Peak · Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Crystal Lake Tower
16.5 mi round tripLong dayDay hike: Free self-issueOvernight: Lottery
Get alerts for this hikePermits and reservations
Day hikeFree self-issue
Fill out a free day-use wilderness permit at the trailhead kiosk. No reservation.
OvernightLottery
Every overnight stay May 15 to Oct 31 needs an Enchantment Permit Area permit: $6 to apply, then $5 per person per day.
Permit calendar
Lottery opensFeb 15
Lottery closesMar 1 · results mid-March
Unclaimed permits releaseApr 1, 7 AM PT
Permit season and daily lotteryMay 15 to Oct 31
Enchantment Permit Area rules from the Forest Service and Recreation.gov. Always confirm with the land manager before you go.
About the trail
Distance16.5 miRound trip, out and back
Elevation gainNot measuredTotal climb, round trip
SummitNot mappedFrom elevation data
Overview
Crystal Lake Tower is a peak reached by a 16.5-mile round trip from Stuart Lake Trailhead. The route follows Stuart Lake Trail, then Colchuck Lake Trail, then Aasgard Pass Trail, then Snow Lakes Trail to the summit.
Heads up: off-trail finish (summit route not mapped).
Photos from hikers
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What you need
Parking and passes
Forest Service trailhead: display a Northwest Forest Pass or an interagency pass (America the Beautiful).
Buy a Northwest Forest PassGetting there
The hike starts at Stuart Lake Trailhead. Save directions offline before you leave, since mountain roads often lose cell service.