The trailhead might be busy, but heading to Island and Rainbow Lakes may afford you more solitude than you'd expect on the crowded I-90 corridor. It's a touch longer than many day hikers want to tackle, and even most of the campers will drop off past Talapus, Ollalie, or Pratt, leaving you (and a few hardy others) to discover these alpine jewels.
The first mile of trail will be busy on a weekend, but after passing a junction with the Granite Mountain trail, some of the crowds disperse – or at least spread out. Continue hiking along the wide Pratt Lake Trail, crossing several sweet streams fed by snowbanks high up on the flanks of Granite. In early spring, these stream crossings can be high, even treacherous, so evaluate each crossing for safety according to your own ability.
Three miles in, you’ll come to a junction. The left-hand fork leads to the Ollalie Lake Trail in just 0.2 miles. Some hikers may duck down this trail, but press on! Climb a gentle grade, and within a third of a mile reach a clear spot in the trail. Here Ollalie Lake lies still and green in the valley below you, and Rainier hovers above. In this open area, beargrass flourishes in early spring. It’s a great spot for a snack and photo opportunity.
After your snack, continue uphill to the Pratt Lake junction. The trail to your right leads to a large sapphire-like lake on the north side of the ridge you're on. To get to Island and Rainbow Lakes (which remind hikers more of emeralds), follow it to the left.
You'll continue a further mile along the south slopes of Pratt Mountain to a high point. Here you're faced with a decision. Turn left off the main trail and descend 0.4 miles to Island Lake, or hang a right and drop a half mile to Rainbow Lake.
Either location is a good one, and luckily a bootpath connects the two lakes, so you can visit both before heading back the way you came.
WTA Pro Tip: You can also access Island and Rainbow Lakes via the Ira Spring Trail and Mason Lake, but parking is much more restricted from this end. Consider carpooling, or arranging a pickup/dropoff if you want to start from this end.
Island Lake - Rainbow Lake
47.3979,
-121.4866
Map & Directions
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Length
- 11.7 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 3,000 feet
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Highest Point
- 4,400 feet
Parking Pass/Entry Fee
Northwest Forest Pass
The trailhead might be busy, but heading to Island and Rainbow Lakes may afford you more solitude than you'd expect on the crowded I-90 corridor. It's a touch longer than many day hikers want to tackle, and even most of the campers will drop off past Ollalie, or Pratt Lake junctions, leaving you (and a few hardy others) to discover these alpine jewels.
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Hiking Island Lake - Rainbow Lake
WTA worked here in 2010!
Map & Directions
Trailhead
Before You Go
Parking Pass/Entry Fee
Northwest Forest PassWTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.
Getting There
From Seattle, head east on I-90 to exit 47. Turn left and drive over the freeway, then turn left at the T. Proceed to the nearby Pratt Lake-Granite Mountain parking area. Be aware that this parking area gets very full and with people parking on both sides of the road, sometimes leaving is harder than finding a spot. Northwest Forest Pass and Alpine Lakes Wilderness Permit required; both available at the trailhead.
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