Hiking to Hart Lake in the Washington Cascades

Looking for more to explore beyond Hart Lake in the Washington Cascades?
Camp overnight at Lake Creek Campground on the Entiat River, hike to Silver Falls, or go for a swim at Entiat Falls.

CURRENT INFO

Current information and reviews for Hart Lake are available on the Washington Trails Association (WTA) website.

GOOD TO KNOW

• For many, the most difficult part of hiking to Hart Lake is getting to the trailhead. Located in the remote mountain retreat of Holden Village, this is not the hike to do on a whim. But if you are planning to visit Holden or do a longer backpacking trip through this region, Hart Lake is a beauty. Our family loves the experience of staying at Holden Village, and I’ve hiked to Hart Lake twice during our stays.
• Holden Village is a retreat center run by the Lutheran Church in a former mining village. The hike to Hart Lake is ideal if you plan to visit Holden and hope to do some hiking during your stay.
• It’s also possible to camp near Holden Village or include a stop here as part of a longer thru-hike.
• To reach Holden Village, you must take a foot ferry up Lake Chelan to the dock at Lucerne, followed by a 35-minute ride into the village on an old school bus. Two boat companies, the Lady of the Lake and the Stehekin Ferry, offer ferry service. A one-way trip from Fields Point Landing, which offers short- and long-term parking for a fee, can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on the boat. The bus trip to Holden is covered for those staying at Holden Village. Thru-hikers can submit an online transportation request ahead of time.
• The Hike Haus at Holden Village offers information and a registration log for hikers.
• Restrooms are available in Holden Village.
• Pets on leash are allowed on the Hart Lake Trail. The hard part is getting them to the trailhead. The village does not allow guests to bring pets with the exception of service animals.
• Bring water. There is no potable water available along the trial, but you can fill up your water bottle in Holden Village.
• Hiking poles are recommended. The trail to Hart Lake is sometimes rocky, and the loose sandy dirt along the final stretch to the lake is slippery.
• Hiking boots or shoes with good traction are a must.
• Bring sun protection on a clear day. The second half of the hike is out in the open, and the summer sun can be relentless.
• The Hart Lake trail is generally open from spring through fall, and closed during the winter. Expect open dates to vary depending on snow conditions.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

The trail to Hart Lake leads hikers through the woods, into a valley ringed by rocky peaks, past cascading waterfalls, and finally to a jade green lake set deep in the Cascades. In other words, it’s spectacular. Due to its remote location, the trail is uncrowded, as most of the hikers come from Holden Village. Yes, it’s a trek just to make it to the trailhead, but oh, what glories await!

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The hike to Hart Lake is good for kids who are ready to stretch their legs and tackle something a little longer. At nine miles round trip, it may be too long for some younger hikers, unless you are willing to assume the burden of carrying them. For kids who are up for it, a gorgeous mountain lake and, in late summer, a handful of juicy trailside huckleberries are the reward.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

For those looking to experience nature, spiritual renewal, art, and community, Holden Village is a truly a retreat from the pressures of modern life. Run by the Lutheran Church, it is open to all.

Even if you are not staying at Holden Village, you can take the ferry up Lake Chelan and request to use Holden’s bus transportation. Be sure to book the ferry and make your transportation request ahead of time. This option is used primarily by backpackers, as there are many longer hikes through the Cascades. Check the Holden Village website for more hiking information.

If you’re interested in exploring this area of the Cascades, but are looking for someplace easily accessible by car, I recommend the Entiat River Valley. We camped here at Lake Creek Campground, and there are several other campgrounds in the area. The short but steep hike to Silver Falls is a highlight. There are also a few great swimming holes along the Entiat River that are perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day.

Our first full day at Holden Village started off with a hike. OK, it actually started off with breakfast and coffee (always coffee) in the dining hall. I dropped our younger son off at Narnia, the children’s program Holden offers during the summer. Narnia is great for young kids, but it ends at noon, which meant one of us parents would have to arrive by then to pick him up. That parent, as it turns out, was me.

With this in mind, I didn’t actually intend to hike all the way to Hart Lake. It is, after all, a nine-mile round trip hike. But how could I turn back without at least one glimpse of this alpine beauty?

The trail to Hart Lake starts out inauspiciously on the gravel road that leads away from Holden Village and crosses into the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Before long we were on a dirt trail, passing the small hike-in campground tucked away in a wooded glade not far from the village.

There are a couple of trails that begin here. We followed the signs pointing toward Hart and Lyman Lakes. Along this stretch, the trail was mostly level and shady. Lucky for us, it was huckleberry season, and we eagerly plucked a few ripe berries from bushes along the trail.

Now that it was late August, the trail was also under siege from an abundance of fireweed and thimbleberry bushes. In a few places it was almost completely obscured by the overgrowth, but hey, at least there were no nettles!

We came to a split in the trail that directed horses to go one route, while hikers took another. The reason for the split was soon clear when we came to a narrow log bridge. No horse would willingly cross such a precarious path, but we humans had no such qualms.

The bridge proved to be a true turning point in the hike. With the forest behind us, we found ourselves in an open valley surrounded by the craggy peaks of the Cascade Mountains. In the distance, several massive waterfalls rumbled as they tumbled down rocky clefts. I was tempted to make this my turnaround point. After all, a hike to such a gorgeous spot is well worth the effort. But something inside pushed me further, just a little further. Surely there was still time…

Of course, going further also meant going faster. My son, J, stuck with me as we passed the other adults in our group, our legs stretching to meet the demands of the trail as it began to rise. What had previously been a level hike was now steadily gaining elevation.

As the trail gradually rose, we passed yet another wonder. A great sloping waterfall slid across the rocks through a verdant meadow. I had to pause to marvel at its beauty. Hart Lake, I was sure, lay just beyond the trees behind the waterfall. J and I picked up the pace.

We found ourselves panting as the trail grew rockier and steeper. This section was far more rugged than anything we had yet encountered, and I slowed my pace to keep from slipping on the loose stones (and, I admit, to catch my breath).

Fortunately, our efforts were not in vain. As we crested the highest point of the trail, Hart Lake came into view, the surrounding mountains reflected in the satin sheen of its placid waters. J and I took a few minutes for some photos, then turned right around to head back the way we came. For those with more time, the trail continues down to the lakeshore, and I highly recommend continuing on if you can. Since we turned back before reaching the lakeshore, I’m sure we didn’t hike the full nine miles, but at least we got a fantastic view.

J and I walked quickly back down the trail, careful not to slip on the rocks. Even at a fast pace, time was running out, and we finally broke into a run for the last few miles of the hike. In my case it was probably more of a jog, but I’m still pretty proud of myself. J pulled ahead at the end and made it to Holden Village mere minutes past noon, and I wasn’t far behind. Coincidentally, we weren’t the only hikers in a rush to get to Narnia. Another woman also took to trail running to make it back in time to pick up her own child, arriving right behind J.

All’s well that ends well, and while I would have appreciated more time at Hart Lake, the hike left me feeling exhilarated. We did it! And best of all, lunch was ready and waiting for us in the Holden dining Hall. There’s nothing like a good hike to work up an appetite, and the hike to Hart Lake was excellent indeed.