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Area 3 - The Apline Lakes
Rachel Lake Trail #1313
Length: 4.8 Miles
Gain: 2000’
High: 5000’
Low: 2800’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers
Access: From From I-90 take exit 62 for paved Road
49 to Lake Kachess and follow it to the “T” junction
near Kachess Campground. Turn left onto FS
Road 4930 and stay on it for about 5miles up Box
Canyon Creek to the trailhead.
Setting: Creek valley, old-growth forest, lakes,
meadows.
Parking and Facilities: Pit toilet and parking for 40+
vehicles. Northwest Forest Pass is required.
Trail: Rachel Lake Trail has a fairly gentle grade for
the first 3 miles as it follows the north side of Box
Canyon Creek along the valley bottom. The trail
passes through old-growth forest and brushy
avalanche chutes. At the head of the valley, the trail
begins a steep 1-mile climb to Rachel Lake. From
the flat bench around Rachel, the tail climbs
approximately another mile to the Rampart Lakes
basin. Due to the large number of people that visit
this area, campfires are prohibited within 0.5 mile
of Rachel Lake and everywhere above 5000 feet. At
Ramparts (and at other subalpine and alpine
areas), the plant life is fragile and has suffered
damage from hikers, in order to repair past
damage, revegetation and rehabilitation efforts
continue in this area as funding allows and with the
help of volunteers. You can help this project by
staying on the main trails and resting only on rocks
and logs adjacent to the trail. Your cooperation can
help preserve the health and remarkable alpine
beauty of this area.
Length: 4.8 Miles
Gain: 2000’
High: 5000’
Low: 2800’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers
Access: From From I-90 take exit 62 for paved Road
49 to Lake Kachess and follow it to the “T” junction
near Kachess Campground. Turn left onto FS
Road 4930 and stay on it for about 5miles up Box
Canyon Creek to the trailhead.
Setting: Creek valley, old-growth forest, lakes,
meadows.
Parking and Facilities: Pit toilet and parking for 40+
vehicles. Northwest Forest Pass is required.
Trail: Rachel Lake Trail has a fairly gentle grade for
the first 3 miles as it follows the north side of Box
Canyon Creek along the valley bottom. The trail
passes through old-growth forest and brushy
avalanche chutes. At the head of the valley, the trail
begins a steep 1-mile climb to Rachel Lake. From
the flat bench around Rachel, the tail climbs
approximately another mile to the Rampart Lakes
basin. Due to the large number of people that visit
this area, campfires are prohibited within 0.5 mile
of Rachel Lake and everywhere above 5000 feet. At
Ramparts (and at other subalpine and alpine
areas), the plant life is fragile and has suffered
damage from hikers, in order to repair past
damage, revegetation and rehabilitation efforts
continue in this area as funding allows and with the
help of volunteers. You can help this project by
staying on the main trails and resting only on rocks
and logs adjacent to the trail. Your cooperation can
help preserve the health and remarkable alpine
beauty of this area.
Gold Creek Trail #1314
Length: 5.5 Miles
Gain: 500’
High: 3100’
Low: 2600’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers
Access: Located just east of Snoqualmie Pass, the
trailhead is reached by taking Hyak Exit 54 off of I-90
and turning onto FS Road 4832 on the north side of
the freeway. Follow this road to the 144 spur and
turn left on it. Follow 144 through private land until it
reaches another spur with a locked gat. There is a
trailhead sign there.
Setting: Creek valley, old-growth forest, open brushy
areas..
Parking and Facilities: Roadside parking for 4-5
vehicles.
Trail: From the locked gate, follow the road to the
trail registration box and continue to the trail. The
trail follows the creek and after approximately 2.5
miles from the locked gate, heads into a complex of
beaver dams where the trail may be difficult to find.
Many hikers pick a route up the gravel bars of Gold
Creek to bypass this area and get back on the main
trail. The trail continues up-valley to the Alaska
Lake cutoff. Creek crossings can be difficult during
high water. Beyond this point, the trail is not
maintained and is rough and difficult to find. The
spur trail to Alaska Lake ascends over 1,000 feet in
a little over one mile. The trail to Joe Lake ascends
1400 feet in 2.25 miles. This trail is maintained by
the North Bend Ranger District on the Mount Baker-
Snoqualmie National Forest, so contact the North
Bend office for the latest information.
Length: 5.5 Miles
Gain: 500’
High: 3100’
Low: 2600’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers
Access: Located just east of Snoqualmie Pass, the
trailhead is reached by taking Hyak Exit 54 off of I-90
and turning onto FS Road 4832 on the north side of
the freeway. Follow this road to the 144 spur and
turn left on it. Follow 144 through private land until it
reaches another spur with a locked gat. There is a
trailhead sign there.
Setting: Creek valley, old-growth forest, open brushy
areas..
Parking and Facilities: Roadside parking for 4-5
vehicles.
Trail: From the locked gate, follow the road to the
trail registration box and continue to the trail. The
trail follows the creek and after approximately 2.5
miles from the locked gate, heads into a complex of
beaver dams where the trail may be difficult to find.
Many hikers pick a route up the gravel bars of Gold
Creek to bypass this area and get back on the main
trail. The trail continues up-valley to the Alaska
Lake cutoff. Creek crossings can be difficult during
high water. Beyond this point, the trail is not
maintained and is rough and difficult to find. The
spur trail to Alaska Lake ascends over 1,000 feet in
a little over one mile. The trail to Joe Lake ascends
1400 feet in 2.25 miles. This trail is maintained by
the North Bend Ranger District on the Mount Baker-
Snoqualmie National Forest, so contact the North
Bend office for the latest information.
Escondido Lake Trail #1320
Length: 1.2 Miles
Gain: 540’
High: 4640’
Low: 4100’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers, Horseback
Access: This trail has no trailhead. Shortest
access is from Waptus Pass Trail #1329 via Pete
Lake Trail #1323.
Setting: Creek valley, old-growth forest, meadows,
lake.
Trail: From its junction with Trail #1323, this trail
heads uphill through forest along the north side of
Escondido Creek, which is often out of sight in the
trees below. There are several steep stretches on
this trail, but the overall grade is fairly easy. Near
the lake, the trail passes by and through some
meadows along the creek. Then it reaches the
edge of a large meadow and turns to the lake.
Length: 1.2 Miles
Gain: 540’
High: 4640’
Low: 4100’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers, Horseback
Access: This trail has no trailhead. Shortest
access is from Waptus Pass Trail #1329 via Pete
Lake Trail #1323.
Setting: Creek valley, old-growth forest, meadows,
lake.
Trail: From its junction with Trail #1323, this trail
heads uphill through forest along the north side of
Escondido Creek, which is often out of sight in the
trees below. There are several steep stretches on
this trail, but the overall grade is fairly easy. Near
the lake, the trail passes by and through some
meadows along the creek. Then it reaches the
edge of a large meadow and turns to the lake.
Tired Creek Trail #1317
Length: 3.3 Miles
Gain: 2600’
High: 5400’
Low: 2800’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers, Horseback
Access: Take I-90 Exit #80, go through Roslyn on
Highway 903 to Lake Cle Elum, along Lake Cle
Elum to FS Road 46, then westerly on 46. Take the
right turn to Cooper Lake and then follow FS Road
4600-113 to the Pete Lake trailhead above Cooper
Lake. Take the Pete Lake Trail #1323 1.25 miles to
the lower end of Trail 1317.
Setting: Partial-cut logging, old-growth trees, grassy
meadow, open hillsides, ridgetop, valley bottom,
subalpine area.
Parking and Facilities: This trailhead has parking
for numerous vehicles, loading ramp for stock, and
toilets. Camping sites are available nearby on
Cooper Lake at OWHI walk-in campground or
Cayuse Horse Camp a Salmon La Sac. There is
no water at the trailhead.
Trail: Tired Creek Trail gradually ascends through a
1987 partial cut logging unit, then onto a road for
100 yards (to the right towards the creek). From the
road, the trail climbs steeply along the edge of a
1960’s plantation near Tired Creek and enters
timber, climbing steeply with numerous
switchbacks into the upper basin of Tired Creek
and ends at Trail 1309 Polallie Ridge. Except fo the
steepness and a few rock ledges, this trail is fairly
good. There is water in the upper basin. The upper
1.5 mile of this trail is in the Alpine Lakes
Wilderness.Area above 5,000 feet are closed to
fires.
Length: 3.3 Miles
Gain: 2600’
High: 5400’
Low: 2800’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers, Horseback
Access: Take I-90 Exit #80, go through Roslyn on
Highway 903 to Lake Cle Elum, along Lake Cle
Elum to FS Road 46, then westerly on 46. Take the
right turn to Cooper Lake and then follow FS Road
4600-113 to the Pete Lake trailhead above Cooper
Lake. Take the Pete Lake Trail #1323 1.25 miles to
the lower end of Trail 1317.
Setting: Partial-cut logging, old-growth trees, grassy
meadow, open hillsides, ridgetop, valley bottom,
subalpine area.
Parking and Facilities: This trailhead has parking
for numerous vehicles, loading ramp for stock, and
toilets. Camping sites are available nearby on
Cooper Lake at OWHI walk-in campground or
Cayuse Horse Camp a Salmon La Sac. There is
no water at the trailhead.
Trail: Tired Creek Trail gradually ascends through a
1987 partial cut logging unit, then onto a road for
100 yards (to the right towards the creek). From the
road, the trail climbs steeply along the edge of a
1960’s plantation near Tired Creek and enters
timber, climbing steeply with numerous
switchbacks into the upper basin of Tired Creek
and ends at Trail 1309 Polallie Ridge. Except fo the
steepness and a few rock ledges, this trail is fairly
good. There is water in the upper basin. The upper
1.5 mile of this trail is in the Alpine Lakes
Wilderness.Area above 5,000 feet are closed to
fires.
Trail Creek Trail #1322
Length: 5.3Miles
Gain: 1800’
High: 4750’
Low: 2950’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers, Horseback
Access: No road access, use either Waptus River
1310 or Cathedral Rock Trail 1345.
Setting: Relatively young timber as the result of a
large fire approximately 100 years ago, dry and wet
meadows, stream, marshy pond.
Trail: From the south, the trail begins at Waptus
River Trail 1310, immediately crosses Waptus
River at a good ford (caution: ford is wide and water
can be high and swift early in the season) and
begins a gradual ascent that steepens and has
several switchbacks, again becoming a gradual
ascent that steepens and has several
swithchbacks, again becoming a gradual ascent as
it passes through the Trail Creek headwaters and
passes above Squitch Lake, ending at Cathedral
Rock Trail #1345. The trail is in good condition.
Length: 5.3Miles
Gain: 1800’
High: 4750’
Low: 2950’
Recommended Seasons: Summer and Fall
Open to: Hikers, Horseback
Access: No road access, use either Waptus River
1310 or Cathedral Rock Trail 1345.
Setting: Relatively young timber as the result of a
large fire approximately 100 years ago, dry and wet
meadows, stream, marshy pond.
Trail: From the south, the trail begins at Waptus
River Trail 1310, immediately crosses Waptus
River at a good ford (caution: ford is wide and water
can be high and swift early in the season) and
begins a gradual ascent that steepens and has
several switchbacks, again becoming a gradual
ascent that steepens and has several
swithchbacks, again becoming a gradual ascent as
it passes through the Trail Creek headwaters and
passes above Squitch Lake, ending at Cathedral
Rock Trail #1345. The trail is in good condition.
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