Near Placid Lake Trail #29
Mount St. Helens from the Placid Lake Trail
Near Placid Lake Trail #29
Placid Lake
Near Placid Lake Trail #29
Placid Lake on a cold Fall morning
Near Placid Lake Trail #29
Fall colors along the Placid Lake Trail

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Driving Directions
Hike Trail

Placid Lake Trail #29

4.0 (1 Rating)
Short access to the Pacific Crest Trail through colorful alpine meadows.
2.9
mi
Distance
997
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Commonly BackpackedFall ColorsFamily FriendlyLakeLess CrowdedSwimmingViews
Access Issues
The usual federal wilderness area regulations and restrictions apply here. There may also be additional wilderness-specific restrictions in force; check with the district office if in doubt. Practice Leave No Trace (LNT) backcountry skills and ethics. Camp 100 feet from fragile areas; bury human waste at least 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites. This trail is usually closed by snow from November to June. Large patches of snow can linger into August.

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
2.9mi
Distance
997ft
Elevation Gain
92ft
Elevation Loss
15%
Max Grade
5,023ft
High Point
4,050ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
This heavily used trail begins at the Placid Lake Trailhead on the northwest side of Indian Heaven Wilderness. It starts by traveling southeast through large timber, passes Placid Lake, then the intersection with the Chenamus Lake Trail #29A, and then continues up the west slopes of Bird Mountain to where it ends on the Pacific Crest Trail (USFS #2000). This trailhead and trail can be quite busy on summer and Fall weekends - visit mid-week if possible. Mosquitos are also bothersome during the high summer months. Visits between early September and late October are ideal for Fall colors.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

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Contributors
BK Hope