Crystal Lakes Trail

Crystal Lakes Trail is a 6-mile out-and-back from SR 410 to Lower and Upper Crystal Lakes. It climbs about 2,300 feet to a small lake tucked in forest and a larger lake in an open basin. Give it around four hours for the climb, both lakes and a proper stop at the top. This is a hard day hike rather than a lakeside stroll, but the payoff changes as you go: a glimpse of Rainier, a forested lake, then a wide basin beneath rugged peaks. Pets are not allowed on park trails.

Start on the east side of SR 410 near Crystal Creek. A rustic log bridge leads into a steady climb through forest switchbacks. Roots and a short, weathered boardwalk make the tread uneven in places. Rainier appears now and then through the trees, then disappears behind Crystal Peak.

Around the Crystal Peak junction, stay on the route to the lakes. The peak is a separate, unmaintained five-mile round trip on a hot, exposed slope. Farther up, a clearing after an old avalanche chute opens the strongest full-mountain view on the standard hike. Take a breather there before the next climb.

At a signed junction, a short spur drops about 100 yards to Lower Crystal Lake. It is the smaller, more enclosed lake, with sedges around parts of the shore and a designated backcountry camp area. Return to the main trail and continue roughly half a mile to Upper Crystal Lake.

Upper Lake sits in an open basin beneath rugged peaks and is much larger than Lower Lake. Look northeast toward Three Way Peak for a small rock window above the water. A shoreline path gives you a closer look at the basin; the longer fork toward Sourdough Gap and the Pacific Crest Trail is an extension, not part of this six-mile outing.

Subalpine meadows are at their showiest in late July and early August. Elk and mountain goats may graze on the surrounding slopes in summer and early fall. Stay on the tread through the meadows, and take time at Upper Lake: the open basin is the hike's best place to appreciate how close the surrounding ridges feel.