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Central Alpine Lakes Loop (Backpacking)

Cle Elum Washington Hikes

Overall Member Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5 out of 5 stars5 out of 5 stars5 out of 5 stars5 out of 5 stars (2 Member Reviews)
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Central Alpine Lakes Loop (Backpacking) - Cle Elum Washington Hikes

The 75-mile stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail between Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass is a very popular backpack trip, and it deserves to be. The route is supremely scenic with countless viewpoints, beautiful forests, acres of huckleberries, rugged mountains, and several gorgeous lakes. The entire trip is rather strenuous, however, and it requires either a lengthy car shuttle or careful timing to meet the buses that service both ends. These arrangements are a bit cumbersome, so I recommend doing a loop trip instead. This not only solves the transportation problem but also allows you to sample some of the trail’s best miles without having to work as hard as you would with the full trip. Finally, since you won’t have the mindset of having to get from Point Ato Point B in time to meet the bus, you can set a more leisurely pace and take the time to do several spectacular side trips to some of the most beautiful places in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

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Published by Wilderness Press. All Rights Reserved.

Trail Statistics & Information
Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Cle Elum
Length: 35 total miles
Elevation Gain: 4,600 feet
Trail Type: Loop
Skill Level: Difficult
Duration: 3-4 days
Season: Usually open Mid-July to October; best late July to early August
Trailhead Elevation: 2,800 feet
Local Contacts: Cle Elum Ranger District
Local Maps: USFS - Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Topo Map: Central Alpine Lakes Loop (Backpacking) Topographic Map
Guide Book: Backpacking Washington Guide Book
Driving Directions: View Guide
Trail Directions: View Guide
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Recent Trail Reviews

shawn Rating:
Date of Trip: 6/25/2007
0 Props
Waptus river bridge by spinola creek is out, though it can be forded at dep…
Rating:
Date of Trip: 9/15/2001
0 Props
This stretch of trail is nothing less than spectacular. Friends that have…

Weather Conditions

  1. Today
    Mostly cloudy. Scattered snow showers in the morning... Then rain likely in the afternoon. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. Highs 37 to 47. West wind 5 to 10 mph in the morning becoming light. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

  2. Tonight
    Snow and rain. Snow accumulation 2 to 5 inches. Snow level 2500 feet. Lows 29 to 34. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

  3. Sunday
    Mostly cloudy. Showers and snow showers likely in the morning...then a chance of showers and snow showers in the afternoon. Breezy. Snow accumulation 2 to 4 inches. Total snow accumulation 4 to 9 inches. Snow level 2000 feet. Highs 36 to 46. South wind 5 to 15 mph increasing to west 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

  4. Sunday Night
    Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Breezy. Lows 24 to 29. West wind 15 to 25 mph decreasing to 5 to 15 mph overnight.

About This Trail Guide

Backpacking Washington
Backpacking Washington

by Douglas Lorain (Wilderness Press)

Backpacking Washington details the premier backpacking opportunities across the Evergreen State. Eac…

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