Rachel Lake
Aug 13, 2009
by
momof7
—
last modified
Aug 15, 2009 01:11 AM
- Type of Outing
- Overnight
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Rachel Lake
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Cle Elum Ranger District
- Trails: Rachel Lake (#1313)
- Avg Rating: 3.61
- Why You Should Go Now
- Ripe berries
- Be Aware Of
- Water on trail
Mushrooms on the Rachel Lake Trail
We left the trailhead at 4:30pm on our way to Rachel Lake (#1313). Party included myself and 4 of my kids, ages 18, 16, 9 & 7. Our goal was to reach Lila lake but we only made it to Rachel Lake. The first 2.5 miles are easy. We ate ripe berries and saw lots of bright orange mushrooms. The creek and waterfalls were gorgeous. There are several small creek crossings. We hiked the first 2 miles in an hour. The next 2 miles were not so quick. The trail definitely gets steep with lots of rock and roots. Within a miles of the top the trail is a bit hard to follow as it crosses rock and follows a stream bed. We thought we were off the trail when we were in the stream, but it was the trail. So be prepared for water on the trail. It was hard, it was steep, it was a little hard to follow in places but if my 9 & 7 year old can do it - so can you!!
Take a jacket. The day we hiked was very misty which turned into very rainy at the lake. We tried to take the clearly marked trail to Lila Lake but turned back after about 10 minutes due to lack of "Mountain Goat" skills. The trail seemed to vanish across rocky steep sections and since it was getting dark and raining, we opted to find a tent site at Rachel Lake.
Found a beautiful secluded tent site at the end of the lake. If you hike the trail which stays close to the lake you will come to the "bottleneck" in the lake. At this point, keep an eye out uphill and you'll see a ledge above you. Leave the trail and go uphill about 20 steps and you'll find a secluded, off the trail spot.
We put up our 4 man and our 2 man tent but ended up putting all 5 of us in the 4 man tent. Nobody wanted to leave the bigger tent so we smushed together and stayed. (Good thing we had a 7-yr-old who didn't take much space!)
On our way out (Friday) we passed 7 parties on their way to Rachel Lake. Five of the parties were spending the weekend. My advice - go during the weekdays so you're not hiking with the masses.
Take a jacket. The day we hiked was very misty which turned into very rainy at the lake. We tried to take the clearly marked trail to Lila Lake but turned back after about 10 minutes due to lack of "Mountain Goat" skills. The trail seemed to vanish across rocky steep sections and since it was getting dark and raining, we opted to find a tent site at Rachel Lake.
Found a beautiful secluded tent site at the end of the lake. If you hike the trail which stays close to the lake you will come to the "bottleneck" in the lake. At this point, keep an eye out uphill and you'll see a ledge above you. Leave the trail and go uphill about 20 steps and you'll find a secluded, off the trail spot.
We put up our 4 man and our 2 man tent but ended up putting all 5 of us in the 4 man tent. Nobody wanted to leave the bigger tent so we smushed together and stayed. (Good thing we had a 7-yr-old who didn't take much space!)
On our way out (Friday) we passed 7 parties on their way to Rachel Lake. Five of the parties were spending the weekend. My advice - go during the weekdays so you're not hiking with the masses.
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View (or lack thereof) leaving Rachel Lake.
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Rachel Lake - clouds rolling in!
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