Merritt Lake
Jul 05, 2009
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last modified
Jul 05, 2009 11:54 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Merritt Lake and Lost Lake
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
- Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest - Wenatchee District
- Trails: Merritt Lake (#1588)
- Avg Rating: 3.70
- Be Aware Of
- Bugs
looking west to Mount Mastiff from Merritt ridge top
by: Douglas Houck
Bring bug repellent and don't stop at the lake.
The dirt road to the trailhead can be driven with a low ground clearance vehicle if driven slowly. We did it in a Ford Taurus.
The were almost no wildflowers and by late afternoon very aggressive mosquitoes. The first mile and a quarter are steep, and personally the lake is not worth the hike up. For the only good views without having to go another 3 miles to Alpine Peak lookout try the ridge to the north of the Merritt Lake.
Follow the trail, east of the lake, as if you are going to Alpine Peak, but shortly after starting up (5,300 ft), take a left, and follow the established trail to Lost Lake. At the saddle, (5,550 ft) take a right on the unmarked trail, up to the ridge top (5,620 ft) to excellent views all around. The trail is a bit exposed and not for everyone, but the views are probably better than at the Alpine Peak lookout. Directly west is Mount Mastiff (6,741 ft), with Lost Lake hidden at its base, to the north west is Glacier Peak and to its right, Buck Mtn. et.al. And finally down below is Merritt Lake (5,003 ft).
This is hopefully a nicer hike in the fall, when the bugs are all gone.
The dirt road to the trailhead can be driven with a low ground clearance vehicle if driven slowly. We did it in a Ford Taurus.
The were almost no wildflowers and by late afternoon very aggressive mosquitoes. The first mile and a quarter are steep, and personally the lake is not worth the hike up. For the only good views without having to go another 3 miles to Alpine Peak lookout try the ridge to the north of the Merritt Lake.
Follow the trail, east of the lake, as if you are going to Alpine Peak, but shortly after starting up (5,300 ft), take a left, and follow the established trail to Lost Lake. At the saddle, (5,550 ft) take a right on the unmarked trail, up to the ridge top (5,620 ft) to excellent views all around. The trail is a bit exposed and not for everyone, but the views are probably better than at the Alpine Peak lookout. Directly west is Mount Mastiff (6,741 ft), with Lost Lake hidden at its base, to the north west is Glacier Peak and to its right, Buck Mtn. et.al. And finally down below is Merritt Lake (5,003 ft).
This is hopefully a nicer hike in the fall, when the bugs are all gone.
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looking northwest to Glacier Peak from Merritt ridge top
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looking down onto Merritt Lake
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