Holden Lake

Holden Lake sits in a glacial cirque at 5,300 feet, walled in by Bonanza Peak and its neighbors. Getting there takes some work. The trail branches off the main Railroad Creek/Lyman Lake trail about a mile from Holden Village, then grinds uphill through four miles of south-facing switchbacks on dry, brushy slopes. Shade is limited, water sources are scarce until the lake, and the trail crosses several avalanche chutes that stay brushy from annual slides. Wear long pants.

The payoff is worth the sweat. Bonanza Peak, the tallest non-volcanic summit in Washington, fills the view from the lakeshore. The basin feels remote and contained, with rock walls rising on three sides and the lake reflecting whatever the sky is doing. WTA volunteer crews have been working this trail regularly, clearing blowdowns and brushing back vegetation, so conditions have improved in recent years.

Getting to the trailhead is an adventure in itself. You take the Lady of the Lake ferry from Chelan to Lucerne, then a bus 11 miles up Forest Road 8301 to Holden Village. The bus costs $15 roundtrip and requires advance reservation. No permits are needed for the hike, but camping within 200 feet of the lakeshore is prohibited.