Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Snoqualmie Pass [1] is one of the most accessible portals into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness,

which stretches between I-90 and Highway 2 at Stevens Pass [2] and Leavenworth [3].

You’ll find a number of classic northwest treks in this southern reach of the Alpine Lakes area, including the breathtaking stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail over Kendal Katwalk (PCT trailhead at exit 53 westbound and 52 eastbound off I-90), an exhilarating strip of trail that clings to the granite mountainside, seemingly floating amid a colorful display of wildflowers in spring and summer.

You can make it to the Katwalk and back (10.5 miles) in a long day, but many adventurous backpackers prefer to extend the trip to a 33-mile round-trip through meadows and alpine forests to the 6,700-foot pinnacle of Spectacle Point, which provides a breathtaking panorama of the northern Alpine Lakes territory. Just beware of snow—under no circumstances should you attempt to cross the precarious Katwalk when the white stuff is on the ground.