Smelling Lake via Pilchuck River Trail
16.1 mi · ▲ 2,109 ft · 6 hr 25 min
Smelling Lake via Pilchuck River Trail is a 16.1-mile out-and-back near Pilchuck, WA. The route reaches Smelling Lake at the turnaround, 8.1 miles in. It climbs 2,109 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade. It scores 86/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Smelling Lake via Pilchuck River Trail
16.1 mi · ▲ 2,109 ft · 6 hr 25 min
Elevation 508–1,415 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: 48.02071, -121.91161
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:41 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading E.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Pilchuck River Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1.9 miTurn left, heading N.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 1 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 1.7 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miReach Smelling Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
- 1.7 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
- 1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 1.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 1.9 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.8 mi in (~57 min). Leave by 7:23 PM for the 8:41 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:41 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Pilchuck River Trail 11.4 mi · ▲ 1,767 ft
- Cleanup and streams via Pilchuck River Trail 12.8 mi · ▲ 1,847 ft
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Hikes near Pilchuck, Washington