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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 2 of 3 Submit your own review 
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. 
Reviewed by Viewer on 7/11/2006 The mile from hell is hard, but not that hard. It was the first hike of the summer of the season for us and we enjoyed it. We even saw a pug who hiked up there, so if he could do it you could too!
Reviewed by CSO on 3/14/2006 The hike is one of my favorites. After you reach R. Lake you can continue another mile to reach the Rampart Lakes. Both are well worth the time and energy. The "mile from hell" is just that butttt if you spend a couple of weeks on a stair climber for about 30 minutes you will be more than ready. Bring water or pills for the lake. Once you reach R. Lake you can easily cross over the the northeast side and climb atop a 40 foot boulder which drops straight into the lake. You can actually see the bottom of the lake 40 feet below. I've done most of the "Alpine Lakes" hikes and this one is my personal favorite.
Reviewed by Sandro on 8/9/2005 This is a terrific day hike that I will do again as an overnight backpacking trip. The trail starts off somewhat steep, flattens out through a nice shaded forest and then starts the last, cruelest mile. Yes, it's steep, buggy, muddy, rooty and not well maintained. The reward for the hard work is a gorgeous alpine lake with lots of flat spots for pitching your tent and many spots to enjoy your lunch. The breeze keeps the bugs down so they don't have YOU for lunch. 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||