Lake · Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Spark Plug Lake
14 mi round trip4,554 ft gainVery hardDay hike: Free self-issueOvernight: Free self-issue
Get alerts for this hikePermits and reservations
Day hikeFree self-issue
Fill out the free wilderness permit at the trailhead kiosk.
OvernightFree self-issue
No reservation. Use the same free permit, keep groups to 12 or fewer, and camp at least 200 ft from water.
Alpine Lakes Wilderness rules from the Forest Service. Matched from official wilderness boundaries. Always confirm with the land manager before you go.
About the trail
Distance14 miRound trip, out and back
Elevation gain4,554 ftTotal climb, round trip
Lake elevation5,588 ftFrom elevation data
Overview
Spark Plug Lake is a lake reached by a 14-mile round trip from Surprise Creek Trailhead. The route follows Surprise Creek Trail, then Pacific Crest Trail, then Spark Plug Mountain Bootpath 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 Surprise Creek Trailhead. Save directions offline before you leave, since mountain roads often lose cell service.