Trail Guide

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Rampart Ridge Explorations
(The Alpine Lakes)


H. Grigel
Hike the 4.5 miles to Rachel Lake as described in the Rachel Lake trail description. From the lake, follow the main trail west above the lake (don't follow the trail around the lakeshore itself). After crossing a small meadow or two the trail begins switchbacking steeply up the hillside west of Rachel Lake, climbing about 500' in 1/2 mile with great views of the lake on the way up. At the half mile mark the trail tops out on the ridge amid smaller alpine trees and blueberry bushes and reaches a "T" intersection. The left branch of the "T" traverse across the ridge, with minor ups and downs, about another 1/2 mile to a basin. Be prepared to be overcome with delight as you come across one little lake after another, all nestled in small rocky cirques under the east wall of Rampart ridge. These are the Rampart lakes, high and alpine, with good campsites scattered about. Much time can be spent exploring the basin and discovering all kinds of neat spots. If you have time and energy to spare, coninue around the last and biggest lake and scramble the meadowy ridge to its summit, with broad views of the Snoqualmie Pass area, including the vast gulf of the Gold Creek valley just to the west. Another alternative is to take the right branch of the "T" towards Lila lake and Alta Mountain. This trail proceeds with minor ups and downs about 1/4 mile to another trail junction, which is easy to miss if you are not paying attention. The junction occurs just as the trail begins to round the east side of the first big hump of Alta mountain. Continuing straight will lead you to Lila lake and its complement of small alpine ponds, with a view out to Hibox mountain and down Box Creek from whence you came. If you take the somewhat hidden left fork of the trail, it will lead you around to the south side of the first big hump of Alta Mountain and begin steeply climbing the south face. Take note that the top of this first hump is nowhere near the top of Alta Mountain, and when you get to the top and see the next summit? That ain't it either. In all there are probably four false summits along the ridge before reaching the true peak of Alta at 6400'. The ridge trail disappears after a while, replaced by a climbers path interconnecting som easy rock scrambling (class 2) with moderate exposure in places. The summit of Alta is the supreme experience of Rampart Ridge, with 360 deg views of peaks and looks down to Lila lake and back to the Ramparts and Rainier on the horizon. The trail to Lila lake actually continues as a way route past the lakes, under the east face of Alta, then along Box Ridge before finally topping the ridge and dropping into the Park Lakes basin, eventually connecting to the PCT on the south shoulder of Chikamin Ridge, allowing for a long 2-3 day semi-loop from Kachess Lake to Snoqualmie Pass.
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Driving Directions:
Drive I-90 to the Stampede Pass/Lake Kachess exit 62 12.5 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass. Turn north and drive 5 miles to the Lake Kachess CG, then turn left for 4 mi on Box Canyon Road #4930, then left for again for .2 mi to TH. Trailpark Pass required.
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Statistics
Distance: 11 mi r/t
Time: 6-8h r/t
Elevation Gain in: 2100 ft
Elevation Gain out: 0 ft
Trailhead Elevation: 2800 ft
Maximum Elevation: 6400 ft
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Trails (Click for reports)
RACHEL LK #1313

Suggested Seasons
Summer
Fall
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Users
Hikers
Climbers
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Author's Ratings
Usage: Heavy
Difficulty: More Difficult
Rating: Best!
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Attractions
Basins
Campsites
Lakes
Meadow
Ridge
River
Summit
Views
Falls
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Maps & Books
USGS Snoqualmie Pass
Green Trails Snoqualmie Pass
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Many of the above books and
maps are available through our
Online Store

Written by
Marmot
Oct 23, 1997

Trailhead Location is Latitude 47:24.05 N by Longitude 121:17.05 W [edit]

Note: positions are PDA (pretty-damn-approximate)
CRGNSA - Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, CNF - Colville National Forest, GPNF - Gifford-Pinchot National Forest, MBSNF - Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, MRNP - Mount Rainier National Park, MSHNVM - Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument, NCNP - North Cascades National Park, ONF - Olympic National Forest, ONP - Olympic National Park, WNF - Wenatchee National Forest, UNF - Umatilla National Forest