Horseshoe Lake
Central CascadesBest Jul–Oct
A granite-walled alpine lake above Lake Stuart with golden larch groves and views deep into the Enchantments.
About This Trail
Horseshoe Lake sits a couple miles past Lake Stuart and several hundred feet above it, tucked into a granite basin that lights up gold in October when the larches turn. The hike to Stuart is straightforward, well-maintained trail through forest. Past the lake, things change. The route climbs steeply on rooty, rocky trail with sections that go nearly vertical. Crumbled granite makes for slippery footing whether it is wet or dry.
The payoff is one of the better alpine settings in the Enchantments area without dealing with the permit lottery. Horseshoe Lake sits in open granite terrain with views of the Stuart Range, and the larch groves here are genuinely spectacular in fall. Snow lingers well into the season, so this is a late-summer and fall destination for most parties. No dogs allowed.
This is a long day or a comfortable overnight. The 16 miles round trip and nearly 3,000 feet of gain are manageable for fit hikers, but the rough terrain past Lake Stuart slows everyone down. The road to the trailhead is washboarded and benefits from high clearance. Get to the trailhead early on weekends, especially during larch season, because the lot fills fast.
Forecast
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“Challenging for a "short" day trip from Lake Stuart.”
Last report: Jun 7, 2026
Scorecard
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended; water reflection adds glare near the lake
Persistent Hazards
- steep granite slabs with loose crumbled rock
- slippery roots and rock when wet
- snow lingers into mid-summer
- no dogs allowed
- trailhead parking fills early on weekends and during larch season
Getting There
From Highway 2 at milepost 99 near Leavenworth, turn south on Icicle Creek Road, then left at 8.5 miles onto Eightmile Road. Continue 3.8 miles to the Stuart Lake trailhead lot. Trailhead toilet available. High-clearance vehicle recommended for the washboarded road. Arrive by 6:30 AM on weekends or you may not find a spot.
From the Stuart Lake trailhead, follow the well-maintained trail to Lake Stuart (about 4.5 miles). Continue past the lake on increasingly rough trail. The final push to Horseshoe Lake climbs steeply on rooty, rocky terrain through granite slabs. Follow the main trail; the route is straightforward but the going is slow above Stuart.
Early starts are essential in summer and fall. The trailhead fills by mid-morning on weekends. If doing this as a day hike, plan for 8 to 10 hours. An overnight at Lake Stuart makes the trip more relaxed and lets you catch sunrise light on the granite.
Recent Reports
Challenging for a "short" day trip from Lake Stuart. Prepare for slow going and difficulty following the trail when you reach the burn.
Did not finish. This is a trail report starting from Stuart Lake for the section from Stuart Lake to Horseshoe.
We camped at Stuart Lake and decided to do a day hike up to Horseshoe Lake. The views are absolutely epic and made the adventure worth it, but hikers should definitely be prepared for challenging trail conditions right now.
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