f you’re short on time but still want to backpack near Seattle, I highly recommend checking out Rachel and Rampart lakes. I did a short backpacking trip up to the lakes my first year living in Seattle and loved it so much I went back the next year! If you’re looking for the perfect beginner friendly backpacking trail you’re in the right place.
Getting to Rachel and Rampart Lakes Trailhead from Seattle
One of the main reasons that I enjoyed this hike was it’s accessibility from Seattle. It takes me around 1.5 hours to to get here from my house near downtown Seattle, making it a great trip to start after work on a Friday. From downtown Seattle, you get on I-5 and then merge onto I-90 east. You stay on I-90 for about an hour until you get off at exit 65. From there, you’ll take a left. After driving about 5 miles you’ll find a split in the road.
Here you want to stay left, if you go right you’ll end up at Lake Katchess Campground. You’ll continue on for .3 miles until you then turn right at a sign that says “Rachel Lake Trail 1313”. Continue on this road for another 4 miles until you arrive at the parking lot. You’ll see a few campsites along the road up to the trailhead. I have thought about driving up and car camping in one of these spots, but they have been taken every time I have driven by. If you really want to car camp in one of these spots I recommend arriving in the morning to snag a spot.
Trail Overview
Mileage: 8.9 Miles round trip
Elevation: 2,526 ft
Fees: North West Forest pass or $5 cash at the trailhead
After you arrive and get your bags ready to go, you will head East in the parking lot and start on the Rachel and Rampart Lakes trail! The trail starts with you hiking uphill, but it levels out shortly after. You’ll hike along a creek and weave through old growth forest. The forest is dense out here so plan for it to be dark about an hour before the sun actually sets.
The trail stays fairly flat until you hit the climb up to the lakes. You climb 2,526 ft in around 2 miles, so be prepared for it to be steep. There are lots of areas along the trial where you can take a break, and even a few spots that have water access. I’m not going to lie, every time I have done this hike I convince myself that we’re almost to the top only to realize I have hit what I will call a false summit. Try to remember that the uphill might seem never-ending, but you’ll get there! There is a waterfall near the top that is the perfect spot to take a break and sit by the water. 4 miles in you will arrive at Rachel Lake.
Rachel Lake
The blue water, trees, and waterfalls up there are amazing. The camping up here is perfect for someone who hasn’t done many backpacking trips. There are lots of campsites scattered around, a primitive toilet, and lake access for swimming. Every time I have slept up here the spots have filled up quick, so make sure you set up camp and then go explore the rest of the area.
If you want to continue up to Rampart Lakes, that is another miles or so up the mountain. This section of the trail is very steep, but you get to look down at Rachel Lake on your way up so it never seems quite as intense. You’ll reach an expansive alpine meadow with what feels like hundreds of little lakes. You can wander around up here, but try your best to stay on the trail as to not disrupt the surrounding area. There are campsites scattered around up here but no toilets.
Daily Itinerary
This itinerary is for the first time backpacker who wants to have a chill first experience. This will also be a Friday – Sunday itinerary, minimizing the amount of time you’ll need to take off from work.
Day 1: Arrive at Rachel and Rampart Lakes trailhead at 2pm and begin hiking at 3pm. Hike from the parking lot to Rachel Lake. Here, you will set up camp, cook dinner, and relax for the evening.
Day 2: Spend the morning at Rachel Lake. Depending on how hot the weather is, begin hiking up to Rampart Lakes. If it is very hot I recommend going before 12 or after 4 because this section is fairly exposed. Set up camp at Rampart Lakes and enjoy your evening there. Another alternative is to do a day hike from Rampart Lakes to Alta Mountain. For more information on Alta Mountain, click here.
Day 3: You only have a 4 mile hike back to your car at this point, and it’s all downhill. You could spend the day on a day hike, stay by the lakes, or head back home.
What to Pack for Rachel and Rampart Lakes
If this is your first backpacking trip, just know that you’re going to bring the wrong stuff. It takes a couple of trips to figure out what you really want to be carrying in, and just make do with what you have. The most common thing that I see is beginners over-packing. Thankfully, this trail is a really great beginner trail and you’ll be able to survive if you bring the bare minimum or if your bag is too heavy on the way up. My packing list for this trail is as follows:
- Backpacking bag
- Sleeping pad
- Tent
- Hammock – Optional but fun
- Microfiber towel
- Playing cards
- One book
- Water filter
- 2 water bottles that can be filled – you can also use a water bladder
- Camp stove
- Extra fuel for stove
- A lighter
- Camp dishes – I usually bring one pan to cook on, one bowl, a spoon/fork/knife tool, and one coffee mug.
- Biodegradable dish soap
- Food – For backpacking food ideas, check out my blog post with 5 backpacking meals I love here!
- Instant coffee
- Electrolyte packets
- Bear safe food storage container
- Face wipes – I love to use a face wipe at the end of the day when backpacking
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent / itch cream
- Bear spray
- First aid kit
- Toilet paper & trowelSmall container of lotion
- I bring the tiniest little bit of lotion on my trips and it’s something that I never regret bringing along
- Toothbrush & Toothpaste
- Daytime hiking outfit – For me this means shorts, breathable sun shirt, hiking socks, and hiking shoes.
- Evening/sleep outfit – I like to bring a legging layer, sweats, sweatshirt, long sleeve base layer, warm socks, and a hat.
- Camp shoes – After hiking all day I need to change my shoes, so I always bring Chacos on my trips. They can be strapped to the outside of your bag which I love. The one thing to consider is that Chacos are very heavy so a lighter sandal would probably be better.
- Extra socks and underwear
- Swimsuit – A good daytime hiking outfit could also second as a swimsuit
This trail is seasonally closed in the Winters due to snowfall. Make sure that you check on WTA or AllTrails for up to date trail conditions. If you go in the summer, be prepared for mosquito hell! When I went last July, we had read report after report on how terrible the mosquitos were at the lakes. Due to this, we packed every mosquito repellant you can think of, but I still came home with many bites. Just make sure you have some itch relief packed in your bag and don’t let them ruin your day!
Safety
Another thing that I love about Rachel and Rampart Lakes is that you are almost always around other people. This has it’s pros and cons, but if you’re a beginner I think this is a good thing. Think of these people as a community and reach out if you need help. This is not a technical trail so as long as you aren’t being reckless you shouldn’t bump into too much trouble. While this is a fairly busy trail, you might see some wildlife during your stay. Make sure that you are storing food properly, making noise along the trail, and be prepared to see wild animals. For information on wildlife in Washington, check out a blog I wrote recently on bears in Washington State.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a quick weekend backpacking trip near Seattle, this is my #1 recommendation. Go enjoy the beautiful blue lakes, views, and forested campsites. While I mentioned a lot of tips for beginners, this is also a trail for experienced backpackers. Remember, you can opt in to the longer day hikes if you are looking to push yourself. Happy hiking, and check out my list below for exact products that I like to take backpacking. Womens Backpacking BagBackpacking Sleeping BagBackpacking Sleeping PadBackpacking Tenttrowel