We car camped up by gale creek and found this little lake just looking around on our map. The trail itself is really short only about 1.2 miles round trip, but there is a big washout that will be impassable for most vehicles (road 4948-120) and if you parked at the beginning of it you'd make it 3 miles round trip. Directions from Lake Kachess Campground: follow the sign towards "Rachel Lake" up box canyon rd 4930 but at the first fork go left (instead of right, where most go) on Gale Creek road 4948. Follow this main road avoiding all odd side roads for 3.5 miles to a another fork. This time the main road looks to go left but swan lake is up the rough looking right fork. You can park here unless you've got a pickup or a jeep. walk up the road to a wide spot, which may or may not have parked cars. On the left is an old brown forest service marker which marks the beginning of the trail. This trail definitely used to be a road and has been converted, but it can be pretty brushy and there are lots of berms to discourage motorcylces I'm guessing. The lake itself is marshy but a nice alternative to Margaret Lake which is right in this same area. There are a few nice rocky points that can be seen from the lake. My friend Andrew carried his oru kayak up there for a quick paddle.

This trail is also very popular, so be prepared to be taking your mask off and putting it on frequently.  There are parts where the trail is too narrow to maintain 6’ of distance while passing.  Thank you to everyone who wore a mask.  (I would say, 95% of the people we saw were wearing masks.)

I was expecting this to be an easy first season backpacking hike.  Our original plan was to go up to Rampart Lakes; we stopped at Rachel Lake.  This was a really hard hike.  It was our first backpacking trip of the season and I wouldn’t recommend starting with this hike.  That being said the hike itself is gorgeous with lots of waterfalls.  Rachel Lake is very pretty with lots of camping spots and a backcountry toile.  (Please use the backcountry toilet at the lake.)   The last 1 mile is where most of the vertical is.   This vertical is challenging because it is uneven ground with tree roots, and rocks, so you have to watch your step.  There is lots of water on the trail and at parts it is hard to figure out where the trail is.  At Rachel Lake there are still a few random patches of snow.  I would do this hike again, just not as my first backpacking trip of the season.  Hopefully next time I will make it to Rampart Lakes.

Two wolverines and lots of people...Started early on a nice Saturday, woke at 4am to see comet NEOWISE, arrived at trailhead at 6:30am, about 15 cars in the lot, mostly overnighters.  We were one of the first up the trail that morning, only saw about 5 people coming down during our way up. 

As other trip reports describe, this trail has lots of steep step-ups over rocks and roots during the last ~1 mile of rapid elevation gain, with the trail often still doubling as a running creek.  Moderately difficult.  Many short creek passages but nothing too hard or get too wet.  

Took the nice spot on the rocks at the top and made hot lunch at about 11am.  With my binoculars I looked directly across the lake and saw a creature scurrying along a last snow patch.  Another joined and watched the two climbing around rocks for about 10 minutes.  Later figured out that these were wolverines which are making a comeback in WA.  

On the way down...wow.  We counted over 250 people coming up the trail!  Quite crazy though most all were wearing masks.  If you head out on the weekend, good to get there early for some morning solitude and then prepare for a crowd on your way back.  

This is a wonderful hike that will challenge your legs with climbing through rough terrain but will reward you amazing views, a gorgeous waterfall and a beautiful and friendly lake. 

First of all, as you begin your drive on the dirt road, about 0.5 miles in, you will come to a Y-junction - stay to the right. There are no signs at the junction but Rachel lake is to the right. Just in case.

This is a hike that will test your hiking shoes - lots and lots of water so wear really good shoes and bring dry socks, perhaps more than one pair. As you have read on all the other reports, very often the creek IS the trail. 

Everyone has their preferences but walking sticks will come in handy on this one.

The adventures begin once you cross the Box Canyon Creek. You will be climbing through fairly steep, rocky, muddy and wet trail. After about 45 minutes of this you will get to a beautiful waterfall. At this point you are about half-way up to the lake. 

During your hike up to the waterfall you will be tempted by many "false trails" - keep an eye for stacks of branches left by good people. They intend to say - wrong way. You can't really get badly lost but don't try.

After the waterfall, if you can't find the trail - the creek is the trail. You will be going through quite a bit of water. Thankfully, you are still mostly in the shade and some amazing views start to pop up.

The lake is gorgeous. There is a trout or two jumping and a college kid or two on a floaty (not jumping). 

Follow the trail around the lake and look for a couple of lookout spots that reveal beautiful views of the valley below and the peaks around.

We were there at 9:30 am on a Friday and saw about 20 cars in the lot. Half were likely campers from the night before. As we came back around 3:30 we found the lot with about 30 cars in it - most seemed to be headed for an overnight camping. There are many spots around the lake.

Masks were maybe 50/50 but people were friendly and nice about it. Dogs are galore but not an annoyance of any kind - at least not for us.

We arrived around noon on a lovely Friday; the parking lots were about 3/4 full.  The first 2.7 miles or so are pretty easy going, gaining about 500 ft.  It's a bit steep at first before hitting a lovely meadow where the trail flattens out.  At end of the meadow (mile 2.7) the trail steepens dramatically and the climbing doesn't stop until you hit the lake.  You gain about 1400 feet in less that 2 miles; the grade is 20% in places, with lots of rocks, root ladders and walking in the creek.   Trekking poles help a lot and really save your knees on the descent.   The steep section is mostly in deep shade and never far from water (and sometimes in it).   At one point the trail crosses the creek just below a lovely waterfall.    Rachel Lake is beautiful and some people were swimming.  If you have time, it's worth continuing past the lake up to Rampart Ridge, gaining another 600 feet or so.  This trail is in much better shape than the steep section up to Rachel Lake.

Note that this hike is very popular.  It was very busy on a Friday; aim for mid-week if you can.  If you go on a weekend, try to get an early start to beat the crowds.