Glasses Lake
Central CascadesBest Jul–Sep
Faint fisherman's trail to a seldom-visited lake tucked under Grizzly Peak.
About This Trail
Glasses Lake sits directly beneath Grizzly Peak in a basin that sees only a handful of visitors per year. The approach goes through Heather Lake first, adding mileage but also context: you walk through old-growth forest along a well-maintained trail to Heather Lake, then the character changes entirely. From Heather Lake's east end, cross the log jam at the outlet, follow a fisherman's trail along the south shore, and look for faint blazes and survey tape marking the climb to Glasses Lake.
The upper trail is rough and intermittently marked. Old "no campfires" signs and occasional blazes are the primary navigation aids. The lake itself is small and tightly enclosed by Grizzly Peak's flanks, with a very different feel from the open, popular Heather Lake below. In late June, the lake can still be mostly frozen.
This is a destination for hikers who like earning their solitude through routefinding and unmarked trail. Dogs are allowed and the forest provides shade on hot days. Bugs can be fierce in midsummer at both lakes. The access road (FR 6700/6701) has some potholes but is generally manageable.
Seasonal Highlights
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
Scorecard
Fewer than a dozen trip reports in a decade. You will almost certainly have the lake to yourself.
Safety & Considerations
Persistent Hazards
- Faint, intermittently marked trail above Heather Lake
- Log jam crossing at Heather Lake outlet
- Lake can be frozen into late June
Getting There
Park at the Heather Lake trailhead. Northwest Forest Pass required. Outhouse at trailhead.
Take the road around Lake Wenatchee. Follow FR 6700/6701 to the Heather Lake trailhead. Hike to Heather Lake first, then follow the south shore fisherman's trail and look for blazes climbing to Glasses Lake.
Start at a reasonable hour. The extra mileage through Heather Lake means a full day, but no pre-dawn start is needed.
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