ClimbWashington.com: Stuart Lake Hike

The lake’s 30 acres of crystal clear water draws hikers from around the state. It’s a moderate day hike that travels through the forest, meadows and wildflowers on a scenic route to the high alpine lake. The final reward is an amazing vista of 9,400-foot Mount Stuart that towers above with its hanging glaciers and granite rock towers, the perfect place for lunch with a view.

Start at the trailhead and travel up alongside the Mountaineers Creek and lush forest. After meandering along a moderate ascent, you will travel into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in a half mile. Follow the path through the boulders and then across the short foot bridge that crosses over the glacier-fed creek at 3,800 feet. The trail follows Mountaineer Creek until you get to the first trail junction at 2.5 miles (elevation 4,500 feet). The trail leading left climbs steeply toward Colchuck Lake, and the more popular and less rough Stuart Lake trail continues straight ahead.

As you follow the lesser-traveled trail through open meadows, you will encounter a small aspen grove, plenty of wildflowers, and beautiful vistas of the ridges high above. You will begin a short and steep climb as you head back into the forest and make your way up the ridge with a few views along the way of Jack Ridge. The few clearings along the trail don’t give you much of a hint of what’s ahead. The trail wanders through another clearing that’s thick with brush and wildflowers in season just before it intersects with the north shore of Stuart Lake.

The lakeshore is brushy and heavily wooded along with numerous campsites that are scattered along its north end. Plenty of flat boulders on the lake provide a nice lunch stop on clear and sunny days. On the hottest days,you can definitely enjoy the glacier-fed lake by taking a quick swim to cool off before your return trip back down.

Mount Stuart towers almost 4,200 feet over Stuart Lake to the southwest with some of Washington’s highest-regarded alpine rock climbing routes that lead to the summit via glaciers, steep rock climbs and more. Mount Stuart was named by the famous Northwest explorer George B. McClellan. He reportedly named the mountain after his friend and fellow Army officer J.E.B. Stuart. The mountain was named in 1853, which also marks it as one of the earliest place names in the state. Photos >>

Directions: From Seattle, follow US Highway 2 heading east into Leavenworth and turn right at the front of town on Icicle Road. Follow Icicle Road for 8.5 miles and turn left onto Road #7601. Follow this road for four miles until it dead-ends at the trailhead.
Permits Necessary: USFS Northwest Forest Pass plus a self- issuing day use permit from the trailhead. Overnight permits available only from the Leavenworth Ranger Station June 15-October 15
Map:
USGS Cashmere Mountain
USGS Jack Ridge
Green Trails #177: Chiwaukum Mnts
Green Trails #209: Mount Stuart
Web References:
425 Magazine article written for Fall 2007 issue (PDF, 1.25mb)
Leavenworth.org

Stuart Lake Highpoint Elevation: 5060 feet Region/Location: Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Wenatchee National Forest Trip Length: 6-7 hours RT Route: Stuart Lake #1599/ Colchuck Lake Trail Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Gain: 1620 feet Roundtrip Distance: 9 miles Trailhead Elevation: 3440 feet Date: July 22, 2005 Photos by: Alison Harder [Click here to view the shutterfly photo collection]
The lake’s 30 acres of crystal clear water draws hikers from around the state. It’s a moderate day hike that travels through the forest, meadows and wildflowers on a scenic route to the high alpine lake. The final reward is an amazing vista of 9,400-foot Mount Stuart that towers above with its hanging glaciers and granite rock towers, the perfect place for lunch with a view. Start at the trailhead and travel up alongside the Mountaineers Creek and lush forest. After meandering along a moderate ascent, you will travel into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in a half mile. Follow the path through the boulders and then across the short foot bridge that crosses over the glacier-fed creek at 3,800 feet. The trail follows Mountaineer Creek until you get to the first trail junction at 2.5 miles (elevation 4,500 feet). The trail leading left climbs steeply toward Colchuck Lake, and the more popular and less rough Stuart Lake trail continues straight ahead. As you follow the lesser-traveled trail through open meadows, you will encounter a small aspen grove, plenty of wildflowers, and beautiful vistas of the ridges high above. You will begin a short and steep climb as you head back into the forest and make your way up the ridge with a few views along the way of Jack Ridge. The few clearings along the trail don’t give you much of a hint of what’s ahead. The trail wanders through another clearing that’s thick with brush and wildflowers in season just before it intersects with the north shore of Stuart Lake. The lakeshore is brushy and heavily wooded along with numerous campsites that are scattered along its north end. Plenty of flat boulders on the lake provide a nice lunch stop on clear and sunny days. On the hottest days,you can definitely enjoy the glacier-fed lake by taking a quick swim to cool off before your return trip back down. Mount Stuart towers almost 4,200 feet over Stuart Lake to the southwest with some of Washington’s highest-regarded alpine rock climbing routes that lead to the summit via glaciers, steep rock climbs and more. Mount Stuart was named by the famous Northwest explorer George B. McClellan. He reportedly named the mountain after his friend and fellow Army officer J.E.B. Stuart. The mountain was named in 1853, which also marks it as one of the earliest place names in the state. Photos >> Directions: From Seattle, follow US Highway 2 heading east into Leavenworth and turn right at the front of town on Icicle Road. Follow Icicle Road for 8.5 miles and turn left onto Road #7601. Follow this road for four miles until it dead-ends at the trailhead. Permits Necessary: USFS Northwest Forest Pass plus a self- issuing day use permit from the trailhead. Overnight permits available only from the Leavenworth Ranger Station June 15-October 15 Map: USGS Cashmere Mountain USGS Jack Ridge Green Trails #177: Chiwaukum Mnts Green Trails #209: Mount Stuart Web References: 425 Magazine article written for Fall 2007 issue (PDF, 1.25mb) Leavenworth.org