Waptus & Spade Lakes and Polallie Ridge

A backpack to visit up to a few lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. First to reach is Waptus Lake and the on to Spade Lake, a lovely, lonesome lake nestled in a rocky cirque high on Mount Daniels. Because it's a hefty hike to access, it is one of the most remote lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

getting there

Take Exit 80 (Roslyn/Salmon la Sac) off of I-90. Turn left (north) on SR 903/Salmon la Sac Road and continue 16.8 miles through Roslyn and past Cle Elum Lake. At the fork with Forest Road 46, stay right and continue on Salmon la Sac Road for ~2 miles to the trailhead and campground.

on the trail

Waptus Lake

Hike the Waptus River Trail (No. 1301) to Waptus Lake. It's 9.3 miles one-way (18.5 round trip trip) with 800 feet of elevation gain.

Spade & Venus Lakes

From Waptus Lake, continue hike 0.6 miles to the junction with the Spade Lake Trail (No. 1337) and take it to Spade Lake. If you're adventurous, hike the primitive trail on to Venus Lake. Spade Lake is 2.9 miles one-way and 2,000 feet of elevation gain from Waptus Lake. The total round trip from the trailhead is 25.6 miles with 2,800 feet of elevation gain.

Polallie Ridge Loop

For a return trip loop back from Waptus Lake over Polallie Ridge via Trails No. 1329 and 1309. It adds 11.9 miles and 1,200 feet of elevation gain from Waptus Lake back to the trailhead.

  • Suitable Activities: Backpacking
  • Seasons: June, July, August, September, October, November
  • Weather: View weather forecast
  • Difficulty: Strenuous
  • Length: 25.6 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 2,800 ft
  • 5,200 ft
Map
  • Green Trails Stevens Pass No. 176
  • Green Trails Kachess Lake No. 208
  • Green Trails Alpine Lakes East (Stuart Range) No. 208SX
  • Green Trails Alpine Lakes West (Stevens Pass) No. 176S
Activities
Trip Reports
Titles

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

  • Waptus Lake
  • Waptus Lake-Polallie Ridge Loop
  • Spade Lake
  • Spade & Venus Lakes
  • Spade Lake-Polallie Ridge Loop
Resources

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