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 Reporter |
Summary: This hike is quite mild for the first three miles, a gentle upwards slope in a valley- Nice stopping points along the river. The next and final mile is known as "the mile from hell!" You essentially gain all of your vertical during this stretch- The views on top are well worth the hike- A great hike in the fall with the changing colors of the leaves. Trailhead: Take I-90 East over Snoqualmie Pass, and get off on exit 63 (Lake Kachess) . Turn left and continue for approximately 5 miles. Take a left onto FSR 4930 (gravel road) and drive until the end of the road. Take a left and you've arrived at the base of the hike. (Lat:47.40095 Lon:-121.28417) Trail Guides for Rachel Lake: 100 Classic Hikes in Washington by Ira Spring (The Mountaineers) Best Hikes With Children by Joan Burton (The Mountaineers) Best Seasons: Fall, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: Cle Elum Ranger Station- 509-674-4411 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Patrick Harlin, who has posted 1 other hike on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by cherie on 9/15/2008 my god, this was quite a hike! the first few miles was pretty easy, but like the others said..the last mile up was KILLER! all in all the views and LAKE! was WELL WORTH the hike! :)
Reviewed by amy on 7/28/2008 Great day hike...being in shape really helps on this hike. I beat my brother by almost 1/2 hour. Had to ditch him on the last mile...which was pretty much straight up.
Reviewed by Jason on 10/4/2007 My dad, son and I made Rachel Lake our camp for a 3 night stay in Mid-July. It was the first time I had hiked in Washington. It was beautiful. We hiked to Rampart Lakes and Lila Lakes one day and to the top of Alta Mountain on another day. The Alta Mountain hike is worth the view, but it is strenuous. We would definitely do this hike again.
Reviewed by jsw on 8/1/2007 mile of misery was miserable for the out of shape but worth it. Terrible bugs at the lake but the views and experience were a must. Downed trees across the trail were difficult to navigate with a backpack. Periodic streams and waterfalls were a godsend. Do it!
Reviewed by Warren on 7/16/2007 The Misery Mile lived up to its billing, but my 5 year old daughter handled it just fine, as did the rest of us. The views were spectacular. We didn't have much trouble with bugs. We took about 8 hours to do the round trip, with a 5 year old hiking the whole way and a 3 year old hiking occasionally. The waterfall near the start of the climb was unexpected and beautiful.
Reviewed by JJ on 7/8/2007 Great Hike! Lots of logs down from winter storms that one needs to climb over, some odd parts where the trail goes a bit foggy, but the waterfalls and the lake made up for it. The most important thing, however, is that one needs to take Exit 62...small detail.
Reviewed by Flagstaff on 7/24/2006 Great hike, spectacular views. "Mile of Hell" was not that bad, but still a challenge. Lake was beautiful, but super buggy!
Reviewed by KG on 7/16/2006 As an avid hiker in the Pacific NW I can honestly say that the mile from hell is the hardest mile I have ever hiked. Picture a one mile unevenly spaced stairway made of rocks and tree roots. Going down is definitely harder on the legs then going up and I encountered several people who did not make it. That being said, Rachel is a stunningly beautiful alpine lake with a nice breeze that generally keeps it free of bugs. If you have the time and inclination Rampart Ridge is also worth the effort. Lots of nice campsites make Rachel an excellent weekend getaway. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Washington Hiking, Washington Trails, Washington Hikes, Kittitas County Hiking, Kittitas County Trails, Kittitas County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||