The views on this hike warrant a five star review for sure! Loads of waterfalls, mountains, and of…read morecourse trees and flowers to see on this route up to Rachel Lake. The problem? Not a clear trail at all. My hiking group and I found ourselves asking, "Is this trail?", numerous times on this extremely strenuous seemingly endless uphill trek to the lake. Now, granted, some of our group was in better shape than others and managed the physicality of the trail better than others but still we all agreed it was extremely hard. First you drive up a gravel road approximately 6 miles to get to the parking lot. One bathroom is available there which wasn't too gross. Once you enter the trail it starts heading up. And up and up and up. It is seemingly endless. I believe it about 4 plus miles up. The trail starts out fairly marked and easy to follow. Then it doesn't. Unfortunately I got separated from my group for a good portion of this hike due to my attempt to stay with the "faster" ladies, lol. I just kept going up. Thank goodness a few other people passed me to let me know I was on the right track. No trail at all really for a good portion and I merely followed a dry creek trail. Extremely rocky and loads of bushwhacking. I had to stop every five to ten feet to catch my breath. The steepness reminded me of a hike in Big Sur called Garrapata which after I competed that one I said I would never do again, lol. Now to the good parts of the hike. Gorgeous scenery beyond words! Loads of amazing waterfalls as you are following a creek flowing from a lake high above. The lake was outstandingly beautiful. I took a quick dip in the icy water at the top! Quickly it changed my outlook on the hike and cooled me off. Will I do it again? Maybe, but next time. I will bring more snacks for the hike that give me energy. I will start out slower and take more frequent deliberate breaks. And please please don't forget your mosquito repellent! Also, long pants as a large portion of this hike you go through tall grasses and overgrowth. I consider myself an experienced hiker when I was in CA, but here in WA, I am a beginner for sure. Stay hydrated and go at your own pace. This is worth it at least once. SYOY and No FOMO for me here! Lol.

Lake Rachel is a great hike if you're looking for a beautiful end view and lots of fun sights along…read morethe way. Unfortunately, the trail is not marked well and we went off path and up towards different falls a couple times but going off trail was worth it for the extra couple views we saw! Be prepared to get your feet wet and be careful climbing over the slippery rocks.

My friend and I had so much fun walking around Blackbird Island (Waterfront Park)! It's such a…read morebeautiful little park with amazing views and a river running through it. We learned that the main loop trail there is about 1.9 miles round-trip. As you cross the bridge onto the island, trails crisscross through a peaceful, natural area with interpretive signs, and you get to hear birds calling and see fish jumping in the water. Fun fact: Blackbird Island was formed from silt left by the old Lamb-Davis Lumber Mill, making it part of the reclaimed land that now hosts this lovely park. It's a great place to stretch your legs, get fresh air, enjoy nature, and just take in the views. I highly recommend stopping here if you're in Leavenworth!

Came in March and aalll the trees were leaf-less along the trail, however it was still a pretty…read morewalk along the water. It balanced out all the eating (and/or drinking) that is done in town!

Gorgeous views of unique rock formations, the Enchantment Mountains and town of Cashmere. Make sure…read moreto go counterclockwise and it is easier easiest to return the same route for an out and back. We did the complete loop however coming down was extremely steep and unsafe at some areas due to slides. Not ideal for kids due to very steep trail trails and unsecure ground. We also noticed several ticks along the way. Keep your eyes out for marmots too. Enter through the cute garden gate just past the restrooms. Be sure you already have a WA State Discovery Pass since there's no pay machine.

What Peshastin Pinnacles State Park lacks in total hiking trail length it makes up in vertical gain…read moreardor. Views from the top of the pinnacles on a clear sunny day are absolutely stunning and the climb adds a bit of physical satisfaction in working up a slight sweat to reach the vista points. A helicopter pad is located closer to the parking lot/entrance, guessing in part in case of an emergency be it a snake bite, rock climber fall, or hiker tumble. It is a great place for a short, difficult hike. However, ropes and other rock climbing supplies strewn across the trail can detract from the overall experience. During the summer of 2021 the park was closed due to extreme fire risk. Fortunately this was communicated both on the website and at the driving entrance.

I am in love the the Lake Ingalls hike! My friend and I arrived at the trailhead Sunday morning…read morejust before 8 a.m. and already counted 120 cars at the trailhead. We parked about 0.3 miles from the trailhead. Cars lined both sides of the narrow road, despite a sign indicating for folks to only park on one side. There were some very questionable parking jobs on edges and cliffs. There was a small line waiting for the one toilet, which was not stocked with toilet paper (don't forget to bring your own + hand sanitizer). There were a couple surprises I had after reading other trip reports. The first one was that the road up to the trailhead was not bad at all. Sure, it was a little bumpy and there were a few potholes to watch out for, but it was seriously nothing compared to other trailheads I've been on. A sedan can easily make it up to the top with no problem. The second thing I found different than the trip reports was the level of difficulty. WTA rates this hike as expert, and I thought it was nowhere near expert. It really was a nice gradual incline with some rock scrambling at the top. Plus, there's beautiful sights to see the entire way up, so it was very pleasant. The trail was packed, but once my friend and I started hiking, we slowly spaced out from the others. Everyone we encountered was super kind and courteous. The only downside we had from the people was that this is a trail that does not allow dogs, and there were several we encountered (including one off leash who ran up to my friend and was a little nippy). There was also fresh dog poop right on the trail an owner had left behind. The lake at the top wasn't too busy. There were plenty of spots to sit to grab a bite to eat and admire the view. After the initial descent from the lake where there's a lot of rock scrambling and questioning if you're still on the trail (there's multiple ways up through the rocks, so just keep going and look for cairns), it's a steady decline that's easy on the knees. I will definitely be back!

This is about a 10 mile total hike. I'm not a very experienced hiker, so it too me a while to get…read moreup there. My boyfriend and I camped up at the top too. Up to the top, it's quite easy as in the trail and the incline should be fine if you have hiked a lot. At some point up the trail, it gets a little narrow and steep way down if you're not careful. Bless my boyfriend for carrying my camping bag too. At the top, there's a camp ground. It's near a river if you want to get water. There's also a toilet! It's a wooden box and it's a great view to take a dump at. From the campsite, it's about 1 mile to the lake at the top. There are cairn stacks along the way to reach the lake. Without following it, I'm sure you can still find it, but with it, it shows you an easy route to climb. The lake itself is very clear and very cold! I went in August and there was still some snow! There are also mountain goats! I found the best time to see them is in the morning. They come near the camp site too! I heard a baby mountain goat crying for it's mom too. It was so cool seeing them so close! You can see where they have even around since their fur gets caught on the branches.

Used this to get from Snow Lakes Trailhead to Colchuck Lakes Trailhead…read more Well worth it! They were running a little behind, but got us there in 20 minutes. The road to the trailhead can be bumpy and their vans power through. Not to mention on an August Saturday, the parking at Colchuck Lake will be full by 430, so having someone drop you off is helpful. The drivers were friendly, fun and gave good tips on conditions and the hike. FYI - parking at the Snow Lakes lot at 450 on a Saturday was full and had to park on the road.

Incredible service - they were timely, succinct, and dependable. I would recommend anyone…read moreday-hiking the Enchantments to use this shuttle service!

We have passed by this amazing place so many times, and finally stopped to check it out. It is a…read morevery easy hike through the area, suitable for all ages. The scenery is breathtaking! Highly recommend.

Deception Falls was our first hike on the Western side of the Cascade Mountains. It was barely…read moreover the ridge, but it was easy to see the contrast between the Eastern and Western sides. The Eastern side was noticeably drier, although not dry by normal standards. I would call it normal rather than dry. The Western side had moss on the trees, lichen hanging from the branches and ferns covering the forest floor. Deception Falls was the perfect place to experience it. Even the trail was soft to the touch, decades of rotting wood replenishing the soil under foot. It was a striking experience to walk on the Deception Falls trail. My wife and I both had the feeling that we were walking in a fantasy land. The trees were a new variety and covered in moss, the waters were crystal clear, and the sunlight shown through it all to accentuate the colors. I think we saw the area at the perfect time of year. If it was overcast, cold, or rainy, we would not have had the same experience. Also, the river seemed to be at full strength, forcefully pounding and shaping the rock at each section of the falls. Looking at other pictures of the river from October, the river levels fluctuate dramatically. Our falls experience would've been different if the river was a trickle rather than a torrent. I didn't see any fish in the river when we were there. A nearby sign indicated that the cold, ultra clean waters did not provide favorable conditions or sufficient food for anything other than small fish. I don't know too much about fish in northwest at this time, but it would surprise me if fish could swim up this river. If there were any fish at Deception Falls, they were stuck between the rapids, living in a calendar year that changes from high water to low water. That doesn't seem like ideal conditions for large fish. There was a bridge near the end of the trail that spanned the most forceful section of the rapids. It was a fitting climax, a moment of triumph and emotion, at the end of the trail. Standing in the center of the bridge is adrenaline inducing. Spray from the rapids hits you along with the thunderous noise of water crashing against rock. You know that the bridge will hold you yet there is a lingering thought in the back of your mind praying for the bridge to stay strong. Continuing forward, a short walk under the bridge provides more views of the water crashing down from above and more opportunities to stand in the mist.

Great views! Started around 9 AM on a Saturday and wasn't too too crowded. Definitely started…read moreseeing more people on the way down though. I also slipped on my butt like two steps away from the trailhead :( Parking lot pretty big but I believe it fills quick. The trail gets quite narrow in some spots. Hiking shoes and poles recommended!

Gorgeous place! We were able to go snowshoeing for free! Plenty of parking on the side of the road…read more Highly recommend bringing hiking poles since it's super icy this season!

It's not the landscape, the wildlife, the trails or the views. It's the people. Most are…read moreperfectly fine and are out there to camp, hike, and fish for the sake of the activities. However, there is a percentage that is there because it's free and remote while still being accessible to a town where they can get their drug of choice. You'll recognize them by the ancient, filthy, motorhomes. My son was hiking with his girlfriend when they were approached by one of these "campers" who asked if they had any fentanyl to sell! Wow! Is there no where to escape this scrounge? Anywhere?

Mileage: estimated about 10 miles total (2 miles to where we set up our tents, then we hiked a loop…read moreof about 6 miles, then 2 miles back to the car the next day) Backpacked: April 16-17, 2016 This past weekend a group of us did an overnight backpack trek to Ancient Lakes. 3 first timers backpacking and it turned out to be an awesome trip! We had some problems trying to find directions out to the place, so here's directions from my personal experience. Directions: we stayed in Quincy the night before, so we took the 28 to Whitetail Road. Made a left on Whitetail from the 28, then a right on road 9 NW. follow road 9 NW and it turns into Ancient Lakes Rd NW. At the end of the road, you'll find the west parking lot. I am not sure how to get to the east parking lot. There's a lot of parking here, when we got there by 11 am, it was really crowded but we still found a spot. (When you are on Whitetail Rd, it might look like you are just driving through farms, but buried in there, there's Ancient Lakes!) There is a port-o-potty at the trail head on the west side. Trail head: is well marked, we hiked in about 2 miles and got to the lakes and the rolling grass area where you can set up tent where ever. There are some man made fire rings scattered through out the area. Hiking: After we picked a spot and set up camp, we hiked a loop around the lakes. We started towards the waterfall. It was a scramble up the side of the waterfall, like a class 4 rock scramble lol. Loose rocks, loose footing. From there, we went pass that waterfall and onto the backside where the east parking lot is. Which there's another waterfall there, and there's also camp spots there too. We looped around, it wasn't too hard. We estimated this part of the hike to be around 6 miles round trip back to our tents. Lots of people camping, we counted about 50 tents, then you estimate about 2/per tent, so like 100 people were out here! But you still are able to find solitude. We came across 3 snakes, an owl, and a marmot. Easy trek, not very hilly at all. Good for first time backpackers. The area can be explored in a day. I found this site useful: https://www.theoutbound.com/washington/backpacking/ancient-lakes-day-hike-or-backpack

This is an amazing lake in the National Forest near Leavenworth Washington. You have to take a 9…read moremile trail out and back, but it's worth the view if you're physically able.

Colchuck Lake has been on my list for YEARS and one I definitely considered a bucket list trail. I…read morefinally got the chance to do it this past weekend and it was 100% warranted as as bucket list destination. Doing some research before the hike we learned that the parking lot is pretty much full before 7am. We reached there by around 6:45am and it was entirely full and people were parking down the road. We were even as far as at least half a mile away from the actual trailhead when we actually parked, but luckily the walk is pretty flat. The beginning of the trailhead has a bathroom that will have a lengthy line in the morning, and it is gross. Just be prepared! In total, we clocked almost 9 miles round trip and it took us just shy of 7 hours. That said, we did spend about an hour at the top to take in all of the views and the experience as a whole. I knew this trail would be challenging and I'd say it was probably the second hardest I've ever done (maybe the third), with the first being Mailbox Peak. There are some incredibly tough stretches with steep rock stairs and areas where it feels like you're scrambling a ton. There are moderate breaks where the trail flattens, but it's pretty challenging the entire length of the hike. The end point, the actual lake, is entirely worth the pain and "I don't know if I can do this" moments along the way. Absolutely STUNNING. Probably the most unreal colored water I've ever seen with the shade of blue that it was. The mountains encompassing the lake look fake - literally like AI in real life or something. Truly is a great spot to find a nice rock to sit and relax to enjoy lunch and reenergize for the trek down the trail. After hitting the bottom, it was a loooong walk back to the car with us being so wiped. Much to our disappoint we also discovered that ALL of the cars parked along the road received $100 tickets from the Chelan PD, despite there being no signs that said we couldn't park along the road (just on the bridge, which we weren't on). Overall Colchuck Lake was worth the wait and I'm so glad to have seen it finally - I just don't think I'll ever do it again LOL.