Rainbow Lake–Island Lake, 3 lakes is an 11-mile out-and-back near Rockdale, WA. The route passes Rainbow Lake before reaching Island Lake at the turnaround, 5.5 miles in. It climbs 2,903 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi1,864 – 4,561 ft · steepest grade: 18%11.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Pratt Lake Trailhead 47.39784, -121.48649
Nearest town Rockdale, WA
Directions
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Rainbow Lake–Island Lake, 3 lakes
11 mi · ▲ 2,903 ft · 5 hr 7 min
Elevation 1,865–4,561 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Pratt Lake Trailhead · 47.39784, -121.48649
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:51 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Pratt Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 4 miBear left onto Mount Defiance Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miPass Rainbow Lake.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Island Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miPass Island Lake.
- 50 ftReach Rainbow Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Mount Defiance Trail, heading SE.
- 1.2 miBear right onto Pratt Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 4 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
96% dirt4% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:51 AMSunset 7:10 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.7 mi in (~191 min). Leave by 3:38 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Pratt Lake Trailhead Trailhead
- Pratt Lake & Pratt Lake Trail 11.7 mi · ▲ 3,083 ft
- Mount Defiance–Blazer Lake, 7 lakes 15.1 mi · ▲ 4,715 ft
- Blazer Lake–Rainbow Lake, 3 lakes 11.3 mi · ▲ 3,161 ft
- Little Bandera Mountain–Bandera Mountain Viewpoint, 10 lakes 15 mi · ▲ 4,775 ft
- Talapus Lake–Olallie Lake, 3 lakes 10.1 mi · ▲ 2,873 ft
- Pratt Mountain & Pratt Lake Trail 10 mi · ▲ 3,221 ft
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Hikes near Rockdale, Washington