intersection & you will soon leave pavement-rd can have many potholes. Follow N. Fork County Road eventually crossing N. Fork Snoq river and at approx 12.1m park across from a yellow gate on your right. Follow road thru yellow gate ~0.7 miles, go right. The first part of this road was ditched out in 2011. continue another .5 miles staying left where road splits and goes uphill. This part of the road is very over grown and turns into more of a boot path through the slide alder. Follow until road ends and search for the boot tread which continues forward from the end of the road.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: King
Acreage: 121.60 ac.
Elevation: 3350 ft.
TRS: T25R09E SEC35
Center: 47.610263, -121.620167
Open in Google Maps

Fish stocking info

Release Location: LK PHILIPPA (KING)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
Sep 15, 2009 Cutthroat 3,000 500 ARLINGTON HATCHERY
Sep 15, 2009 Rainbow 2,000 450 ARLINGTON HATCHERY
Aug 22, 2009 Rainbow 2,000 480 TOKUL CR HATCHERY
Aug 22, 2009 Cutthroat 2,500 521 TOKUL CR HATCHERY
Aug 19, 2009 Rainbow 500 563 TOKUL CR HATCHERY
Aug 24, 2005 Cutthroat 3,060 450 ARLINGTON HATCHERY
Aug 24, 2005 Rainbow 2,025 450 ARLINGTON HATCHERY
Aug 28, 2001 Cutthroat 3,004 323 ARLINGTON HATCHERY
Aug 28, 2001 Rainbow 2,037 485 ARLINGTON HATCHERY
Aug 25, 1995 Cutthroat 6,060 600 CHELAN HATCHERY

Fishing prospects calendar

Rainbow trout

Fishing success for Rainbow Trout is generally best in the spring when thousands of fish are stocked statewide, but they can be caught year-round in most waters with a little patience and persistence. Success remains high into June and gradually declines as water temperatures increase and fish move offshore to stay cool. Fish that escaped the spring harvest return to the nearshore areas in the fall as waters cool off. Some waters may also be stocked again in the fall further boosting catch rates.
Chart showing fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Photos

Image
Philippa
Photo by WDFW