A Hidden Gem in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness

This rugged high route offers sweeping views and rare solitude just 75 miles from Seattle

Rocky mountains with snow patches surround a clear alpine lake under a blue sky with wispy clouds.

Snow and still water along Washington’s Alpine Lakes High Route.

Photo by David Gladish

As I traversed a steep trail, five long hours after I started, I began to feel a bit lonely.

I hadn’t seen anyone for several miles, and the heat of the day was making my brain foggy. Then, around the corner, a hardy family of five—including three young kids—appeared, traipsing along like mountain goats, seemingly in their element. After exchanging pleasantries, I continued, feeling lighter and uplifted after a little human interaction.

The Alpine Lakes High Route is a 28.2-mile loop in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Skykomish, off Highway 2. The hike goes from the West Fork Foss trailhead to the East Fork Foss trailhead, or vice versa, with either a 2.5-mile car shuttle or a hike on the road connecting the trailheads. The route travels through the Necklace Valley, named for the string of pristine alpine lakes dotting the wilderness like teardrops on a beautiful piece of jewelry.

Tank Lakes, at 5,800 feet, is a highlight, with spectacular views of the Overcoat Glacier streaming down from Chimney Rock, just a stone’s throw from Snoqualmie Pass.

Person wearing a red hat and reflective sunglasses smiles in front of snow-capped mountains and evergreen trees on a sunny day.

Snow-capped mountain peaks rise above a forest of evergreen trees under a clear blue sky.

The hike is rugged at times, traversing boulder fields without a marked trail, and requires strong navigational skills, but the payoff is solitude. Many consider the Enchantments, just outside of Leavenworth, to be Washington’s finest mountain playground, for good reason. The Alpine Lakes High Route shares many of the same attributes—stunning vistas, strings of lakes, and high mountains—but without the crowds or the need for an overnight permit.

I chose to do the route in a single day, part of my training for a 100-mile trail running race, but this route is a perfect multi-day backpacking trip thanks to the plentiful water sources along the way. When I did the hike in early July, there were a few patches of snow to cross, adding an element of mountaineering adventure. Throughout the day, I longed to dive into the frigid, crystal-clear lakes, but pushed on instead.

In the early morning, I passed sleeping campers, happy dogs, and plants covered in morning dew. By mid-morning, a few hikers were on their way out, but I mostly had the trails to myself. How is this possible, I kept thinking, that there aren’t more people in such a beautiful place?

With over 8,000 feet of elevation gain, fitness is certainly required, but not a heroic amount. Mosquitoes can be an issue, using GPS is practically a must, and rescue is far away—all part of the allure. Just 75 miles from Seattle, the trail feels extremely remote. It’s full of wildflowers, marmots, fields of granite, and splendorous views. Yet there I was, by myself, meditating on how lucky I was to be in such a beautiful place, so close to home, without a soul in sight.