Colchuck Lake
Central Cascades
As of June 26, 2026, Colchuck Lake conditions are characterized by a busy trail and a challenging final ascent. Snow is no longer a significant obstacle for reaching the lake.
The Eight Mile/Forest Road 7601 is in rough shape with deep potholes and washboard sections, requiring slow travel, especially for low-clearance vehicles. Parking lots fill very early, often by 7:30-8:00 AM, with overflow parking along the road.
The trail itself is reported in good condition, though steep and rocky in the upper sections, making it a challenging hike. Hikers are strongly advised to be prepared with adequate water, footwear, and layers, as many visitors appear unprepared for the exertion. Mountain goats and other wildlife are frequently sighted near the lake. Reports from June 2026 consistently note high visitor numbers.
generated from 54 reports
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We arrived at 7:45am and the lot was almost full. Just wanted to let people know that the dirt/gravel road, Eight Mile, is in rough shape and I would not attempt if you have a sedan or low rider vehic...
I day-hiked this trail for the first time, in fact first time ever in the Enchantments or Alpine Lake wilderness area. If you have hiked it before you can probably skip this review.First Impressions: ...
Hi! I hiked Colchuck Lake on 06/20 and sadly left my navy Fjallraven hat by the lake… Got distracted with taking photos 😭I was wondering if anyone spotted it while they were in the area or know if som...
Got there at 9:30am and had to park a little down from the parking lot. The first couple miles weren’t too bad. The next couples miles up to the lake are more intense. The trail gets steep but very do...
First off, I don't know why my two pictures are sideways.ANYWAYS. Colchuck Lake is a hike I've been wanting to do for a while, I just haven't had the time to get all the way there. Car sales makes hav...
Nice day out. The trail was in good condition, but some still brought dogs on the trail even when there were signs that pets are not allowed.The road otw to the trailhead had some big potholes but the...
A magical lake with a magical view. Life as a pika can be tough, but sights like this remind me that the world is a beautiful place. I didn’t see any goat friends, but got to see a blue jay friend at ...
Beautiful hike. Cooler weather made for a nice ascent.Parking lot less than half full at 8AM. About 80% full when I returned at 2:45PM.
First of all Icicle Road is worse than road 7601. There are a number of really large and deep potholes to navigate as you make your way to the forest road. The forest road was a little bit washboardy,...
June 6, 2026: We arrived at the trailhead at around 9:30am and the parking lot was completely full - we had to park down the road a bit but not far! This hike was a tad more technical than I thought! ...
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