Colchuck Lake Hike is an awesome love/hate type of trail but worth it!

If you are traveling the Olympic Scenic Loop you need to take a day to do the Colchuck Lake Hike.

The Colchuck Lake hike is located about 30 minutes outside the very interesting town of Leavenworth, Washington. If you are visiting the town of Leavenworth, you need to spend a day hiking to see Colchuck Lake. The views are beyond stunning.

The Stats

AllTrails says this hike is 8.7 miles with about 2300 feet of elevation and it’s rated hard. My watch said that AllTrails lies about all but the hard part. Haha! It’s not anywhere near the hardest hike I’ve ever done but it’s definitely a workout. If you want to read about one of my top 5 hardest hikes just click here. I don’t think the trail is that difficult and was in really good shape. But the elevation is a lot.

This hike is totally doable though for just about anyone. We spent some time talking with a couple we passed on the trail who did not look like experienced hikers at all and who did not appear to be in good shape. We passed by after visiting and made our way to the top. On our way back down, we passed them a mile from the top. Slow and steady wins the race and they were almost there. I was proud of this couple I had just met. Check out the AllTrail reviews here.

Details on getting there

We used the map section of the AllTrails app to get to the Colchuck Lake hike trailhead. Make sure to download the trail map before leaving town while you have service. It’s about 30 minutes from Leavenworth. Follow the directions and keep in mind that the last section of the drive is a fairly steep gravel road. We took a Toyota Corolla which we had rented and didn’t have any trouble. Just drive slowly and check the road out to make sure it’s in good shape.

This hike is very popular. There is a lot of parking at the trailhead BUT there are several trails that leave from here including backpacking trails. Some of the parking is set aside for those on multi day packing trips. If you are hiking here on the weekend you want to be to the trailhead between 6-7 a.m. We went during a weekday and made it to the parking lot at 8:30 and had to park down the road from the trailhead. There is parking on the side of the road but it’s just adding more to your hike. And you will be sharing the trail and the lake with more people.

You will need a Northwest Forest Pass to hike here. You can buy the $5 at the trailhead or in advance at REI. The America the Beautiful pass will also work here. This pass is such a good deal because it covers so many parks and lands. You can purchase this pass for $80 and it’s good for a year. If you are a traveler and plan to visit at least 3 National Parks in a year or do lots of small hikes like the Colchuck Lake hike it’s a great deal. Click here to read more about this pass and to purchase.

Before heading out

Before you hit the trail don’t forget the basics: Sunscreen, water, snacks, lunch, map, etc. You will want to have a lunch for the top especially if you want to spend the day. It’s a marvelous lake and you will want to enjoy your time at the top. There is a potty at the trail head and there is also one halfway up just off the trail with some really great views. There are also two around the lake. When we started out it was quite chilly, but it didn’t last long. Maybe layer up and stick extras in your backpack as you need to lose them. Dogs are not allowed on this hike so leave your furry friends at home.

The Trail

This trail is in good shape and easy to follow. You will gain about 600 feet of elevation per mile average. The first half of the trail follows Mountaineer Creek and is the easy part of the trail. The second half is a lot steeper, rockier and much more strenuous. It really does seem like two different trails.

About 1 1/2 miles in your will come to a charming little bridge over Mountaineer Creek. Make sure you stop, take a breath, and enjoy a view. Take a few pictures and maybe have a snack. The views are gorgeous, and the creek sounds wonderful. The Colchuck Lake hike has several really cool bridges, and I am definitely a sucker for bridges on hikes.

After crossing this first bridge you will continue your Colchuck Lake hike through another .75 miles of basic hiking in the forest with increasing elevation before you come to a sign where the trail divides. Stay to the left to continue to Colchuck Lake. After another half mile or so you come to the next bridge. This leaning bridge looks a bit like someone built it while drunk BUT it appeared pretty sturdy as we crossed it. Take another look around, snack and drink break and take a big breath cause the trail is about to change.

The second part of the trail

So, after the second bridge the trail really kicks in. You will go through a nice boulder field and then the elevation! You will be gaining 1100 feet of elevation in 1.5 miles and then the last mile is a little flatter to the lake. The trail is in decent shape still but it’s much rockier and has a lot more switchbacks. You will be asking yourself why you are here for a while because the views are not as stunning but that won’t last long.

Keep going and you will soon be rewarded with some views again. The trees open up and there is a great big rock to climb (you will learn that I am a fan of rocks to climb) and you get some fantastic views of the surrounding area. It’s just gorgeous.

We almost ate lunch at the overlook above but decided to press on to the lake and I’m glad we did. The reward at the top is just amazing and worth the work and the wait. There are several ways to get down to the lake once you’ve reached the top. The trail is supposed to head right but we went to the left a bit following a few people and there were several options. To go around the lake, you stay to the right and continue around the Colchuck lake hike area.

Be prepared as you reach the lake. It’s stunning and you will just want to stand there and stare. But keep on going for even better views. Here is your first taste though.

So your work has paid off. You’ve reached the end of your Colchuck Lake hike. According to my watch you’ve already walked about 5.0 miles. Don’t believe the AllTrails app. It’s not right on this trail. You’ve earned some lunch or at least a very big snack. Pick a rock and settle in for a while. You will want to just enjoy.

Beware of the chipmunks. They are quite bold. We met a girl who had a nice new hole in her backpack from a chipmunk who had helped himself to a little snack while she was taking a dip in the lake. Speaking of dips, you are nice and hot when you reach the top and the water is extremely refreshing.

There are campsites available at the end of the Colchuck lake hike but it’s very hard to get permits so make sure to plan in advance. Click here for more information on camping permits for this area. I think this would be an amazing place to camp for a night or two. By the time we headed down we passed a bunch of people with their gear coming in to camp for the weekend. It would be a haul, but you could have a nice dip in the lake at the end. And there are two privies at the lake when needed. Just bring your own toilet paper.

Don’t underestimate the hike back down. I never mind downhill, but this was a little tough on my knees. I was surprised at the number of day hikers we ran into on the way down. We spent a lot of time up top and got back to our car it was about 3:30 p.m. We passed a lot of people just heading up during the last mile or two. It seemed like a late start for such a tough hike. Make sure you plan accordingly. Be prepared.

After we finished the Colchuck Lake hike, we headed back into Leavenworth, went to an Italian restaurant and ate a boatload of bread. It was fantastic. That’s a big part of why we hike! haha! I would highly recommend this hike. It’s totally doable for most hikers. Just have all the things you need in advance and start out early to make sure you have lots of time to stop enjoy the views and especially take time at the top. The Colchuck Lake hike is truly one of the best hikes I’ve done.

I hope this helps you feel more comfortable about this hike and your plan to make it happen. The views are worth every step, and you will feel a great sense of accomplishment after you finish. AND you can eat a lot of whatever you love best afterward.

To see more of our adventures in the Pacific Northwest check out my blog on Olympic National Park.

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Keep exploring,

Stephanie

seymoreoftheworldwithme