Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a huge area including the Enchantment and Big Heart Lake-Necklace Valley…read moreloop. These two are the one I backpacked in this wilderness, and super beautiful. However, there are literally tons of other hiking available here. For detail My blog for the Enchantment https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-enchantments-washington.html My blog for the Big Heart Lake-Necklace Valley loop https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2024/11/big-heart-lake-necklace-vally-loop.html

Alpine Lakes is a large wilderness area west of Leavenworth full of multiday long trails. While I…read moredidn't take any multiday hikes or reach any of the alpine lakes, I was able to explore the area with afternoon or post work hikes. Before arriving in Leavenworth, I was originally intending to fish some of the lakes in the wilderness. However, this would have require more planning and effort that I was able to exert during my time in the area. I bet the lakes are pristine. Maybe I will be able to fish in them on a future date. The quality trails in the area generally lead hikers through the valleys, creeping up the mountains. There are great views of the snow-capped peaks from most parts of the trail and when there isn't one in view, there are usually rapids rushing down a nearby creek or river. In this part of the country, there are no small creeks. If there is a blue line on google maps, you can count on loud whitewater, rather than small trickle in June. Part of the wilderness shows signs of fire damage that occurred 4 years ago, although there is significant regrowth of small pine trees and bushes retaking the mountainside. This is a dramatic contrast from the burned landscapes that we saw in Arizona, California, or Nevada, where a fire from previous years would show little signs of regrowth, almost as if the fire was the earth's first step on its march toward becoming a desert.

Gorgeous place! We were able to go snowshoeing for free! Plenty of parking on the side of the road…read more Highly recommend bringing hiking poles since it's super icy this season!

Definitely arrive early because the lot with fill up fast! A NW Forest pass is required for…read moreparking. This trail is very rocky so make sure to have good hiking shoes and trekking poles. There was also lots of bugs on this trail so definitely pack bug spray as well. The view is beautiful, a little crowded but I came around 7:30am so it wasn't too bad.

Biggest deception about Deception Falls is the map location in yelp…read more If you find yourself at a bridge into town, you're at the wrong location. It is actually 8 miles further up the hill than what the map shows. Technically it's closed but you can park on the road side. There's plenty of safe parking space. Short walk to get down to the falls. Very beautiful and worth the stop.

We have passed by this amazing place so many times, and finally stopped to check it out. It is a…read morevery easy hike through the area, suitable for all ages. The scenery is breathtaking! Highly recommend.

Picked this hike from the Washington Trails book, about 9.5 miles roundtrip with a 2700 elevation…read moregain. This was a tough hike, even though I chose it since the book said "moderate" and even looking up some reviews people had said the hike as relatively simple to enjoy a fantastic lake view. We were both pretty dead at the end due to the length and steep inclines. Knees were pretty banged up because of all the rocks. The trail in the beginning wasn't so bad, definitely got my heart pumping because of the elevation, but as you go higher up there were a lot of switchbacks and seemingly no end in sight. We hustled up the mountain pretty quickly though, which was why we were so tired at the end. The view is definitely worth it in the end; recommend bringing a hammock! There's also plenty of sitting area through slabs of rocks. Coming down we encountered: 1) a girl who was crying we believe because of the toughness of the trail, 2) a couple who stopped us to ask how much longer it was to the top (they unfortunately weren't even halfway) which signifies how tough this hike was. Definitely recommend bringing more than enough water or you will definitely be dehydrated (like we were). Otherwise glad we did this and would recommend (you won't regret it but your body will hate you haha).

Pretty but tough, Melakwa Lake gets you with its length and steady elevation gain. The trailhead…read moreis located in Snoqualmie and is part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area. Be sure to pick up a Northwest Forest Pass before you head over as the closest visitor center is about a 15 min drive away at Exit 52. If you've scoped out the WTA site already, it'll say that the trailhead has a parking lot for approximately 30ish cars with additional room to park along the side of the road. As the trailhead is shared with the very popular Denny Creek, I'd recommend you head early to snag a spot and to carpool - my friends and I arrived around 9AM and the lot was completely packed. There appears to be two parts to this hike - the family-friendly portion to Denny Creek and then the rocky and long jaunt up to Melakwa Lake. We saw a lot of families on the trail headed to the creek, which makes the perfect picnic spot during low water. If you want to continue on toward Melakwa Lake, head straight over to the other side of the creek where you'll find a tiny sign labeled "Main Trail" posted on a tree. The crowd thinned out after Denny Creek/the water slide (as referred to on WTA) as the hike got a bit tougher and rockier. If you have hiking boots, wear them, as you'll encounter two, long stretches of rocky terrain. The 2,000 ft elevation gain is gradual, but definitely noticeably on the last leg. You'll head up for what feels like forever before the trail starts to dip down again, taking you to the edge of the lake. This hike feels long, so be sure to bring an ample amount of water and snacks to help power on to the end! Once you're at the lake, there's room for you to sit out on the rocks before your journey back down. We even saw a few people swimming in the water - must've been so cold! XD My friends weren't the biggest fans of this hike, mainly because of the length, but I still think it's worth a visit with the right prep. Also, don't forget to bring bug spray! Apparently Melakwa is Chinook for mosquito, haha. :)

Came here on a Friday afternoon around 3:30PM, long gravel road to the trailhead, quite a few cars…read moreparked there too. Bathroom and map at the trailhead. Hike is pretty steep, constantly uphill for about 3 miles, all in the trees though. Mosquitoes around, bug spray is good. After 3 miles, trail goes down pretty steeply, lake was really pretty, not very cold water! Sat there for a bit to enjoy the water and view, really calming. Didn't see very many people on the trail, had the lake to ourselves. Bad part of the hike is the need to go back uphill after the lake, but it's not too bad. Took 2 hours to get to the lake, 2 hours back, was a bit dark and got a bit cold towards the end of the hike. Hiking poles definitely helped!

It is 11.5 miles, you have to park your car 2 miles before the trail starts which adds up total or…read more4 extra miles. It would be good idea to go on sunny day and start hike early. We went around 8:00am got at lake around 11:30am, only few small breaks and took 3 hours to come back. When we reached the lake it was mesmerizing. Thinks to remember: 1.Take a lot of water and snacks with you. It is hard hike so stay hydrated. 2. Bug spray if needed we had it but did not use it because bugs were not too bad. 3. Go early to beat the heat and this hike requires $5 day use fee and Northwest forest pass. 4. Since it's not 7.5 miles be ready to do extra 4 miles. Total of 11.5miles This hike was hardest hike for us so far but the view worth the hike. I would highly recommend to go there at lest once in life time. The view is breathtaking!!! Good luck, you will love it.!!

Difficulty: Easy Time: 15 minutes…read more Gear: Nike free runs, North face backpack Group: 3 People Temp: 85F (+/-) Bear lake (summer): So obviously a car full of grown men got lost and stumbled up on this trailhead instead of Pilchuck. The road to this trailhead gets very rocky with a lot of pot holes so please be careful. I don't advise bringing a nice car - use a car that's meant for these dirt, rough terrain roads. The drive there is deep as you ascend up the mountain by car and park on the side of the road. Immediately you'll see a large sign to help guide you. The hike is very fun with mild elevation gain and a lot of flat ground and natural terrain. You can tell not many people come here. its a very quick 15 minute hike till you get to this beautiful open source lake. Its absolutely gorgeous. There's a spot for a campfire as well. I highly recommend coming here. The trail also splits into a fork; one going to bear lake and the other pinnacle lake. Pinnacle lake is just roughly an hour to an hour thirty minute hike. Do not attempt when it just rained because the trail is muddy and all dirt. Both places are beautiful and a must for anyone that loves hiking There are ALOT of mosquitoes at this time so wear repellant. I would also reccomend some real hiking shoes if you're attempting pinnacle. Its an ankle breaker at some points

Indeed very enchanting place. We did backpacking 3 nights 4…read moredays to experience the core zone as much as possible including off-trail scrambles for Little Annapurna and Enchantment Peak. We went Colchuck to Viviane and traced back since not much to see beyond Viviane. Really nice backpacking. My detailed mileage etc is below blog post. https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-enchantments-washington.html

I've done this a couple of times so I'll give you the different perspectives…read more The first time I did it as a one-day hike because I did not have a permit. The second time I did it as a three night hike because it was after October 15th and I still didn't have a permit. Since that time, the permit season has been extended to October 30th. Either way, I suggest that hiking in the fall is the prettiest time due to the larch trees colors. Both times we started at the Stuart Lake trailhead (recommended due to reduced overall elevation gain) and ended at the Snow Lake trailhead. Now at the risk of offending someone I will say that hiking through the Enchantments in one day is like watching a porn movie on fast forward. You miss most of the scenery. My suggestion is to either get a permit, or hike outside of season, preferably in the fall, but stay at least two nights. Given that the hike up Aasgard Pass has an elevation gain of 1900 feet in about a mile, I can attest that it can be quite dangerous when raining. On the East side there will be mud & rock slides and in our case we had to duck out of the way of several large, (18 or so inch diameter) Rocks that came bouncing down the boulders with unpredictable direction at a very high rate of speed. Risks early in the season are snow slides and avalanches, so be very aware of the conditions when you are there. All that said, anyone who does not give this a five and tell you that it's absolutely one of the most beautiful hikes you'll ever take on must know something I don't, and I've hiked the Himalayas. Remember that goats are dangerous. Pee on rocks, not soil because the goats will dig it up for the salt. Try not to let a goat see you peeing or it will run towards you. Try fishing in the lakes; the trout are great for dinner up there. You should also know that when coming down toward the Snow Lake trailhead there are a large number of switchbacks and when you see the cars just down the hill, it will likely be another hour before you get there, and if you did it as a day hike, your feet may not be happy when you finally arrive. If you are a hiker, you must find a way to get this one done before you hang up your boots.

First of all, Google Maps wasn't accurate. It's probably user error but I did have a copy of the…read moredirections from WTA.org and their direction is spot on: "From Monroe, head east on US-2 to the town of Baring. Near milepost 41 and across from a convenience store, turn left (north) onto 635th Place NE. Cross the railroad tracks and continue 0.3 miles. Reach a junction and keep left on 635th Place NE for 0.1 mile. The road becomes FR-6024; continue 3.9 miles to the trailhead. Watch for potholes." The hiking trail was mostly flat and it is a great, family-friendly hike that offers a lot of scenic views and exposure to forest life. I love landscape photography and this hike offered plenty of opportunities for dramatic shots. I was also pleasantly surprised to find so many mushrooms that were great for macro photography. I am attaching those shots to this review. The lake itself wasn't that impressive but we loved the overall scenery, relatively easy hike, and photo opportunities.

So first of all know that this trail starts in the middle of nowhere. You will take a windy gravel…read moreroad with lots of pot holes for a good amount of time before arriving at a gravel lot with roughly 10 spots for cars. There were also people parked along the side of the road. Note that the road is narrow, barely fits two cars passing each other. I took a Malibu out there and managed just fine. Once you arrive there is a bathroom, but definitely isn't clean or sophisticated so don't expect much. It was open when I got there around 945 on a Saturday morning. The parking lot did have roughly 8 cars already in it. I soon found out that most of those were from campers that had stayed at the lake the night before. This is definitely a trail for 8+ I did see some families with smaller kids but I can't imagine them lasting long with the rugged trail. The trail is also over grown in some places where I thought at one point I had gone off the trail where other points there is a definitive path built in. It look around 48mins for me (1.8mi) to the lake. Once you get there is clear why people stay. I'm sure the sunrise is beautiful! Beware that there are lots of people camping by so be mindful. Overall it's a nice short trail without a lot of altitude or climbing required. Roughly 80% shaded. Would not recommend it after a rain shower though as I can see where runoff could cut off the trail and/or it being extremely muddy.

Awesome resort for nude camping in the PNW! Don't miss this gem, located near Sultan, WA! Heritage…read moreDays Festival begins Aug 2 thru Aug 5, 2025!! Tent sites $15, RV pad hookups, small cabin rentals, waterfalls 85 ft high, nudity required when near water borne areas of the resort ((i.e. hot tub, pool, lake, waterfalls, stream, steam bath, sauna, etc.)) Come out and tan all over with the whole Family for fun, sun and nudity this Summer!! Don't miss the Heritage Days Festival!!

An all around great facility. The lake is perfect to swim or boat in, lots of trails (including a…read moregreat waterfall trail) and places to lay out and get some sun.

Convenient little store that prevents a 45 minute round trip into "town". And emergency gas. You…read morewouldn't want to necessarily fill up here.

I rented kayaks from here and took my family out to Lake Roesinger. My parents are in their 60s and…read morehave never kayaked before, neither had my 13 year old nephew. We all had such a blast! The service at the store was absolutely wonderful! So nice and very helpful. The kayaks were great, we felt safe and reassured with the life vests and whistles they provided, and the lake was just perfect! My family will think back on this as a very fond memory for years to come. Great service, great product, great day! My nephew says he gives the store a 6 out of 5!