Mileage: 16 miles RT
Elevation Gain/Highest: 2900ft/6300ft
Map: Green Trails Stevens Pass No. 176, Caltopo
Favorite Eats After Hike: The Commonwealth, Basecamp Books & Bites, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty Please.
Hike Details:
Tuck and Robin Lakes are a series of Alpine Lakes Wilderness gems up from Hyak Lake outside Salmon La Sac near Teanaway that offer white granite perches above deep turquoise pools. You start on the Deception Lakes Trail that ultimate will lead you to the Pacific Crest Trail, turning on a junction signed for the Robin Lakes Trail.
If you are looking for a long day hike or backpacking trip similar to the Enchantments without needing a permit, this route is an option. Do expect company, though, and my tips on avoiding crowds on PNW trails might be helpful.
My Hike:
8/4/2015
Well, this is an interesting “trail”. The first section is relatively mundane and flat as you hike the well traveled path towards Hyas Lake. At the junction for Tuck and Robin Lakes, however, you are suddenly heading straight up a boot path or “climber’s route” of roots and dust. The views down at Hyas Lake from above and surrounding peaks are stunning and earned through sweat (and maybe a few tears).
You get a short break at tranquil Tuck Lake with its tiny island before continuing to scramble the last section over rocks and boulders along an even more faint boot path with many social trails onto the granite slabs for breathtaking viewpoints of the surrounding mountain ranges. Robin Lakes were worth the trip but we had a lot of company at this popular destination.
Be careful at the lakes, there have been several hikers who have underestimated the shocking alpine temperature of its waters and did not survive a swim.
Directions to Tuck and Robin Lakes: From Cle Elum, head north on Hwy 903 for about 7.6 miles. Proceed on the Salmon La Sac Road for another 10.4 miles, then continue on FR 4330, the Cle Elum Valley Road for about 11 miles to the trailhead at the end of road.
Click here for more hikes off I-90 and if you would like to access Deception Pass and Lakes, you can also come in from US SR 2 on the Deception Lakes Trail which sees much fewer people.
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