Ranking: 4/5 This hike deserves high marks, for it’s alpine lake beauty, and close proximity, allowing hikers of all ages to enjoy. It’s a short hike allowing you time to set up base camp at any of the lakes, and then explore to your hearts content, making this a hike that bears repeating.
Difficulty: 6/10 Not extremely difficult to get to, but the varying terrain if you decide to day hike to mountain top vistas, or climb snow fields, or journey deeper into the backcountry all add to difficulty. Trail marking is marginal in areas, so you will need some experience with GPS or maps to explore further. Elevation gain to get to the lakes is moderate, and the length is short to get from the trailhead to the lakes.
Maps: Green Trails #207 Snoqualmie Pass, or the Alpine Lakes Wilderness map by ALPS.
Permits: Self register at the Trailhead, Northwest Forest Pass required to park in the parking lot.
Rampart lakes Trail GPS Added 11/15/2012
The season finally begins!!! After months of waiting, poring over maps, hoping the snow has finally melted out enough to travel into the backcountry, we set out on our first hike, which will take us once again into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, this time to visit Rampart Lakes, sheltered at the base of Rampart Ridge.
Day 1
2361ft gain 4.6 miles. This hike begins at the trailhead to Rachel Lake, about 4 miles past the Kachess Lake campground, at a paved parking lot at the end of a dusty, bumpy, gravel road. Lots of parking here, which should be a good indication of how popular a place this is.
…reasons for why my pack, which I will now call Monkey, weighs so blamed much…
The trailhead begins at about 2770ft elevation, and follows Box Canyon creek uphill gradually for about the first 2.6 miles. It’s an easy jaunt to begin with, a perfect way to start the season on untested legs. I’ve tried, to no avail, to reduce my pack weight, but Greg seems to have mastered it, getting his down to a svelte 35 lbs! I try not to let my jealously show, instead, I try to console myself with imagined reasons for why my pack, which I will now call Monkey, weighs so blamed much…
…Amazing the excuses I could come up with…
Yeah, if only I didn’t have such gianormous shoes that weighed like boat anchors, I could get my pack weight down. And, if I didn’t have to wear such big clothes, that would make a difference, too! Yeah ! That’s right! And, if only I didn’t have to carry so much water, because I sweat so much, which would be an extra couple pounds I could shave! Amazing the excuses I could come up with…
Refocusing on the trail, it was well maintained, and occasionally would wander over closer to lovely Box Canyon Creek, fresh snow melt cascading over large granite rocks, that make up 95% of the creek bottom, making for scenic little waterfalls everywhere, and the loudest of them cause the trail to make a detour, wandering closer, as if curiously wanting to see the source of the roar. It continues like this for the first 2. 6 miles, and finally crosses a creek that runs out of the Lila Lakes basin, creating another pretty waterfall, that one must stop and photograph…
…The roots tend to grasp your boot, and pitch you face first into the dirt. Sneaky…
There are several small streams that run across the trail, feeding Box Canyon creek, but this one is more memorable than the others. The stream is larger, for one, and the gentle roar of falling water is attention getting…( can a roar be gentle? I think so!) From this point, the trail begins uphill more urgently, and the trail becomes rougher, with strategically placed roots and rocks. They are either helpful, by providing a perfect foothold to clamber up, or hurtful, when one is not looking at the trail, the roots tend to grasp your boot, and pitch you face first into the dirt. Sneaky. Watch out for them…
Many times, the trail becomes more of a dry creek bed, or, if it’s still early season, they’re running with water, as we noticed. Still, it’s easy to follow, and over the next mile and a half to your high point at 5134 feet, it stays like this. Along the way, though, you’ll be greeted by Rachel Lake, a beautiful, large alpine lake, sparkling in the sun. Here, near the trail, are several campsites, and I’m sure the lake is fishable, as we can see them leaping out of the water.
At just around 4 miles in, and this close to Snoqualmie Pass, you can see why it is so popular here. Close, and not a long hike in, a great way to spend a weekend, although possibly better during the week, as I’m sure this place gets crowded. Coming in on Friday, we didn’t see many people here at the lake. The trail continues uphill, needing to crest the ridge that separates this lake from the upper Rampart Lakes. Reaching the top of the ridge, the snow is more frequent, and by the time we are on top, the snow is several feet deep, covering the ground. Several footprints lead off in the direction that we need to go, so we follow them, and it’s not long before the trees thin out, and we get our first glimpses of Rampart Lakes.
The snow is only patchy now, as it can no longer hide from the sun in the trees. Beautiful! The lakes here are small, but large in pure beautiful impact. The lakes are cut into solid granite, crystal blue pools of pure water, at varying heights from one another, creating steps, so only from the high point can you see them all at once.
…looking as if they are rooted in nothing but rock, and wizened, like little Yoda trees, full of wisdom…
From the lowest level, looking up, all you see is rock. So, as you journey higher, you are pleasantly surprised to see one reflecting pool after the other, each one as pretty as the last. Small alpine firs grow wherever their roots can gain ground and sustenance, many times looking as if they are rooted in nothing but rock, and wizened, like little Yoda trees, full of wisdom that only their long years could achieve. The short growing season, and harsh winters have kept them stunted, like Bonsai. Those that were more fortunate, and found soil, grew to more normal heights, and also add to the serene landscape.
…we are deafened by the roar of jet engines, as two fighter jets come screaming up the valley…
The lakes sit at the base of Rampart Ridge, a jagged crest that rises another 700ft in the background, and this time of year, snow still is draped across the top, and down the sides. Truly spectacular country, and in the midst of it all, we find the primo camping spot! Right on the banks of the middle lake, its small outlet stream rushes by, and turns into a waterfall feeding the lower lake. Another perk for getting here before everyone else! After setting up camp, we are deafened by the roar of jet engines, as two fighter jets come screaming up the valley, and cut over the notch by Box Mountain! They are so loud you can’t hear yourself think!
…We make sure that the tent is firmly attached to the ground, not wanting a dunking in the ice cold water in the middle of the night…
By 5:30, we notice another phenomenon that seems to be as much a part of the Alpine Lakes, as the profuse water. The wind. Like clockwork, it shows up, and it’s not only blustery, it’s cold! By dinner time around 6:30, Greg and I have pretty much every stitch of clothing that we brought with us on. When the wind died down, it wasn’t too bad, but those were short intervals. We make sure that the tent is firmly attached to the ground, not wanting a dunking in the ice cold water in the middle of the night. After dinner, we find a couple of trees to shelter us from the relentless wind, and hunker down, admiring the scenery, until it’s time to turn in.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Hello, and thank you! I am humbled, for sure! Just updated my site, and these are the first positive comments that I’ve gotten since it went live! Still have soooo much more to add, just been a little overwhelmed trying to get 11 years worth of data uploaded, pictures, video, etc…
Again, thank you so much for the positive feedback! Sorry I haven’t responded earlier, it’s just that I’ve been getting alot of spam lately, and have been a little discouraged wading through it all…Glad I checked in today!!!
t more. Thank you
http://educationpoints.eu
There is certainly a lot to know about this subject. I like all of the points you made.
Thank you very much! Sorry I haven’t responded earlier, busy preparing for the upcoming season! That, and as of late, I’ve been getting a lot of spam, so haven’t checked back as often as I should. Again, Thank you!
Thank you so much for the compliment! Appreciate that greatly!!! Sorry I haven’t responded earlier, been inundated with spam, and haven’t been wading through it to find genuine posts! I still have a long way to go, want to load some of my videos, and other trip reports. Updated my site this year, and it’s been a monumental task…
Again, thank you so much!!!