Klonaqua Lakes

The Klonaqua Lakes hide in a forested cirque below Granite Mountain deep within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The approach is long and gentle followed by a short steep climb to the lakes. Water access and established campsites are abundant (every mile or two) during the eight-mile walk up Icicle Creek and then French Creek. Established campsites are also available at the Lower and Upper Klonaqua Lakes as well as Bobs Lake.

Park at the Icicle Creek trailhead and follow the wide, well used Icicle Creek trail for 1.8 miles to campsites with a box privy next to Icicle Creek. Cross French Creek on a solid bridge after this camp area and come to the junction with French Creek trail at 2.0 miles. Take a left and head over a small hill on the French Creek trail which will parallel this waterway for the next six miles. The trail offers forest rambling and easy to reach thimbleberries and huckleberries in the late summer. Keep your eyes peeled for occasional big cedars. Along the French Creek trail you'll pass a couple of junctions that make loops possible. The first is with the French Ridge trail at 5.5 miles from the trailhead followed by the junction with the Snowall Cradle Trail 6.6 miles from the trailhead. 

Ford the bridgeless creek at 7.9 miles that drains the Klonaqua lakes high above you. In summer the ford is knee deep and may have logs across it. Just beyond the ford is the intersection with the Klonaqua lakes trail. This trail is closed to horses and for good reason. It climbs 1600 feet over the course of two miles before arriving at the outlet dam of Lower Klonaqua Lake 9.9 miles from the trailhead. Explore around and you'll find some interesting bits of history including the location of a helicopter pad and the valve for controlling the flow into French Creek.

If Bob Lake or Upper Klonaqua Lake is your goal, take a left onto an unmarked spur trail heading uphill from the Klonaqua lake trail at 9.4 miles from the trailhead. If you make it to Lower Klonaqua lake you went about 0.5 miles past this junction. Follow the spur trail 0.1 miles to Bobs Lake, pass a campsite and head around the south shoreline and pickup the trail going uphill on the west end of the lake. Follow the trail uphill as it weaves it's way through rocks and brush for a mile to the land bridge between Lower and Upper Klonaqua Lakes. Campsites are abundant and heavily used in this area. Please tread lightly and leave no trace. Swimming and fishing are both excellent in the cold clear waters of Klonaqua.

WTA Pro Tip: The Munchenhaus in Leavenworth is a great post-hike stop with balcony views of the surrounding mountains. Make sure to order your beer in metric.