Waptus Lake via Waptus River

Beginning from the heart of Salmon La Sac and terminating at the Pacific Crest Trail, the Waptus River trail offers miles of hiking through dry, open forest and beautiful lakes in the Alpine Lakes wilderness then a little bit of a climb before arriving at the iconic trail high on a ridgeline in the Central Cascades.

From the trailhead, follow a gently undulating trail for six miles, winding past rocky bluffs and small pools of clear water, finally joining up with the wide, clear Waptus River.

After six miles of relatively flat walking, the trail meets up with Trail Creek Trail and begins climbing away from the river for two miles, delivering hikers to Waptus Pass Trail.

A bridge here used to cross Spinola Creek before heading back to Waptus Lake, but a flood took the bridge out, and now hikers can use the nearby Horse Ford, which is accessed from Waptus Pass Trail.

After crossing the river, the trail continues straight on to Waptus Lake. Here it rejoins the Waptus River Trail, proceeding around the lake for a mile and a half, at which point it turns away from the lake and heads uphill for another half mile to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail.