Labyrinth Mountain

Labyrinth Mountain extends the popular Minotaur Lake hike by another mile and 1,000 feet of climbing to a 6,366-foot summit. From the lake, the route follows boot tracks northeast past seasonal streams through increasingly open terrain before splitting around a talus field for the final rock scramble to the top. The last 250 vertical feet are steep and require hands-on scrambling over loose rock.

The summit view is the real payoff: Minotaur and Theseus Lakes lie directly below in their cirque, with Lake Wenatchee stretched out to the east, Glacier Peak dominating the northern skyline, and Mount Rainier visible on clear days to the south. Late summer brings ripe huckleberries on the approach and the first hints of fall color in the basin.

The forest road to the trailhead is rough past the Valhalla Lake parking area, with rocky patches and ruts that favor high-clearance vehicles. Most passenger cars can make it with patience and careful line selection, but expect a bumpy ride. The trail sees very little traffic, even on summer weekends, making it one of the quieter summit experiences near Stevens Pass.