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View Trail Map in AppA permit is required for all visitors; day-use permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead. Overnight permits for the Stuart Zone are distributed by annual lottery at recreation.gov. A Northwest Forest Pass or equivalent is required for parking.
Path Type
There and Back
The Stuart Lake Trail begins at the Stuart Lake Trailhead (~2,930') at the end of Eightmile Road, 12 miles from Leavenworth via Icicle Creek Road. Follow the Stuart Lake Trail (#1599) south through mixed forest along Mountaineer Creek. At 2.1 miles, reach a signed junction — continue straight on the Stuart Lake Trail (#1599); left is the Colchuck Lake Trail. The trail continues south and then southeast through increasingly open forest with Mountaineer Creek below on the right and the slopes of the Stuart Range rising to the south. The trail crosses a number of side drainages and climbs gradually before reaching Stuart Lake (~5,064') at approximately 4.5 miles. The lake sits below the dramatic north face of Mount Stuart, which dominates the view at the far end of the basin. The shoreline offers multiple vantage points looking back north down the approach drainage. Return on the same trail.
All Clear
From the trailhead to the fork between Colchuck and Stuart it was dry and dusty. After going on the specific trail to Stuart there are areas where brush has overgrown the trail and there are fallen trees in places, but overall a clear and easy trail to follow
All Clear
Set out to do Colchuck Lake and backtrack to camp at Lake Stuart. Got a late start and managed to get a good spot in the overnight spots, lot of cars at trailhead and definitely a lot of day hikers parking in the overnight spots. Made good time to Colchuck with the last 1.5 miles being the worst bit. No snow and trail is protected from the wind. Lake Stuart was beautiful even with a rain shower coming in. Plenty of spots to camp without being close to people. Bugs were present but not bad at all.
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