The Enchanting Alpine Lakes Wilderness

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a large wilderness area spanning the Cascade Range of Washington state in the United States. The Wilderness is located in parts of Wenatchee National Forest and Snoqualmie National Forest, and is approximately bounded by Interstate 90 and Snoqualmie Pass to the south and U.S. Route 2 and Stevens Pass to the north. The Alpine Lakes is the largest wilderness area near the population centers of Puget Sound, at approximately 390,000 acres (1,600 km²)

Page Type: Area/Range

Location: Washington, United States, North America

Lat/Lon: 47.56556°N / 121.17833°W

Activities: Hiking, Mountaineering, Trad Climbing, Sport Climbing, Bouldering, Mixed, Scrambling

Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Elevation: 9415 ft / 2870 m

Enchantment Lake

Sprite Lake

Dragontail ridge

Prusik Peak

Jewel Lake

Crystal Lake

Inspiration Lake

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness got its name from the 700+ mountain lakes found amongst the majestic rocky peaks and densely forested hillsides of the central Cascades. The official Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area was created by Congress in 1976 via the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Act as an effort to protect the region in its natural form. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is approximately 394,000 acres. There are currently 47 official trailheads and 615 miles of backcountry trails within the wilderness area.

In 2009, legislation would be reintroduced to expand the western side of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness by over 22,000 acres, as well as grant the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and Pratt River each "National Wild and Scenic River" status. 

Cascade Mountain

Bald Eagle Peak and Silver Eagle Peak

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness has over 22 notable mountains, ranges and peaks. They are split up into 5 different sections of the wilderness area including:

Guye Peak

Snoqualmie peaks

• Chair Peak — 6,238 ft (1,901 m)
• Guye Peak — 5,168 feet (1,575 m)
• Snoqualmie Mountain — 6,278 ft (1,914 m)
• Lundin Peak
• Red Mountain
• Kendall Peak — 5,784.03 ft (1,763 m)
• Mount Thomson — 6,554 ft (1,998 m)

 

Dutch Miller Gap peaks

• Chikamin Peak — 6,960 ft (2,121 m)
• Lemah Mountain — 7,480 ft (2,280 m)
• Chimney Rock — 7,721 ft (2,353 m)
• Overcoat Peak — 7,432 ft (2,265 m)
• Summit Chief Mountain — 7,464 ft (2,275 m)
• Mount Hinman — 7,492 ft (2,284 m)



Mount Daniel

• Mount Daniel — 7,899 ft (2,408 m)

Wenatchee Mountains 

 


• Cashmere Mountain — 8,501 ft (2,591 m)
• Eightmile Mountain — 7,996 ft (2,437 m)

Chiwaukum Mountains

• Big Chiwaukum — 8,081 ft (2,463 m)
• Snowgrass Mountain — 7,993 ft (2,436 m)

Stuart Range

• Mount Stuart — 9,415 ft (2,870 m)
• Argonaut Peak — 8,453 ft (2,576 m)
• Dragontail Peak — 8,840 ft (2,694 m)
• The Enchantments