AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Pratt Lake–Melakwa Lake, 9 lakes

15.8 mi · ▲ 3,633 ft · 7 hr 5 min

Pratt Lake–Melakwa Lake, 9 lakes is a 15.8-mile out-and-back near Bandera, WA. The route passes Talapus Lake, Olallie Lake, Pratt Lake and Lower Tuscohatchie Lake before reaching Melakwa Lake at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 3,633 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 49/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi2,612 – 4,521 ft · steepest grade: 28%16.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Talapus Lake Trailhead 47.40119, -121.51837
Nearest town Bandera, WA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pratt Lake–Melakwa Lake, 9 lakes

15.8 mi · ▲ 3,633 ft · 7 hr 5 min

Elevation 2,610–4,522 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

  1. Start on Talapus Lake Trail, heading NE.
  2. 1.7 miPass Talapus Lake.
  3. 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
  4. 1.1 miPass Olallie Lake.
  5. 0.3 miSharp left onto Pratt Lake Trail, heading E.
  6. 2.2 miPass Pratt Lake.
  7. 150 ftTurn right onto Melakwa Lake Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.5 miPass Lower Tuscohatchie Lake.
  9. 2 miPass Melakwa Lake.
  10. 300 ftContinue straight onto Denny Creek Trail, heading SE.
  11. 450 ftTurn left onto Kaleetan Peak Climbers Trail, heading NW.
  12. 150 ftReach Pratt Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 150 ftTurn right onto Denny Creek Trail, heading N.
  14. 450 ftContinue straight onto Melakwa Lake Trail, heading E.
  15. 2.5 miTurn left onto Pratt Lake Trail, heading W.
  16. 2.2 miSharp right onto boot trail, heading E.
  17. 0.6 miBear right onto Talapus Lake Trail, heading SW.
  18. 0.7 miSharp left, heading SE.
  19. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/melakwa-lake-lower-tuscohatchie-lake-out-back-5-lakes

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 7.7 mi in (~263 min). Leave by 2:27 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:58 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

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

Hikes near Bandera, Washington