An absolutely gorgeous fall hike up Alta Mountain. The hills were ablaze with red foliage. Lila lakes looked like Middle Earth. Rachael Lake was refreshing. A great fall hike up to Alta Mountain - this is one of my favorite hikes. The trail up box canyon is beautiful, the transition from old forest to alpine deciduous areas, following a stream bed with beautiful pools and river rock, up a nice hill to Rachael lake - beautiful in the fall and perfect for a post-summit dip. Once out of box canyon TH you will see Hibox Mountain peek into view - its a great scramble to the top. The trail to Alta follows the same route to Rampart Ridge. It kicks right passing through beautiful fall foliage - amazing reds, and follows a ridgeline, with about three false summits until you reach the rocky summit of Alta. Great 360 degree views of the entire area - you can see Snoqualmie snow area, the PCT - Kendall Peak, Red Mountain, Kendall Katwalk, Mount Thompson, Huckleberry Mountain, Chikaman Peak among others. Truly a great vantage point.
peerzat - Sep 13, 2015 5:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2015
rampart lakes romp
great campsites at rampart lakes or lila lakes. access to the PCT possible with off trail hiking. great 360deg panoramic view from the top. easy class 1-2 hike. boot path to summit.
awilsondc - Aug 21, 2015 11:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2015
Impressed
For some reason this one never seemed too appealing to me so it took me awhile to get around to it. Perhaps due to low expectations, I was blown away by this one! Amazing! I took the rocky run back door route via Lake Laura and Lake Lillian. The trail through Rampart Lakes up to the summit of Alta was stunning, and the views from the top were incredible. Lots of mountains I do are one (summit) and done, but I wouldn't be surprised if I find myself back here some day. Truly a beautiful place!
alexggoodwin - Apr 23, 2015 10:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2014
Awesome Scramble
Camped at Rachel Lake and climbed up to Alta Mountain the next day. Not a single person up there on Alta with me. Perfectly serene.
Snidely Whiplash - Nov 11, 2013 3:33 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 1992
Great Fall Colors
This is a classic. Great roaming in the alpine.
seanpeckham - Oct 21, 2013 7:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2013
overnighter from Rachel Lake
Fall colors, sunny up high, fog in Seattle: I was in no hurry to spend less time up there than I did.
Arkitekt - Jun 29, 2013 9:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2013
Success!
Finally got this monkey off my back. I did it back in 2009 but missed that all important last turn - see below. Today was different despite pretty considerable obstacles. I once again took the Lake Lillian TH but this time Snow was DEEP every where from lake Lillian up. Lillian is completely covered still.
Getting into the Rampart lakes was rough. I lost track a few times and did a bit of glissading. I probably wouldn't have gone further but I had a friend that was doing the same hike today and were taking the Rachel Lake TH. I got to the top after several confused moments and Met my friend on his way down. He had started about 30 minutes earlier.
I told him I wanted to go back down the Rachel Lake Trail after a few stellar views at the summit I descended the Rachel Lake trail. Much less snow here. It is longer but better until about late July I would suspect when Ramparts become de-thawed.
sgiles - Oct 30, 2012 9:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
fun hike
fun hike, make sure to check out Lake Lila
Jeb - Oct 13, 2012 2:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2012
Above the clouds, but in thick wildfire smoke
I was lucky to be one of very few people in western Washington to bask in the sunshine that day.
LuminousAphid - Sep 23, 2012 12:20 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2007
Long day
Did it a few years back with someone from the UW climbing club, long day from the Rachel Lake trailhead
Josh Lewis - Oct 2, 2011 12:27 am Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2011
Misty
This was a decent trail to the top, it was a fun day up. Unfortunately the views were covered by mist and clouds.
belowfellow - Feb 16, 2011 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2009
nice day
massive summit cairn
breauxtrahn - Dec 8, 2010 8:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
3rd false the first time
In '05 it was so cloudy I thought I was on the summit. Going back in the sun three years later revealed it was the last of a long string of false summits. So my summit date is '08.
magellan - Oct 24, 2010 1:24 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2007
Great Labor Day
Hike with my buds. A cool summit for sure. I have never seen so much broken glass as in the parking lot for Rachel Lake trailhead. Take your beater car, and leave the doors unlocked.
lidijagrazulis - Aug 31, 2010 1:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2010
South Ridge
Beat the weather on an iffy weekend and enjoyed the great views! Definitely a fun ridge hike/scramble to the summit. Picked lots of wild blueberries along the way!
tcingrum - Sep 6, 2020 2:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2020
AltaOne of those enjoyable peaks with a trail to the top.
kevinsa - Aug 28, 2020 5:37 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2020
AltaPleasant hike - great views.
cascadescrambler - Aug 27, 2019 10:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 19, 1995
AltaNice ridge walk above Rachel Lake
markhadland@gmail.com - Jul 3, 2018 4:47 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2015
An absolutely gorgeous fall hike up Alta MountainAn absolutely gorgeous fall hike up Alta Mountain. The hills were ablaze with red foliage. Lila lakes looked like Middle Earth. Rachael Lake was refreshing. A great fall hike up to Alta Mountain - this is one of my favorite hikes. The trail up box canyon is beautiful, the transition from old forest to alpine deciduous areas, following a stream bed with beautiful pools and river rock, up a nice hill to Rachael lake - beautiful in the fall and perfect for a post-summit dip. Once out of box canyon TH you will see Hibox Mountain peek into view - its a great scramble to the top. The trail to Alta follows the same route to Rampart Ridge. It kicks right passing through beautiful fall foliage - amazing reds, and follows a ridgeline, with about three false summits until you reach the rocky summit of Alta. Great 360 degree views of the entire area - you can see Snoqualmie snow area, the PCT - Kendall Peak, Red Mountain, Kendall Katwalk, Mount Thompson, Huckleberry Mountain, Chikaman Peak among others. Truly a great vantage point.
peerzat - Sep 13, 2015 5:01 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2015
rampart lakes rompgreat campsites at rampart lakes or lila lakes. access to the PCT possible with off trail hiking. great 360deg panoramic view from the top. easy class 1-2 hike. boot path to summit.
awilsondc - Aug 21, 2015 11:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2015
ImpressedFor some reason this one never seemed too appealing to me so it took me awhile to get around to it. Perhaps due to low expectations, I was blown away by this one! Amazing! I took the rocky run back door route via Lake Laura and Lake Lillian. The trail through Rampart Lakes up to the summit of Alta was stunning, and the views from the top were incredible. Lots of mountains I do are one (summit) and done, but I wouldn't be surprised if I find myself back here some day. Truly a beautiful place!
BooRadley - Jul 20, 2015 11:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2014
Via Rachel LakeEasy scramble with great views!
alexggoodwin - Apr 23, 2015 10:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2014
Awesome ScrambleCamped at Rachel Lake and climbed up to Alta Mountain the next day. Not a single person up there on Alta with me. Perfectly serene.
Snidely Whiplash - Nov 11, 2013 3:33 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 1992
Great Fall ColorsThis is a classic. Great roaming in the alpine.
seanpeckham - Oct 21, 2013 7:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2013
overnighter from Rachel LakeFall colors, sunny up high, fog in Seattle: I was in no hurry to spend less time up there than I did.
Arkitekt - Jun 29, 2013 9:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2013
Success!Finally got this monkey off my back. I did it back in 2009 but missed that all important last turn - see below. Today was different despite pretty considerable obstacles. I once again took the Lake Lillian TH but this time Snow was DEEP every where from lake Lillian up. Lillian is completely covered still.
Getting into the Rampart lakes was rough. I lost track a few times and did a bit of glissading. I probably wouldn't have gone further but I had a friend that was doing the same hike today and were taking the Rachel Lake TH. I got to the top after several confused moments and Met my friend on his way down. He had started about 30 minutes earlier.
I told him I wanted to go back down the Rachel Lake Trail after a few stellar views at the summit I descended the Rachel Lake trail. Much less snow here. It is longer but better until about late July I would suspect when Ramparts become de-thawed.
sgiles - Oct 30, 2012 9:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
fun hikefun hike, make sure to check out Lake Lila
Jeb - Oct 13, 2012 2:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 22, 2012
Above the clouds, but in thick wildfire smokeI was lucky to be one of very few people in western Washington to bask in the sunshine that day.
LuminousAphid - Sep 23, 2012 12:20 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2007
Long dayDid it a few years back with someone from the UW climbing club, long day from the Rachel Lake trailhead
Josh Lewis - Oct 2, 2011 12:27 am Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2011
MistyThis was a decent trail to the top, it was a fun day up. Unfortunately the views were covered by mist and clouds.
belowfellow - Feb 16, 2011 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2009
nice daymassive summit cairn
breauxtrahn - Dec 8, 2010 8:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2008
3rd false the first timeIn '05 it was so cloudy I thought I was on the summit. Going back in the sun three years later revealed it was the last of a long string of false summits. So my summit date is '08.
magellan - Oct 24, 2010 1:24 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2007
Great Labor DayHike with my buds. A cool summit for sure. I have never seen so much broken glass as in the parking lot for Rachel Lake trailhead. Take your beater car, and leave the doors unlocked.
lidijagrazulis - Aug 31, 2010 1:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2010
South RidgeBeat the weather on an iffy weekend and enjoyed the great views! Definitely a fun ridge hike/scramble to the summit. Picked lots of wild blueberries along the way!
WeatherMan - Jul 23, 2010 12:41 pm Date Climbed: Sep 13, 2009
S RidgeWent with a group to the lake... soloed up to the summit. The cairn was huge.