Little Bandera Mountain–Bandera Mountain Viewpoint, 12 lakes is a 13.9-mile out-and-back near Bandera, WA. The route passes Talapus Lake, Olallie Lake, Rainbow Lake and 5 more before reaching Bandera Mountain Viewpoint at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 4,058 ft, with sections as steep as 53% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi2,612 – 5,164 ft · steepest grade: 53%14.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Talapus Lake Trailhead 47.40119, -121.51837
Nearest town Bandera, WA
Directions
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Little Bandera Mountain–Bandera Mountain Viewpoint, 12 lakes
13.9 mi · ▲ 4,058 ft · 6 hr 40 min
Elevation 2,610–5,164 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Talapus Lake Trailhead · 47.40119, -121.51837
Weather Sep 20: Clear, high 79°F / low 56° · precip 1% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:51 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Talapus Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 1.7 miPass Talapus Lake.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 1.1 miPass Olallie Lake.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Pratt Lake Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Mount Defiance Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miPass Rainbow Lake.
- 0.2 miPass Blazer Lake.
- 0.4 miPass Sir Richard's Pond.
- 0.3 miPass Mason Lake Backcountry Camping.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Ira Spring Trail, heading W.
- 250 ftPass Mason Lake.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 500 ftBear right onto Old Mason Lake Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Ira Spring Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miSharp left onto Bandera Mountain Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miPass Bandera Mountain Viewpoint.
- 250 ftReach Little Bandera Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Ira Spring Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Old Mason Lake Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left onto Ira Spring Trail, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Mount Defiance Trail, heading NE.
- 2.2 miBear right onto Pratt Lake Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto boot trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Talapus Lake Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 1.7 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
100% dirt
Weather
ClearTemperature 79°F56°
Precip1%Wind3 mphUV5Humidity53%
Rained 0.6″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperature
80°55°
Sunrise 6:51 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:10 PM
Mon
71°52°
Tue
60°44°
Wed
61°40°
Thu
59°45°
58%
Fri
48°41°
70%
Sat
61°41°
18%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.1 mi in (~150 min). Leave by 4:20 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Talapus Lake Trailhead Trailhead
- Pratt Lake–Melakwa Lake, 9 lakes 15.8 mi · ▲ 3,633 ft
- Pratt Mountain–Talapus Lake, 4 lakes 9 mi · ▲ 2,476 ft
- Talapus Lake & Talapus Lake Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 690 ft
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Hikes near Bandera, Washington