Cradle Lake
Part forested river-walk and part steep switchbacking ascent, this approach to Cradle Lake stores up all the hard climbing for one 2.6-mile burst up the steep valley wall to a wide lake bowl. Wild and isolated, the lake does not see too many visitors and when night falls, the open slopes are a front row seat to a vast starshow above.
Total Distance: 17.8 miles
Total Ascent: 3500ft (3400ft in; 100ft out)
Highest Point: 6200ft
Total Ascent: 3500ft (3400ft in; 100ft out)
Highest Point: 6200ft
Take US 2 to Leavenworth. Just before you enter town, take a right onto Icicle Creek Road (FR 76). Continue to follow Icicle Creek Road as the pavement turns to gravel at 12.5 miles and then keeping right at the Y just beyond. At 17 miles, turn left across the bridge spanning Icicle Creek. In 0.1 mile turn left onto spur road 615 (FR 7600-615). Continue a little over 0.1 mile to the Jack Trout Trailhead on the right. View Google Directions >>
From the trailhead, follow the Jack Creek Trail #1558 as it crosses the Jack Pine Trail #1597 leading out to the Black Pine Horse Camp. Soon cross Jack Creek on a hefty wooden bridge and enter the Alpine Lakes Wilderness at 0.6 miles. From here continue onward past the junction with the Trout Creek Trail #1555 at 1.4 miles then the unmaintained Jack Ridge Trail #1557 at 3.4 miles.
At 5 miles reach the Meadow Creek Trail #1559, turn right onto it, dropping down to Jack Creek. Cross or ford the creek and continue onward, but if you have to get wet, don’t change gear just yet, as you will need to ford Meadow Creek a few thousand feet down the trail. At 6.3 miles reach the Snowall-Cradle Lake Trail #1560 and a big horse-pounded campsite. Consider bedding down here and saving the next leg of the journey for the morning as it’s a heart-pounding uphill battle from here to the lakeshore.
Begin your climb, switchbacking up the mountainside and alternating between thin forest, the occasional brunt snag and sections of exposed rock. Eventually attain a ridge, continuing a climbing traverse toward the lake. At 8.4 miles pass the junction with an abandoned section of trail that leads out along Blackjack Ridge to Bootjack Mountain. From here the trail drops of the ridge and traverses down to Cradle Lake, reaching the lake outlet at 8.9 miles from the trailhead.
The Snowall-Cradle Lake Trail continues around Cradle Lake and up over the ridge to drop. Any stay at the lake all but requires a trip up to the ridge for close views of Harding Mountain and The Cradle as well as the Snowall Creek Valley. There's a lot more to Cradle Lake, and you can learn all about it in Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many other hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!
At 5 miles reach the Meadow Creek Trail #1559, turn right onto it, dropping down to Jack Creek. Cross or ford the creek and continue onward, but if you have to get wet, don’t change gear just yet, as you will need to ford Meadow Creek a few thousand feet down the trail. At 6.3 miles reach the Snowall-Cradle Lake Trail #1560 and a big horse-pounded campsite. Consider bedding down here and saving the next leg of the journey for the morning as it’s a heart-pounding uphill battle from here to the lakeshore.
Begin your climb, switchbacking up the mountainside and alternating between thin forest, the occasional brunt snag and sections of exposed rock. Eventually attain a ridge, continuing a climbing traverse toward the lake. At 8.4 miles pass the junction with an abandoned section of trail that leads out along Blackjack Ridge to Bootjack Mountain. From here the trail drops of the ridge and traverses down to Cradle Lake, reaching the lake outlet at 8.9 miles from the trailhead.
The Snowall-Cradle Lake Trail continues around Cradle Lake and up over the ridge to drop. Any stay at the lake all but requires a trip up to the ridge for close views of Harding Mountain and The Cradle as well as the Snowall Creek Valley. There's a lot more to Cradle Lake, and you can learn all about it in Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many other hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!
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