This Picturesque Washington Lake Offers Challenging Hiking Trails With Scenic Views

Lake Ingalls is a unspoiled glacial lake hidden in the Cascade Range with Mount Stuart towering in the background. However, it's not easy to reach this spectacular spot. There are no roads, just a challenging nine-mile trailup Ingalls Pass. And yet, the lake is still quite a popular spot in Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness. You will understand why as soon as you catch a glimpse of its clear blue water.

The Cascades are a mountain range that extend 700 miles from Northern California to southern British Columbia, and they're full of volcanic peaks. Active Mount Rainier is the highest one. The 14,410-foot mountain is in the Central Cascades, much of which are covered by the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington. This massive area, which contains nearly 400,000 acres, was carved by glaciers, and is now full of glacier-covered peaks and glacier-melted lakes. Lake Ingalls, which sits more than 6,000 feet above sea level, is one of those glacial lakes.

It takes a lot of planning to reach Lake Ingalls. You will definitely need a car, since even the trailhead is remote. You can rent one at Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT), which is 77 miles away. The small, regional airport only receives flights from Seattle, though. The drive from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is nearly double the mileage,but it has nonstop flights to cities all over the world. The longer ride would also give you a chance to check out Seattle's overlooked must-see attractions.

The Lake Ingalls Trailhead is at the end of NF-9737, a rough, dirt road that covers the final eight miles of the drive from either direction. You will pass other trailheads and a campground along the way, and there's a parking lot at the end of the road. Then the Ingalls Way Trail begins. It is a nine-mile, out-and-back trail that gains nearly 3,000 feet in elevation. You should plan for it to take six hours at least. You will also need to purchase a Northwest Forest Day Pass ($5) online before you start hiking.

This trail is deceptive. It begins on the Esmeralda Basin Trail, an easy, well-maintained path through a valley filled with forests and wildflowers. In less than a half mile, you will reach a junction with Ingalls Way. When you turn right onto it, you'll start heading uphill right away. It's pretty deceptive. Ingalls Way soon leaves the forests and the wildflowers behind. Switchbacks lead up the rocky path. Another junction, this one with Longs Pass, will appear on the right. Keep going straight and climbing. You are almost to Ingalls Pass.

That is where you will get your first view of Mount Stuart. Though many of the peaks in the Cascades are volcanoes, this is the range's second-highest peak that is not. It is sheathed with glaciers, though. Sherpa, Ice Cliff, and Stuart Glaciers cover the north side of the nearly 9,500-foot mountain. Lake Ingalls sits right below it.

It;s hard not to just stop and stare when you first see Lake Ingalls. The clear blue water, with the rugged mountain peaks in the background, is simply breathtaking. Ingalls Pass splits, and two forks head down to the water. The right side is a straighter, but harder, route. While the left trail bends into the mountainside. Don't be surprised if you see mountain goats along the way.

You can walk right down to the edge of the lake, which has a sandy bottom with large rocks in it. The water is, unsurprisingly, always cold. Plus, another path circles the lake. This may add more miles to your already long hike, but the mountain views are certainly worth it. At least this trail is relatively flat, and you'll likely be stopping constantly to take photos. Eventually, since this is an out-and-back trail, you'll follow the Ingalls Pass back down the mountain. The descent is so much easier than the climb.

Since you're already in this remote part of Washington, you should explore more of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. If you're heading back toward Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass is a small West Coast town for incredible outdoor winter adventures. Then, just beyond it, the popular Snow Lake Trail is an underrated alternative to Mount Rainier. Though this hike is not nearly as hard, it does lead to another beautiful glacial lake. Lucky for you, the Cascades seem to be full of them.