Spade & Venus Lake
Explore stunning alpine highlands and hidden lakes on this challenging backpack deep into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Total Distance: 26.2 miles
Total Ascent: 4100ft (3600ft in; 500ft out)
Highest Point: 5700ft
Total Ascent: 4100ft (3600ft in; 500ft out)
Highest Point: 5700ft
Take I-90 out over Snoqualmie Pass to Exit 80. Head left over the freeway following Bullfrog Road to SR 903. Follow 903 16.6 miles through Roslyn and along Cle Elum Lake to an intersection just beyond the Salmon La Sac guard station. Veer left across the bridge on FR 4316 toward the Salmon La Sac Campground. Continue past the campground, keeping right on FR 4616-111 to the end of the road for the Salmon La Sac Trailhead. Privy available. View Google Directions >>
From the large camping area the south end of Waptus Lake, follow the trail north for 0.6 mile to reach the junction with the Spade Lake Trail #1337. Turn right and uphill, crossing over the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 (PCT) in 0.2 mile. The trail steepens beyond the PCT, with breaks in the old growth canopy offering ever-expanding views.
The climb eventually yields to a more comfortable traverse. As you approach the lake the trail begins to splinter, with bootpaths leading off to various campsites and viewpoints. Make a bee-line for the shore to find campsites in the bluffs, or circle around the east side of the lake, following bootpaths to campsites deeper in the lake basin.
Venus Lake lies in a cirque another 1.1 miles up the trail. Your destination is easy to pick out from the shores of Spade Lake – Venus Lake lies just behind the lowest notch above the far end of the lake. There's a lot more to Spade 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!
The climb eventually yields to a more comfortable traverse. As you approach the lake the trail begins to splinter, with bootpaths leading off to various campsites and viewpoints. Make a bee-line for the shore to find campsites in the bluffs, or circle around the east side of the lake, following bootpaths to campsites deeper in the lake basin.
Venus Lake lies in a cirque another 1.1 miles up the trail. Your destination is easy to pick out from the shores of Spade Lake – Venus Lake lies just behind the lowest notch above the far end of the lake. There's a lot more to Spade 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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