Little Kachess Trail

Little Kachess 1312

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Ranger's Report

Weather

Road Condition

Pass Cam

Distance:

5 miles one way

Hiking Time:

3 hours

Trailhead Elevation:

2300 ft

Elevation Gain:

300 ft

Season:

May - September

Difficulty:

Strenuous

Rating:

Best - Very Good - Good - Fair

Use:

Moderate

Users:

Hikers, bikers

Region:

Cle Elum Ranger District

Maps:

USGS Kachess Lake & Polallie Ridge
Cle Elum Ranger District Map
Printable Topo Map

Permits:

Northwest Forest Pass is required
$4 parking fee at the Kachess Campground

Driving Directions:

From Seattle take I-90 East to Exit 62. Turn left at the Stop onto Kachess Lake Road #49 and follow it for about 5.2 miles to the T junction. Turn right at the junction and enter Kachess Campground. Trailhead is on the north side of the campground, near the Box Canyon Creek.

Trailhead:

Good parking, water and accessible toilet are available at Kachess Campground. The campground is closed October 2 through around Memorial Day weekend (depending on the snow situation). You may park your car along the road, this will add about a mile to your hike.

Trail:

September 13, 2000

The trail goes along the Box Canyon Creek, crosses the creek on a wooden bridge and in about 0.5 mile reaches a viewpoint, overlooking the lake. This part of the trail wheelchair accessible. The next 3.5 miles are quite strenuous with constant elevation gain and loss. Most of the time the trail goes through the woods, at times entering open slopes , and sometimes coming closer to the lake . On the north shore of the lake the trail joins the Old Mine Road, evens up and continues for another mile to the junction with Mineral Creek Trail #1331.