Pete Lake Trail

Pete Lake Trail (#1323, ref TR 1323) is an out-and-back hike in the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, ending at Pete Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Expect a long, even tread with only a mild amount of up-and-down, with the lake reached after a ~4.5-mile walk from the trailhead.

The route follows the Cooper River corridor for much of the approach, at times running alongside small creeks. The forest cover is old-growth (western white pine and Douglas fir among the larger trees), with multiple creek crossings along the way.

Difficulty stays on the easy side for most hikers: it’s 9.0 miles roundtrip and about 400 feet of total gain, making it a steady option for day-long hiking to a high basin lake. The trail meanders rather than climbs aggressively, though there are occasional steeper bits.

On the way in, you intersect Tired Creek Trail (#1317) and then Pete Lake Tie Trail (#1323.1). The tie route is a short zigzag uphill spur that connects toward Forest Road 4616 as part of a wider loop system for bicycles—stay on the main Pete Lake Trail line for the lake approach.

As you near the destination, the main trail continues up valley past the Alpine Lakes Wilderness boundary. In the final approach, it skirts around the north shore of Pete Lake and then turns uphill briefly toward junctions that connect to Waptus Pass Trail (#1329) and Lemah Meadow Trail (#1323.2) before continuing to the lake basin.

Pete Lake sits in a broad basin at the headwaters of the Cooper River, and the shoreline campsites are a common base for longer backcountry itineraries. The area is also used by horseback riders, with equestrian travel sharing the main trail corridor where allowed.

More information: Visitor information, Pete Lake + Spectacle Lake Backpacking Trip, Pete Lake — Washington Trails Association