Pacific Crest Trail: Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass (Section J)

Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests (I-90 to U.S. 2)

The Pacific Crest Trail’s Section J crosses the Alpine Lakes Wilderness between Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass and U.S. 2 at Stevens Pass. The Mountaineers call it very strenuous, with “nearly 16,000 feet of elevation gain,” and recommend 5 to 7 days of food, since there is no resupply.

Read the notice above first: a long middle stretch, from Ridge Lake to the Spinola Creek junction, was closed by fire in fall 2026.

The hike

The Mountaineers break the route into five legs from Snoqualmie Pass: 16.9 miles to Spectacle Lake, 17.6 more to the Waptus River, 15.3 to Deception Pass, 13.2 to Hope Lake, and 8.3 to Stevens Pass. That adds up to 71.3 miles, though the same page lists 75.

Climber Kyle hiked it southbound in three long days over Labor Day weekend 2023 and described the landmarks in order. From Stevens Pass he passed Trap Lake and reached Deception Lakes (partly on an abandoned-trail alternate over Surprise Gap), then climbed to Cathedral Pass; his landmarks there include Hyas Lake and Cathedral Rock. The route then drops to Deep Lake, then Waptus Lake, before climbing along Escondido Ridge, which he found mostly waterless, and descending about 2,000 feet over roughly 5 miles. Past Lemah Meadows and the Three Queens area, the trail reaches Spectacle Lake.

The last day crosses the high country under Chikamin Peak and the Four Brothers, which Kyle described as rocky and slow, then passes Ridge Lake and the Kendall Katwalk on the way down to Snoqualmie Pass. Backpacker’s description adds Alaska Lake and the Snoqualmie Crest, and notes that the Cooper Lake trail offers a shorter bailout (the Cooper River Trail is on the fall 2026 fire closure list).

Water was plentiful overall on Kyle’s trip. The longest dry stretch ran from the Spectacle Lake outflow to Ridge Lake, with Park Lake about 100 feet below the trail if needed, and he found cool springs near the bottom of the Escondido Ridge descent. Backpacker warns that fords of the streams feeding the Cle Elum River run highest on July afternoons.

The Mountaineers list July through September as the season and warn that snow may linger until August and has fallen in September. Neither end has public transportation, so plan a car shuttle or ride.

For a shorter trip from Snoqualmie Pass, see Snow Lake and Gem Lake. Farther east in the same wilderness, see the Enchantments.

Tips

Check the fire closure before planning anything between Ridge Lake and the Spinola Creek junction.
Carry 5 to 7 days of food (The Mountaineers).
Fill up at Spectacle Lake before the dry stretch to Ridge Lake (Climber Kyle).
Cross snowmelt streams early in the day (Backpacker).
Arrange your shuttle before you go; there is no transit at either pass.

Camping

A free wilderness permit, self-issued at the trailhead, is required for all trips into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness from May 15 to Oct. 31. Groups are limited to 12 people and stock combined. Campfires are prohibited above 4,000 feet on the west side of the Cascade Crest and above 5,000 feet on the east side. The Forest Service requires dogs to be leashed on trails off I-90 and U.S. 2 west of Stevens Pass. Climber Kyle camped at Deep Lake and at a site past the Spectacle Lake outflow.

Inside Intel: Climber Kyle stayed at a hidden site just past the Spectacle Lake outflow that thru-hikers pointed out. It was “not completely flat,” he wrote, but “With the roar of the waterfall, it was a nice site.” Backpacker suggests camping “near the junction with Spade Lake Trail, 28.5 miles in” from Stevens Pass.

Trail facts

Distance: About 71 miles (The Mountaineers’ segments, Climber Kyle); 75 (The Mountaineers’ listing; PCTA per Backpacker)
Route type: Point-to-point
Difficulty: Very strenuous
Elevation: About 16,000 feet of gain; high point about 5,800 feet (The Mountaineers)
Campsites: Dispersed; Climber Kyle used Deep Lake and a site past the Spectacle Lake outflow, and Backpacker suggests the Spade Lake Trail junction
Water: Generally plentiful, with dry stretches on Escondido Ridge and from Spectacle Lake to Ridge Lake; treat all water
Permits: Free self-issued Alpine Lakes Wilderness permit
Group size: 12
Fires: Prohibited above 4,000 feet (west side) and 5,000 feet (east side)
Trailheads: PCT at Snoqualmie Pass (I-90) and Stevens Pass (U.S. 2)
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

A not-quite-flat site past Spectacle Lake:

Climber Kyle called his camp past the Spectacle Lake outflow not completely flat. On sloped ground, side sleepers can keep their head uphill and dial in pad inflation.

Get the side-sleeper tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.