Spectacle Lake Trail

Spectacle Lake 1306

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Ranger's Report

Weather

Road Condition

Pass Cam

Distance:

0.5 miles one way (9.5 total)

Hiking Time:

20 min

Trailhead Elevation:

4400 ft

Elevation Gain:

-200 ft

Season:

July - October

Difficulty:

Moderate

Rating:

Best - Very Good - Good - Fair

Use:

Heavy

Users:

Hikers

Region:

Cle Elum Ranger District

Maps:

USGS Polallie Ridge
Cel Elum Ranger District Map
Printable Topo Map

Permits:

Northwest Forest Pass is required
Alpine Lakes Wilderness Regulations

Driving Directions:

Access 1:
From Seattle take I-90 East to Exit 80. At the Stop turn left. Continue for about 2.8 miles to the next Stop and turn left onto Highway 903. Follow the highway for 15.7 miles and turn left to Cooper Lake Road #46. In 4.7 miles turn right onto a gravel road, look for sing indicating Cooper Lake and Pete Lake Trail #1323. Pete Lake Trail trailhead is in 1.8 mile at the end of the road.
Follow Pete Lake Trail #1323 to junction with PCT for 6.5 miles. Turn south (left) onto PCT and follow it for 2.5 mile to the junction.

Access 2:
From Seattle take I-90 East to Exit 80. At the Stop turn left. Continue for about 2.8 miles to the next Stop and turn left onto Highway 903. Follow the highway for 15.7 miles and turn left to Cooper Lake Road #46. In 4.7 miles the road passes a turn to Cooper Lake and Pete Lake Trail #1323. Continue on Road #46. Gravel road starts. In 2.3 miles go pass the turn onto Kachess Ridge Trail #1315. In about 2.5 miles Road #46 ends at Mineral Creek Trail #1331 trailhead.
Follow Mineral Creek Trail for 5.5 miles to PCT. Turn left onto PCT and follow it for about 0.7 mile to the junction with Chikamin Lake Trail #1360, that goes to the right. The junction is not marked. Follow Chikamin Lake Trail to Glacier Lake for 0.7 mile to the junction with Spectacle Lake Trail that leads east (right) as you cross the creek. The trail is non-maintained.

Trailhead:

Access 1:
No campsites, no water.

Access 2:
Campsites near the creek, water is at the creek.

Trail:

Access 1:
September 26, 2000

Following PCT the trail gradually climbs switchbaking for 1.7 mile to a small creek. About 30 feet before the creek to the right a short non-maintained trail #1339 leads to Spectacle Lake. Main trail continues on and in 0.1 mile crosses Delate Creek with a nice waterfall. From the bridge the trail gets steeper climbing for 0.7 mile to Spectacle Lake Trail #1306, that goes to the right.

The trail steeply descends to the lake, offering nice views of the lake, Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain . Near the lake the trail divides: following the south shore left fork leads to a cross-country rout to Glacier lake. Main trail goes to the right, crosses Delate Creek and continues on to the north-east shore, where it meets with the trail #1339. Beautiful lake is divided into two parts by a peninsular. There are several campsites at the lake.