Alta Mountain–Rampart Lakes, 8 sights

7.6 mi · ▲ 4,072 ft · 4 hr 34 min

Alta Mountain–Rampart Lakes, 8 sights is a 7.6-mile out-and-back near Hyak, WA. The route passes Lake Laura, Lake Lillian and Rampart Lakes before reaching Alta Mountain at the turnaround, 3.8 miles in. It climbs 4,072 ft, with sections as steep as 49% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 72/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi3,773 – 6,240 ft · steepest grade: 49%8.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Rampart Ridge Backdoor Trailhead 47.39081, -121.34731
Nearest town Hyak, WA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Alta Mountain–Rampart Lakes, 8 sights

7.6 mi · ▲ 4,072 ft · 4 hr 34 min

Elevation 3,773–6,240 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Rampart Ridge Backdoor Trailhead · 47.39081, -121.34731

Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:36 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lake Laura Backdoor Trail, heading NE.
  2. 0.5 miPass Lake Laura.
  3. 350 ftBear left onto Lake Lillian Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.1 miPass Lake Lillian.
  5. 250 ftTurn right, heading E.
  6. 50 ftTurn left onto Rampart Lakes Backdoor Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.4 miSharp left, heading NW.
  8. 0.7 miPass Rampart Lakes.
  9. 450 ftContinue straight onto Rampart Lakes Trail, heading NE.
  10. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  11. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  12. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  13. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  14. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  15. 50 ftBear right, heading N.
  16. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  17. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  18. 100 ftBear left, heading NW.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  20. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  22. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Lila Lake Trail, heading NE.
  23. 0.3 miTurn left onto Alta Mountain Trail, heading N.
  24. 1 miReach Alta Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  25. 1 miTurn right onto Lila Lake Trail, heading S.
  26. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Rampart Lakes Trail, heading SW.
  27. 0.1 miBear left, heading S.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  29. 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
  30. 100 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  31. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  32. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  33. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  35. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  36. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  37. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  38. 100 ftBear right, heading S.
  39. 300 ftBear left, heading S.
  40. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  41. 100 ftContinue straight onto Rampart Lakes Backdoor Trail, heading SW.
  42. 0.7 miBear left, heading SW.
  43. 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
  44. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  45. 250 ftBear left onto Lake Lillian Trail, heading SE.
  46. 0.1 miBear right onto Lake Laura Backdoor Trail, heading E.
  47. 0.4 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

90% dirt10% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 5:48 AMSunset 8:36 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.5 mi in (~159 min). Leave by 5:38 PM for the 8:36 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:36 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Rampart Ridge Backdoor Trailhead Trailhead