Colchuck Lake
Leavenworth, WA
Colchuck Lake is one of the most stunning day hikes in the area. This hike features forests, rivers, mountains, wildlife, and once you reach the top you're rewarded with a stunning, turquoise, alpine lake. The hike to Colchuck Lake is 8.0 miles RT, with an elevation gain of 2,280 ft. The trail starts off in the forest following along side a crystal clear river. At 1.5 miles, you'll have to cross a log bridge, which is a great place to stop and spend some time exploring by the river. As you continue on, the elevation gain becomes steadier, and at around 2.4 miles you'll encounter the second log bridge...the terrain is very rocky here. From this point, the trail leads back into the forest. The closer you get to the lake, the steeper the terrain becomes, but don't get discouraged. The lake is so worth it. Right around 3 miles you'll pass what I call lookout rock #1, and at about 3.4 miles, you'll reach lookout rock #2. At this point, I start feeling pretty optimistic about getting close, because in less than half a mile you'll get your first glimpse of the turquoise lake, and man, what a surreal feeling that is. From this point, you can just kind of create your own path to the lake to find the perfect spot to decompress from the hike and take in all the surrounding views.
