Polallie Ridge Trail #1309 to Diamond Lake

The often-overlooked Polallie Ridge Trail promises views of nearby mountaintops, a small alpine lake, and a decent workout.

From the trailhead, the hike begins alongside the Cooper River without much fanfare, briefly following the Cooper River Trail #1311 for 0.1 mile to the junction with the Polallie Ridge Trail #1309. Head right, away from the river toward the next junction with the Waptus River Trail #1310. Here, stay left to begin your ascent up the ridge, following the rocky trail as it climbs through stands of pine and fir. The first real views do not come until you cross into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness at 2.8 miles. Around this point the trail briefly levels out and the trees thin enough to see Mount Daniel, Cone Mountain, Sasse Mountain, Jolly Mountain and Hex Mountain as well as the valley below. Beyond the views, the trail returns to the trees and continues to climb for about another mile before dropping down to Diamond Lake at 4.0 miles from the trailhead.

There's a lot more to Polallie Ridge, 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!