Lake · Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Waptus Lake
18 mi round trip2,215 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
Distance18 miRound trip, out and back
Elevation gain2,215 ftTotal climb, round trip
Lake elevation2,966 ftFrom elevation data
Overview
Waptus Lake is a lake reached by a 18-mile round trip from Salmon La Sac Trailhead. The route follows Waptus River Trail, then Waptus Pass Trail, then Waptus Horse Ford Trail, then Waptus River 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 Salmon La Sac Trailhead. Save directions offline before you leave, since mountain roads often lose cell service.