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THE FOLLOWING MAP IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES.
MAP OF THE AMERICAN LAKE HIKE FROM CHINOOK PASS HIKE
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Length: 14.5 miles round trip
Elevation Change: 2575' gain
Season: Summer thru fall
Difficulty: Difficult
Permit: NW Forest Pass Required
Latitude: 46.8753
Longitude: -121.5173
Features:
This hike is not very common but is so worth the effort.
The hike can begin at the Chinook Pass parking lot,
or the Tipsoo Lake parking area. I recommend that where ever
you choose to park, do this hike clockwise around Naches Peak.
From the Chinook Pass parking area, hike south on the Pacific Crest Trail to
the bridge over Hwy 410. Then follow the PCT east around Naches Peak.
If you choose to park in the Tipsoo Lake area, then hike toward Chinook
Pass along Hwy 410 to the bridge where the PCT crosses Hwy 410, then
follow the trail east around Naches Peak.
Either way, you will hike south along the PCT for 1.5 miles where you will
reach a junction of the PCT with the trail that returns to the Tipsoo parking
area. At this point, continue south and downhill on the PCT 1.5 miles towards Dewey Lake.
There are several user trails near Dewey Lake the it's upper smaller lake.
Take time to enjoy these treasurers.
Continue south on the PCT for another 3 miles, until you reach the junction to the
American Ridge Trail and American Lake. Turn east (your left) onto Trail #958 and in
about .5 miles you will come to a bridge over the outlet of American Lake.
Don't cross the bridge, but instead just walk to your right over a very small
bluff and arrive at American Lake.
Enjoy this little gem by walking east along the shoreline. From any point
along the northern shoreline, you can just walk north a short distance to
Trail #958 and hike west to the PCT and back to Dewey Lake and up to the
junction where you are given the opportunity to take an alternate route
back to your vehicle by following a cutoff trail back to Tipsoo Lake.
If you parked at Chinook Pass, then just make your way back uphill to the pass.
The north end of American Lake
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How to get there:
Trailhead: N46.8753, W121.5173 (click for directions)
From the Yakima, WA area travel on Hwy 12 about 4.5 miles west of Naches, WA.
Hwy 12 will then turn left, but you keep straight ahead on Hwy 410. Follow Hwy 410
for another 47 miles and you will come to a trailhead parking area on your right.
This trailhead connects to the Pacific Crest Trail, which for our purposes offers
two hikes. One to the north to Sheep Lake and Crystal Lake, and one to the south
to the Naches Loop Trail.
Coming from the northwest follow Hwy 410 from Enumclaw, WA for about 41 miles
then turn left and follow Hwy 410 up to Chinook Pass. Just a bit further on your
left will be this major trailhead.
Coming from the southwest follow Hwy 12 to the junction of Hwy 123. Turn left
onto Hwy 123 and follow it the junction with Hwy 410. Then turn right and
follow Hwy 410 up to Chinook Pass. Just a bit further on your left will be
this major trailhead.
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