Lake · Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Rainbow Lake
24.5 mi round trip5,634 ft gainVery hardDay hike: No permitOvernight: Reservation
Get alerts for this hikePermits and reservations
Day hikeNo permit
Day hikes in the national park need no permit or reservation.
OvernightReservation
Every overnight stay needs a wilderness permit, year-round. Reserve on Recreation.gov or walk up in Marblemount.
Permit calendar
Early-access lotteryEarly March
Winners bookLate March to April
General reservationsLate April
Walk-up permitsMid-May to early October
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area rules from the National Park Service. Exact dates are set each year; past years followed this pattern. Always confirm with the land manager before you go.
About the trail
Distance24.5 miRound trip, out and back
Elevation gain5,634 ftTotal climb, round trip
Lake elevation5,630 ftFrom elevation data
Overview
Rainbow Lake is a lake reached by a 24.5-mile round trip from Bridge Creek Trailhead. The route follows Pacific Crest Trail, then Rainbow Lake Trail to the shore.
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 Bridge Creek Trailhead. Save directions offline before you leave, since mountain roads often lose cell service.