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Topic: Hiking loop ideas around alpine lakes? 20-30 miles (Read 880 times)
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samthaman
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I figured I'd ask around to see if anyone had any ideas for loop hikes in the ALW. I'm new to the Seattle area and haven't had time to fine a lot of useful info yet. I figure I cant go too wrong in terrain like that, but if anyone has ideas for hikes they've really enjoyed, I'd love to hear them.
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James Wells
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A pretty common loop (with easy car shuttle) is to go in via Aasgard Pass and then exit by Snow Creek. It's something like 21 miles and +6,000' or so.
I thought the exit was long, boring and stupid. By the end of it, we were wishing we had just gone back down Aasgard. So from a spectacular entry up Aasgard into the upper part of Alpine Lakes, hopefully there is some much better place to create a loop from.
I assume you know that to overnight in most of the area, you need a permit, and they can by hard to get. We did it in a day which was fine but limited the opportunity for side trips to any of the fantastic places you could see in all directions.
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Randy
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Posts: 841
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Deception pass loop -- start at the end of the Cle Elum river road and hike to Tuck and Robin Lakes, then to Deception Pass and back on the PCT past Catheral Rock -- side trip to Peggy's Pond and/or Deep Lake.
Waptus Pass Loop -- Start at Salmon Le Sac campground head to Waptus Lake, up and over Waptus Pass, down to Pete Lake and back along the Cooper River trail. Longer variation of this would be to follow the PCT along Waptus Lake, up and over Escondito ridge -- either dropping down the Waptus Burn trail -- or continuing along the PCT to the Lemah ford and then back to Pete Lake.
If you are able to do some off trail traveling:
From Salmon Lec Sac head up the Waptus river trail, ford the Waptus river and head up Trail creek to Lake Michael and Lake Terrance -- then travel cross country to the top of Davis peak and descend the Davis Peak trail and Cle Elum river road back to Salmon Le Sac.
Take the PCT north from Snoqualmie Pass to Park Lakes, then travel cross country over "East Alta" to Lila Lakes basin, Rampart lakes and Lake Lillian -- A MTB stashed at the "backdoor" trailhead will get you back to Snoqualmie Pass.
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normanclyde
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Posts: 74
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There are a couple of options just off I-90 in the Alpental/Denny Creek area. You can more or less follow the Chair Peak Circumnav counterclockwise then continue down Denny Creek to the trailhead. This would involve either a car shuttle or a hike back to Alpental on pavement. There is a loop between Denny Creek and the Pratt Lakes Trailhead of Granite Mountain fame, 13.7 miles with a car shuttle, 16.7 without, that reaches Melakwa Lake then turns west. Mostly below alpine but with two nice opportunities for solitary lake swims which you would no doubt welcome in this weather. See Mike McQuade’s Trail Running Guide to Western Washington.
You can take the Gold Creek trail to the PCT, then return via the PCT to Snoqualmie. This also involves a car shuttle or road hike at the end. 20 plus miles.
If you’re willing to consider locations besides the Alpine Lakes, I can give you a couple of strong recommendations.
The Ipsut Creek/Spray Park loop (also in McQuade’s book) follows the Wonderland Trail to Carbon River, the alternative WT to Ipsut Pass, then returns to Mowich Lake via the Eunice Lakes trail. 16.6 miles, 4.5K elevation gain and loss.
The Loowit Trail around St. Helens is a legitimate adventure: 6K gain and loss in a loop of around 33 miles, nearly half of them off trail within the blast zone.
Two loops along the Wonderland Trail, entirely within MRNP, offer considerable challenge. Take the WT from the Fryingpan trailhead through Panhandle Gap, past Indian Bar along Cowlitz Divide, left on Olallie Creek Trail and descend to what I believe is called the East Side Trail, which parallels the Ohanapecosh River (and runs within earshot of the highway for several miles). Left at Needle Creek up the Owyhigh Lakes Trail which returns you to the White River Road a mile east of the Fryingpan trailhead. 30 something miles, 10K elevation gain and loss.
Better still, take the Wonderland from Carbon River to Berkeley Park, then return via the Northern Loop trail. This includes a stunning entry into Grand Park, the largest alpine meadow in MRNP, with whose springtime pleasures several TAYers are familiar but which is certainly worth a visit in summer, ideally just after snowmelt when the wildflowers are blooming (i.e. two to four weeks ago). 30 miles. About 10K elevation gain and loss. Unforgettable.
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mikerolfs
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Not in ALW, but in the North Cascades Natl Park, I just did a one way from Hwy 20 to Stehekin that was really nice. Bridge Creek TH start, bakery at Stehekin and ferry boat ride to finish. Really nice area and recently maintained trails by the Student Conservation Association. I was on the trail as an approach to a mountain adventure, but it was so nice it would be worth the walk just for the walk.
Not ski related, but here is my trip report:
http://www.wenatcheeoutdoorsforum.org/showthread.php?164-Mt-Goode-NE-Buttress-7-26-2012
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slipslider
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Posts: 9
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This is a subject (loop hikes) that is one of my passions.
County Line Trail on the NF Teanaway ... Bean Creek Trailhead - Beverly Ck - Fourth Ck - Hardscrabble Ck tr - Count Line Tr - Stafford Ck tr - Startup Ck tr - Bean Creek tr - TH 14 miles 5200' Plenty of water every mile or 2
Here's one on the east side of Mt Rainier. Stash a bike at Chinook Pass. Drive down to Ohanapacosh, hike up to Laughingwater Ck then up Laughingwater to PCT then North on PCT to Chinook and coast (on your bike) back to the car. The bit on the PCT is about 10 miles with little water. This is what I call a (B,H)ike pronounced BUH-HIKE.
Another (B,H)ike is to stash a bike at Alpental and drive back to Denny Creek and hike up to Melakwa Lake and then on to Melakwa Pass then over to Gem Lake and down to Snow Lake and back to Alpental. Big time coast (on the bike) back to the car.
In the North Cascades there is an 18 mile loop starting at Bridge creek and going around Stiletto Peak. Have not done this one but there should be a sketchy trail up and down Copper pass, then over Twisp Pass and down to the Crest trail and out. About 19 miles and 5000'
In the Olympics, there is the old stand-by, the High Divide. I think it is about 20 miles.
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Jim Oker
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If you are into some off trail travel including navigation, check out the Alpine Lakes High Route described in the Beckey climbing guide - a version that I think would match your mileage and will hit more cool lakes than what he describes is to go in via Foss Lakes and out via Necklace Lakes. Very memorable trip for me and for the folks who joined me for it. the nwhikers forum has some TRs as well as other discussion of the route including a very recent thread that includes some discussion of what folks think is the best way to go from Chetwoot Lake to Iron Cap Pass (Dayhike Mike seems to have the best notion there from what I can see - we did a much lower route as described in Beckey, going past Azurite Lake).
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samthaman
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Posts: 237
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If you are into some off trail travel including navigation, check out the Alpine Lakes High Route described in the Beckey climbing guide - a version that I think would match your mileage and will hit more cool lakes than what he describes is to go in via Foss Lakes and out via Necklace Lakes. Very memorable trip for me and for the folks who joined me for it. the nwhikers forum has some TRs as well as other discussion of the route including a very recent thread that includes some discussion of what folks think is the best way to go from Chetwoot Lake to Iron Cap Pass (Dayhike Mike seems to have the best notion there from what I can see - we did a much lower route as described in Beckey, going past Azurite Lake).
I didn't realize that there were traverse suggestions in the becky guides, I've gotta go bakc and check them out now. Thanks for the heads up.
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blitz
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Posts: 314
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not alpine lakes but wide variety of scenery and you can bring a dog and you wont see very many people - phelps creek to buck creek via spider meadows, ok to do in low top hiking shoes but bring your poles for fhe snowfield climb
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alisa
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