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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260717T000000
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CREATED:20260504
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SUMMARY:Waptus River to Waptus Lake (BP-2)
DESCRIPTION:\n\n\nTrip Name\nWaptus River to Waptus Lake (BP-2)\n\n\nTrip Start Date\nJuly 17, 2026\n\n\nType of Trip\nBackpack\n\n\nRating\nBP-2\n\n\nLeader Name\nVictoria Purkey\n\n\nLeader Email\nvicop_1776@hotmail.com\n\n\nRoundtrip Drive Mileage\n290\n\n\nCarpooling Cost\n$35\n\n\nAdditional Fees\nNorthwest Forest Pass Required\n\n\nTrailhead Name\nSalmon La Sac Trailhead\n\n\nLatitude/Longitude\n(47.4097339, -121.1069073)\n\n\nTrip Description\nBeginning from the heart of Salmon La Sac, the Waptus River Trail offers miles of hiking through dry, open forest and beautiful lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The trail winds among rocky bluffs and ponds, through forest, and eventually along the Waptus River itself before climbing to one of the most spectacular destinations in the Central Cascades. Waptus Lake is one of the largest lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, located in a prominent valley along the southwestern skirt of the Mount Daniel area. From the lake, enjoy views of Bears Breast Mountain and Little Big Chief.\nMileage and Elevation\n• Total one way: 9 miles (trailhead to Waptus Lake)\n• Total round trip: 18 miles over 3 days\n• Net elevation gain: ~1,800 feet\n• Day 1 camp: ~3.1 miles in, along the Waptus River\n• Day 2 camp: Waptus Lake (an additional 5-6 miles)\nItinerary\nDay 1 — Hike ~3.1 miles from the trailhead to camp along the Waptus River. The trail follows a gentle, undulating grade for the first several miles, winding among rocky bluffs and ponds and through forest, making for a comfortable first day with plenty of time to set up camp and settle into the wilderness. There are spots to stop and cool off in the river along the way, and once at camp, enjoy wading in the river right from your doorstep.\nDay 2 — Continue ~5.9 miles to Waptus Lake. After miles of relatively flat walking, the trail meets up with the Trail Creek Trail and begins climbing away from the river before delivering hikers to Waptus Pass Trail. Note that the original hiker bridge over the Waptus River was destroyed in a flood. All hikers must now use the Waptus Horse Ford Trail (1329.1), which crosses the river and heads straight to the lake. Early in the season the horse ford can run high, so bring wading shoes and trekking poles for stability. The final mile is surprisingly flat as you cross open forest to reach the campsites at the south end of the lake. Set up camp, wade in the lake, and soak in the alpine scenery.\nDay 3 — Break camp and hike the full 9 miles back to the trailhead. With the hardest miles behind you and mostly downhill ahead, plan for a full day on the trail. At the end of the hike, we will have the option to visit the swimming hole near the trailhead before heading home.\nParking: Drivers will need a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass.\nGear: All standard backpacking essentials, including:\nBackpack, tent, sleeping bag & sleeping pad\n• Stove, fuel, cookpot, and utensils\n• Water filter or treatment tablets\n• Headlamp and extra batteries\n• Rain gear and warm layers, as alpine temperatures can drop significantly at night\n• Trekking poles, highly recommended for the river ford\n• Wading shoes for the river crossing – and for wading at camp and the swimming hole!\n• Bug spray, as mosquitoes can be significant\n• The Ten Essentials\nFood: Pack all meals plus snacks for 3 days. Don’t forget lunch for Day 1 on the trail.\nIf you have any questions or need assistance with gear selection, feel free to contact Victoria at: 951-765-7401\n\n\nApproximate Mileage\n18 over three days\n\n\nElevation Gain\n1800 feet\n\n\nDeparture Time\n7:00 AM\n\n\nSign up by\nJuly 14, 2026\n\n\n\nEach participant is responsible for their own safety and being prepared. Planning ( https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/plan-like-a-park-ranger.htm ) and preparation start with the 10 Essentials ( #ten-essentials-popup ) and staying up-to-date on road and trail conditions, permit requirements, party size limits, snowpack, wildfires, and weather.\nVisit the activity classification page ( #activity-classification-popup )  for detailed information on difficulty rating for I-MAC trip so you can sign up for activities that best match your fitness and comfort levels.\nVisit TRIP COSTS & PASSES ( #trip-costs-passes-popup ) for detailed information about trip costs.\nTo help protect and care for these special places that we enjoy exploring, I-MAC members always practice Leave No Trace ( https://lnt.org ) and follow the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace ( https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/ ). Ask your trip leader if you have questions about Leave No Trace or suggestions for helping to reduce our footprint.\n \n
URL:https://imacnw.org/events/waptus-river-to-waptus-lake-bp-2/
ORGANIZER;CN=Victoria Purkey:MAILTO:vicop_1776@hotmail.com
CATEGORIES:Backpacking
LOCATION:Salmon La Sac, Washington
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://imacnw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026_07_17_Waptus_River_to_Waptus_Lake_bp_td.jpeg
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