Much To Offer

Take one fork in the trail for stunning mountain views or the other fork for crystal clear lakes with camp sites.  Crystal Peak offers great Mt. Rainier and territorial views.  The other option is to go to upper and lower Crystal lakes for camping near alpine flower meadows. 

The first two miles of the trail are heavily wooded switch backs with approximately 1,800 feet of the 2,300 feet elevation gain.  At 1.5 miles from the trailhead, you will encounter a fork in the trail.  The right fork goes 2.5 miles to 6,595 ft. Crystal Peak.  The fork to the left goes 1.1 miles to lower Crystal Lake and 1.6 miles to upper Crystal Lake.

The upper Crystal lake trail continues past the lake and up the ridge to join the Pacific Crest Trail at Sourdough Gap.  Gorgeous views of the lake, Crystal Peak and Mt. Rainier can be seen from the Sourdough Gap area.  The Pacific Crest Trail can be optionally followed past Sheep Lake to the Chinook Pass trailhead.  Add 1/2 mile and 600 feet altitude gain to the trip if you decide to go to Sourdough Gap.  The distance from upper Crystal Lake to the Chinook Pass trailhead via the Pacific Crest Trail is 3.9 miles.