Rachel Lake

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

4.4/5

based on 5 reviews

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Details

Distance

7.4 miles

Elevation Gain

2096 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Scott Kranz

Hiking to Rachel Lake has many great features: old-growth forest, rivers, waterfalls, and mountain views. The trail culminates at your end goal, a beautiful alpine lake, tucked below a mountain ridge

This hike is 7.4 miles roundtrip, with 2100 feet of elevation gain. Once you're on the trail, it starts heading uphill to help get your heart rate up on the hike. As you enter the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the trail starts to level out. You'll cross a few streams and hike through a fair amount of vegetation, so if there's been recent rain or dew, prepare to get a little wet.

At a little shy of 3 miles, the trail starts to become more of an uphill climb again. In this part of the trail, there will be large step-ups, leading to an elevation gain of roughly 1200 feet in your last mile.

When you reach the lake, you'll see that there are several campsites if you're looking to make it an overnight adventure. Once at the lake, continue up Rampart Ridge for amazing views of Rachel Lake and the surrounding valley. If you have the energy or the time, keep going up to Rampart Lakes.

PARKING:

Northwest Forest pass (for parking at trailhead)

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Lake

River

Scenic

Waterfalls

Rachel Lake Reviews

Priscilla Tran

Rachel Lake

11/17/24

I love this hike but it is SUPER crowded. There is not a lot of tree coverage the second half so make sure to bring plenty of water in the summer. Mosquitoes are relentless.

3.0

Eric Gottloeb

Rachel Lake

07/29/17

I'll say this, if you are looking for a challenging hike with a pretty good payoff then come to this one. It isn't heavily trafficked if you arrive early, parking is also easy. The last 4 miles to the trailhead is a gravel road stricken with deep pit holes...you're gonna need a bigger boat. The trail itself is quite nice, though sometimes easy to stroll off of by accident. The biggest drawback is the man eating flies...the bug spray, it does nothing! The lake is pretty though, so that's great!

4.0

John David Whittington III

Rachel Lake

08/20/16

The hike is fantastic! The last mile is easily the most difficult part of the hike. Come prepared and start the hike early to maximize your time at the lake. The best places to camp are to the left once you get to the lake. The farther you go the better and more secluded the campsites are. It's a blast! Swimsuits are a must

5.0

Mick Wooten

Rachel Lake

08/13/16

Fantastic views. A good challenging hike with the lake as a reward for your efforts. In early August we experienced an onslaught of mosquitos and occasional biting flies. Take Picardin or Deet. Also experienced high winds at the lake, but the sites were worth the bites and windy conditions.

5.0

Explorer

John Sunich

Explorer

Rachel Lake

07/26/16

Have hiked all around this area and can't recommend it enough. Beautiful terrain for both day and overnighters. Great write up Scott!

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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Hike Alta Mountain

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Rampart Lakes

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Snowshoe to Rachel Lake

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Rachel Lake

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Rachel Lake Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Hike Alta Mountain

Rampart Lakes

Lila Lakes via Rachel Lakes Trail

Snowshoe to Rachel Lake

Chikamin Peak via Mineral Creek Trailhead

Hike-In and Camp at Alaska Lake

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