Only dropping a review because the last review of Rachel Lake is discouraging as hell. I'm wondering how can someone drop such an acrimonious review for a hike and lake so beautifully stunning? That review had almost stopped me from going but I'm glad I still went. Here's a review to make sure more people access this amazing place!
First things first - yes, it is a difficult hike. I'm in good shape, am tall, but even then the last 1.5 mile up to Rachel Lake exhausted me. However, I saw people of all ethnicities, shapes, sizes, ages make the hike up - which should tell you a lot :) As long as you have endurance and can pace yourself well, you should be able to do it. However, if you have medical issues - avoid.
I went on 3rd August, Saturday. Reached the trailhead around 8:15 am and found parking adjacent to the main lot in the overflow lot. The last 3-4 miles of gravel road was definitely a bit rough but nothing so grave that a sedan may not be able to handle. Please note the trailhead and parking lot are much further than where AllTrails will take you. The hike was mostly quiet, and I may have passed about 7-8 other parties in total on the way to Rachel Lake. While coming back down, I saw many more folks. I also noticed cars parked way outside the parking area, so people tend to come closer to late morning or noon. Come early to avoid!
The last 1.5 mile before Rachel Lake gets very tiring very fast, with about 1000 ft of elevation gain. Stunning turquoise water! I swam at the lake and had a great time. The water was chilly but felt good after that last stretch. I was also lucky to encounter some amazingly friendly hikers in and around the lake today. Despite it being so tough, almost everyone I came across was in a jovial mood, talking to each other and helping take pictures etc.
Then I headed up to the Rampart Lake which was way quieter in comparison. The view of Rachel Lake as you hike up to Rampart is gorgeous. As the sun came out and it got hotter during the afternoon, I could see bugs buzzing around but they didn't trouble me too much.
I'd say your bug spray should be enough - nothing much to worry about. Carry bug spray, change of clothes if you'd like to swim, and lots of water. AllTrails shows 8.9 until Rampart but my total distance was closer to 11 miles. Be prepared, and please download the offline maps and keep looking at it so you don't go astray. Enjoy!
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