Twin Lakes (Wenatchee)
Central CascadesBest Jun–Oct
Forested valley hike to two large mountain lakes with old-growth cedars, a rocky canyon, and a historic fish cabin.
About This Trail
Twin Lakes Trail follows a creek valley through rolling forest and old-growth western redcedars before passing through a narrow rocky canyon where Twin Lakes Creek drops through a gap below. The canyon section requires careful footing on loose rock and narrows enough to feel exposed, though it passes quickly. The lower lake appears at about 5 km.
Both lakes sit in a forested basin with mountain views. "Lunch Rock" near the lower lake provides a natural rest spot. The upper lake area holds a 1949 Fish and Wildlife cabin and fish weirs, a reminder that this watershed serves as a breeding site for cutthroat trout. Fishing is prohibited. The lakes warm enough for swimming by August, and established campsites make overnight trips straightforward.
The trail draws light traffic even on weekends. Bugs can be aggressive from June through July. The canyon section sees occasional avalanche activity in winter, evidenced by sparse tree growth in the slide path. A Northwest Forest Pass is required at the trailhead.
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“and many tree falls on trail, we had under..”
Last report: May 24, 2026
Scorecard
Permits / Passes
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazards
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
- Trees Down
Persistent Hazards
- creek crossing - high water in spring
- rocky canyon with loose footing
- avalanche-prone canyon in winter
- no fishing - trout breeding site
Getting There
Small trailhead parking area off White River Road (FR 64). Northwest Forest Pass required. Can fill on summer weekends.
From Highway 2 at Coles Corner, turn left onto Highway 207 toward Lake Wenatchee. After 4.2 miles, bear left onto North Shore Road for 6.2 miles. Turn right onto White River Road (FR 64) for 6.3 miles. Trailhead is on the right, just before Tall Timber Camp. A creek crossing early on can run high in spring.
The moderate distance and gain suit any start time. Evening hikes to the lower lake work well for sunset views.
Recent Reports
I almost didn’t do this trail because I knew that the blow downs were bad, but I chatted with a gal in Leavenworth the same day I did this hike and she said she did it the day before and while there are blowdowns, they weren’t horrendous. She was right, while there are a lot of blow downs, only a handful posed to be tricky/cumbersome to pass (I do like a challenge though).
Highs: Very pretty, amazing wildlife, solitude for days (esp on a Monday. ) Lows: Whew the winter did a number on this trail.
This time our goal was camp at Twin lakes (Wenatchee), from beginning Mosquitos on business till lake and camping time too.. and many tree falls on trail, we had under..
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