Hanson Lake via Pilchuck River Trail
12.3 mi · ▲ 2,261 ft · 5 hr 14 min
Hanson Lake via Pilchuck River Trail is a 12.3-mile out-and-back near Pilchuck, WA. The route reaches Hanson Lake at the turnaround, 6.2 miles in. It climbs 2,261 ft, with sections as steep as 28% grade. It scores 91/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Hanson Lake via Pilchuck River Trail
12.3 mi · ▲ 2,261 ft · 5 hr 14 min
Elevation 510–1,664 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 48.03462, -121.91473
Weather Sep 4: Light drizzle, high 69°F / low 52° · precip 27% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:45 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 1.2 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Pilchuck River Trail, heading E.
- 3.5 miTurn right, heading E.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading NE.
- 0.3 miReach Hanson Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 3.5 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 1.1 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~15 min). Leave by 7:10 PM for the 7:45 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:10 PM — 7 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
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Hikes near Pilchuck, Washington