Washington – Mason Lake Backpacking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
After experiencing the magic of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness during my hike to the Enchantments, my close friend and I were looking to explore more of the area on a short weekend backpacking trip. Initially, we were going to try to camp at Snow Lake and hike to the lakes beyond it, but as the name suggests, it was covered in snow! It felt ridiculous because I was visiting during the late-June, 2021 heatwave in the Pacific Northwest. Since we were not prepared to sleep on snow, we opted for a quick overnight trip to Mason Lake, which was a great place to get back into backpacking shape.
Mason Lake is located in the US Forest Service, so you do not need permits to camp here. However, it is a popular day hike and overnight location, so you’ll want to get an early start on Friday and Saturday. The unrelenting climb brings you to the alpine beauty of the Cascades mountain range. In late June, there was a little bit of everything: wildflowers, snow patches, and icy streams. Although Mason Lake does not have the spectacle of mountains like the Enchantments, it was a great little getaway.
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The Mason Lake Backpacking
We geared up for the hike after avoiding all of the treacherous potholes during the drive to the trailhead (see the “Getting to the Trailhead” section below). So, we spoke with the USFS rangers at the trailhead about conditions and permits. Overnight permits are not required for Mason Lake. Also, there are other lakes to check out if there were not any spots available at Mason Lake. I encourage all people to be in touch base with the rangers, if they are available, to get see if there is any bear activity and any other tips for the trail.
Also, the trail starts with a gentle climb. There is a slight incline as you reach a cooling stream and another waterfall with a bridge. Both are gorgeous and a good place to wet a banana before encountering the climb. Then, it’s time to CLIMB. I won’t sugar coat the hike – this climb is relentless. With few flat sections, the incline increases the farther you go. Oof. The only benefit is that as you gain elevation, you get to see Rainier peek over the nearby mountain range. Also, once you reach the exposed, rocky sections, you are in the final stretch of the climb… But not the end of the trail.
After enjoying the wildflowers and view of Rainier, you will finally reach the saddle to descend to Mason Lake. This relatively short section meanders through the trees, a welcome relief after climbing in the sun. At the stream-crossing, you can look up and see Mason Lake at eye level. The trail continues around one side of the lake, and many day-trippers make their way down to the rocks at lake level. The water is glacial melt, so quite chilly. But many brave souls swam during our visit.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 3 (out of 4) stars; I enjoyed it, but I would like to explore other parts of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
- Intensity: Backpacking gear, hiking shoes, athletic clothes, plenty of water and food
- Location: Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington State
- Cost: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required to park at the trailhead
- Restrooms: Outhouse at the trailhead, one pit toilet at Mason Lake
- Distance: 7+ miles round trip
- Elevation Gain:
Highlights:
- View of Rainier as you climb!
- The evening and mornings were delightfully peaceful on the lake. We enjoyed our evening and morning with our feet in the water.
- Ability to explore more lakes beyond Mason Lake.
- It was a great way to escape the high temperatures during the heatwave.
Lowlights:
- The hike is a relentless uphill!
- Barking until bedtime – dogs are allowed in Forest Service areas, so we heard the neighbors’ dogs bark until about 9 pm.
Exploring the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
So, we set up our tent and sleeping arrangements around midday and decided to explore the other lakes beyond Mason Lake while the day-trippers were still around. Also, we ended up seeing a ton of snow and two other lakes. Also, looking at a map of the area, it’s incredible how many lakes are in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. So, I would say this area is aptly named.
Of the three lakes we saw, Mason Lake was the most picturesque. So, it was an interesting comparison to the Enchantments, where the lakes are stunning. But, I would be curious to see even more lakes! Due to snow, we had to stop at the second lake. Also, it was a surreal moment at the end of June 2021, Washington was having a record-settling heatwave, and we were trudging along in the snow. Although the elevation and snow helped, we didn’t totally escape the heat. The entire weekend, I felt on the verge of sweating.
Camping at Mason Lake
Finding a campground was a little more tricky because there is only a set amount of flat ground around Mason Lake. Also, with many of the obvious spots taken, we chose a spot next to the trail but not close to other camps. Moreover, it wouldn’t have been our first choice because we worried people would be walking by all the time. But, even by 4 pm, most of the day-trippers left, and foot traffic reduced significantly.
After dinner and in the morning, we truly enjoyed the peacefulness of the alpine lake. We went down to the lakeshore to soak our feet and marvel at the reflection of the trees in the water. It was nice to feel clean before heading to bed. In the morning, we enjoyed our coffee and breakfast near the lake, where there was a slight breeze to keep the flying bugs at bay. Even by 8 am, many of the backpackers had already packed up and hit the trail. We decided to embrace the quiet and have a slow morning at the peaceful lake before the new set of day-trippers came by.
The Return Trip
Eventually, we did pack up and make our way back to the trailhead. The return trip went much quicker than the climb but was still challenging due to the relentless downhill. And due to our leisurely morning, it was warm in the sun. However, it was fun to see Rainier sink below the mountains, which was the reverse of what we encountered on the way up. That night my hands were cramping due to the intense grip on the trekking poles I had on the way down! But all in all, it was far more manageable (and less sweaty) than the way up.
Differences Between Staying in a National Park and USFS
The two significant differences between staying in a National Park (like when I’ve stayed in Olympic National Park in the mountains and on the beach) and the Forest Service for Mason Lake was the permits and dogs. I am constantly on Recreation.gov to get permits or campgrounds. In this case, it was nice not having to reserve something back in February for June, especially with so much snow still present! We made sure to speak with the rangers before starting, who made suggestions for additional camping areas if we were unable to find a spot. Finding a campground was a free-for-all, but not impossible. During our walk to the other lakes, we saw more people camping at the first lake we encountered.
The other significant difference was pet dogs. MANY day-trippers brought dogs on the trail for a day out of the house, which I understand. But at least half of the backpackers also had dogs with them. This meant that we had barking around us for the day, which quieted down around 9 or 9:30 pm. I don’t recall any barking during the night. Being a more casual backpacker who is not doing huge mileage in the backcountry, I don’t expect to be entirely alone, but a little less barking would have been lovely.
Other than the lack of permits and dogs, everything else operated primarily the same. Bear bags or canisters are necessary, proper urination and defecation is required, campfires are prohibited, etc. To confirm, be sure to check out the Forest Service Website for the most up-to-date information.
Mason Lake Backpacking Recommendations
You’ve heard the phrase, “to get in shape,” well, a Mason Lake backpacking overnight is a great shaping trip. Although the climb is relentless, this relatively short hike with easy access from Seattle is a great way to prepare yourself for a summer of backpacking or testing out new gear. Both my friend and I tried out a few new things, and it got us ready to take on more intense hikes that we have planned later in the summer. Be sure to bring the following:
- Download a map or the Alltrails Map in advance
- Bear bag or caster – We hung my friend’s Ursack bear bag in a tree
- Tent – Nemo Hornet 2p or the super light Zpacks Tents.
- Sleeping bag – Therm-a-Rest Parsec 20 for down, Marmot Eco 20 for eco-fill, or maybe you only need a quilt.
- Backpack – Deuter or Osprey both have good options.
- Sleeping pad – Therm-A-Rest Lite for a blow-up version or a Therm-A-Rest foam pad to save your breath.
- Water filter – we used the Sawyer water filters, but I’m totally mesmerized by the Platypus gravity flow filter.
- Hiking boots – I love my Keens (this sounds like an ad for Calvin Klien underwear).
- Hiking poles – I don’t have an opinion on hiking poles yet, but if you’re looking for reasonably priced ones, check the REI Co-op.
- Headlamp – Black Diamond is a solid choice.
- Stove – Jetboils are convenient but bulky… consider a pocket stove.
- Coffee – You can use these handy pop-up pour-over packs or bring coffee grounds and a filter.
- Mug – I don’t trust plastic with boiling water, so here is something cheap, and here is something cute.
- Meals! My favorite meals right now are the Backpacker’s Pantry Thai Veggie and Mushroom Stroganoff!
- Snacks!
Getting to the Trailhead
We hiked to Mason Lake by using the Ira Spring Trailhead. You can find this trailhead on GoogleMaps and Alltrails. Although physically close to Seattle, the Mason Lake Trailhead is not the easiest to get to due to the dirt road segment. There is a three-mile dirt road before getting to the trailhead that might take you an extra half hour. We had a sedan and were able to make it by going extremely slow and avoiding potholes. By 9 am on a Saturday, the parking area was full, and we had to park an additional quarter-mile down the road. There is a pit toilet at the trailhead to utilize before you begin the climb.
Overall Thoughts: Mason Lake Backpacking
Mason Lake is a delightful little overnight destination. However, with heat and an unrelenting climb, this hike is a little more work than something like car camping or an overnight on a beach backpacking trip. I loved the alpine environment and the opportunity to get into the groove of packing and backpacking without having to get a permit in advance. Plus, the early morning and evenings were the peaceful getaway that I had hoped for. I wouldn’t say it is as picturesque as some lakes, but it was perfectly nice with wildflowers and dry ground in June.
I absolutely love the Cascade Mountains in Washington and getting to explore the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Have you visited any of the other alpine lakes in this area? I’d love to hear about it. Let me know in the comments!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
