Rachel Lake & Alta Mountain

Explore Rampart Ridge and the Rampart Lakes on this long trek up past an popular alpine lake to the enormous views waiting at the summit.
Total Distance: 10.0 miles
Total Ascent: 3800ft
Highest Point: 6151ft
Difficulty: Hard
Our Hiking Time: 6h 40m
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
From Seattle, take I-90 to Exit 62. Turn north and drive five miles to the Lake Kachess campground. Take a left onto left Box Canyon Road #4930. Continue for four miles and turn left into the Rachel Lake Trailhead parking area. View Google Directions >>
Although the trail is challenging, making this hike feel more difficult than the elevation gains would suggest, the beauty and the view more than make up for effort. Rachel Lake and Rampart Ridge hold more than can be seen in a day, making this hike perfect for a short backpacking excursion.

There's a lot more to Rachel Lake, and you can learn all about it in Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide, and Hiking through History Washington: Exploring the Evergreen State's Past by Trail. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many other hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!