Beautiful hike to a lake with water access. We arrived at 8a and there were no cars at the trailhead. First 2 miles are relatively flat and very easy but the last 2 shoot straight up and definitely give you a workout. Bring bug spray- the bugs were bad on the hike and were awful at the lake.

Hiked today, bugs were terrible bring spray or head net. Water at Rampart lakes was chill but with this heat i swimmed about 10 minutes.

Headed up to Lila Lake for a quick solo overnight shakedown trip to test a new pack amongst other things.  I'd never hiked this trail previously but I've found that it has it all: lots of rocks, roots, water crossings, and some thick vegetation!  The trail is well-worn and in good condition where it exists.  Otherwise, you will be hiking dry drainage beds, muddy mud pits, streams, and eroded tree root systems.  Brought sandals for water crossing as I had heard it was dicey; it was not and sandals were unnecessary.  At any rate: I arrived at noon and the only parking available was along the main road.  Upon reaching Rachel, it was clear that there was no time to linger - the mosquitoes were INSANE.  There were some snowbridges and evidence of postholing, but not too far down if one did break through.  The snow over the trail in various areas between Rachel and Lila was not an issue at all.  I reached Lila by 3pm and there were only a few sensible campsites left.  Mine was a bit more damp that I would have liked, but lakeside and gorgeous, of course.  Looks like a large majority of snowmelt occurred over the last week and I would think that after this next heatwave, things should be pretty dry around the sites.  The lake and surrounding area are worth exploring - it really is beautiful.  Mercifully, a wind had kicked up and the mosquitoes were minimal for the remainder of the night.  The next morning, however - everyone woke up and absolutely raced to break camp and hightail it out of there.  No filtering water, no hot breakfast, and certainly no coffee.  It was an absolute mosquito massacre.  Even with 3 layers of protection (permethrin coated clothing, DEET, and picaridin), I still received a beating.  It did make for some funny conversations and bonding between those of us who were camping up there!  All-in-all, it is a great hike and a beautiful place.  Loads of wildflowers still blooming and saw a pika and heard several marmots whistling away.  Stats: 6h moving time / 12.8mi RT / 2,998ft

This place... it really is as phenomenal as everyone says, and now, the peak of summer, is a great time to visit with the clear blue skies, soaring peaks, dazzling sunlight on the water, and wildflowers waving in the meadows. At times I felt I was back in the Enchantments, which perhaps shouldn't be a surprise since they lie not too many miles to the east. I went not just for the views but also to test my ankle after spraining it exactly one month ago. I figured I could adjust the mileage and elevation once I got to Rachel Lake according to what my ankle would allow. Mollified with a little ibuprofen, my ankle was cooperative, and I was so enamored with the amazing sights, I ended up doing Rachel Lake, the Rampart Lakes, and Alta Mountain all in the same day. The trail guides advise doing this as an overnighter, but having day-hiked it, I suppose I can speak to the advantages and disadvantages of doing it all in a single go.

PRO

No need to lug a full pack up - or down - the trail to Rachel Lake, which besides being steep is a tangled mess of roots, rocks, and creek crossings. At least it's shaded, and none of the creeks are deep. Trekking poles recommended unless you have titanium knees.

CON

It's a lot of walking - I estimate 14 miles with 3500' of elevation change - but then summer days in the Northwest are so gloriously long it's like having two days in one. You're limited in how much time you have to linger in any one site, and of course you'll miss the evening alpenglow or the morning sunrise.

I arrived at 8 a.m. on a Saturday; the upper parking lot was full, but there were plenty of spaces in the lower lot. A few tiny patches of snow along Rampart Ridge were not a hazard and will likely vanish with another week of this heat. Mosquitoes at Rachel Lake and above were horrendous; don't skip the repellent and do your best to keep moving. The Rampart Lakes don't really have a single defined trail. It's Choose Your Own Adventure land, but as long as you head towards the massive ridge dominating the southwest, you'll eventually arrive at the furthermost lakes. The ridgeline ascending Alta Mountain was a blast, and a series of false summits / secondary peaks provides you the repeated pleasure of thinking you're nearly at the top. Exposure was not an issue, but someone with a fear of heights might experience vertigo in a few spots.

Hiked Friday 7/22, arrived at trailhead 1:30 pm and only a few spots left. Road in excellent condition.

Trail is deceivingly easy at first. Our destination was Rachel, and the first 75% is near flat and easy. When the trail starts to head up, it becomes near-impossible to find. Download the offline navigation, it’s a life-saver! A lot of the trail follows the waterfalls (you are literally hiking in them) per other trip reports and descriptions. Super fun but challenging and tough to find. The lake is gorgeous. Unfortunately started a bit too late in the day to stay long. Also, the mosquitoes are fierce (got stung THROUGH my clothes). Recommend poles for help in the water and with the roots, also waterproof boots.