Washington has tons of iconic and well-known hikes. But, Winchester Mountain is a hidden gem for a reason.
My husband and I wanted to do something special for our wedding anniversary, so we decided to hike this trail and… WOW, it was the best decision. Blueberry bushes turned bright crimson, yellows reflected off of the ground cover along the path, while two deep blue lakes sat below. At the top, I felt like I was in a sea of mountains.
I fell in love with this area and now I want to return every single year.
So, find out everything you need to know to take on the Winchester Mountain trail in my guide below. Happy trails! 🥾
Planning Your Winchester Mountain Hike
Quick Hike Stats
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation: 1350 feet of gain
Type: Out and Back
Length: 2.5-3 hours total
Difficulty: Moderate
Things to Know Before You Go
🎫 An America the Beautiful Pass or Northwest Forest Pass is required for anyone that parks at the Twin Lakes area. You can pay for a $5 daily pass when you get there if you do not have an annual pass.
🛞 I recommend that you have Four Wheel Drive or All Wheel Drive, as well as a high suspension to drive to the Winchester Mountain Trail.
🅿️ There is parking at the trailhead, but it can get crowded on weekends. Plan to arrive early to get a spot.
🦮 Dogs are welcome on the trail, but they must be kept on a leash.
⛈️ Weather can change quickly in the Pacific Northwest. Make sure to pack waterproof layers and check the forecast before you go.
🚻 There is a pit toilet at the beginning of the trail, so you can use it before you head up!
📲 I recommend downloading the trail map on either Alltrails or the WTA Trailblazer app.
🐻 This area is known to have wildlife like bears, cougars, and deer. If you see wildlife, make sure to give them plenty of space.
🌿 Remember to always follow the Leave No Trace Principles to allow everyone to enjoy the trail!
Getting to the Hike
Winchester Mountain Trail is located up, up, up in Mount Baker- Snoqualmie National Forest.
At first you will drive as if you are heading to the top of Mount Baker, where Artist Point is, before veering off onto a smaller forested road. I recommend stopping at Wake N’Bakery, right off WA-542, for a coffee and breakfast pastry along the way!
You’ll start on WA-542, until you see the left turn for NF-3065 at about 30 miles in. From there, you’ll continue on an unpaved road for 4ish miles.
As soon as you pass the Yellow Aster Butte trailhead, the road becomes unmaintained for the final two miles. This part gets very rough as you twist and turn over mountainous rocky terrain. It takes about 20 minutes to get up from here. Drive slowly and eventually you’ll crest over a hill and see the two gorgeous lakes in front of you.
I was confused when we got up there where to go, but you should continue past the first lake. Then, you’ll see plenty of parking by the trailhead sign and stunning views over the other lake. You’ve made it to the trail!
Do You REALLY Need 4WD To Access Winchester Mountain?
Do I think you could make it to Winchester Mountain without 4WD? Yes.
Do I recommend it? No.
The road up to Winchester Mountain gets incredibly rough as soon as you pass the trailhead for Yellow Aster Butte. From there, it’s a steep, and rocky road with a few hairpin turns along the way.
It felt like I was driving in a roller coaster as we took our Toyota 4Runner to the top as we made our way slowly over bumps with steep drop offs below. Honestly I think I would have felt uncomfortable in any car that wasn’t similar. There were multiple points where we came to a turn, only to realize we had to reverse back down it, as another car was coming down the very narrow rocky road.
If you don’t have experience driving on really rocky roads, then I’d skip this and wait to do it some other time.
Best Time to Hike in Mt Baker
Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is incredibly large with tons of areas to explore. It’s also gorgeous year round, but the best time to hike Winchester Mountain is from late spring through fall.
The road to Winchester Mountain is unmaintained and it’s usually closed to vehicles from November through May. 🚫
So, unless you want to snowshoe for many extra miles, you need to access this area during the peak hiking months!
In the summer, this trail is absolutely stunning with lush trails and gorgeous wildflowers and then in the fall it’s covered in vibrant reds and oranges. We went in mid-September and there were already incredible fall colors, it blew us away!
Just make sure to check trail conditions before you head out because there are sometimes road blockages or early snow that will make it hard to access.
Backpacking Winchester Mountain Lookout
I cannot wait to go back to Winchester Mountain and camp! We couldn’t do it this time, but we will be going back as soon as we can! There are so many great options for those that want to extend their day trip into an overnight.
Winchester Mountain Lookout
First of all, at the very top of Winchester Mountain, sits Winchester Mountain Lookout. And, the best part is that you can camp there!
It’s first-come, first served and is open during the hiking season generally from June through October.
Inside the lookout, you’ll find simple beds that you can use. However, you’ll have to bring your own bedding. I recommend at least having a sleeping bag and a pillow. Then, you can spend a night in a fire tower, have a little extra warmth, and enjoy a truly unique experience!
Backpacking
Luckily, if the fire tower is occupied, you can still backpack on the mountain!
There are a few great tent spots that overlook the panoramic landscape with a flat area to set up your tent. It’s the perfect perch to watch a sunset and enjoy stunning views over the entire area.
But, make sure to pack all the water you need before heading up the mountain, there’s no water at the top!
camping
The best part about this area, is that you can also car camp! The Twin Lakes have campsites right on the water, where the water reflects the mountains above. At sunset, enjoy the quiet of the area while the alpenglow shimmers on the peaks.
They are first-come, first-served, but you can simply drive up and snag them. We visited on a random Thursday and many of the spots were already full. So, you will definitely want to head up early on a weekend if you want to camp in these picturesque spots.
There’s truly something for everyone up in the Twin Lakes area!
Packing Guide
Winchester Mountain is a great day hike or backpacking trail! It’s just 3.5 miles round trip, so it should only take a couple of hours.
That being said, you should always be prepared for inclement weather and bring the essentials! Storms can blow in extremely quickly in the high mountains.
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Hiking poles
- Water Reservoir
- 1 Liter of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Bug Spray
- Rain jacket
- America the Beautiful or Northwest Forest Pass
Other Hikes Nearby
If your heart was set on Winchester Mountain, but you realize you can’t make it in your car, don’t worry there are plenty of other AMAZING trails in the area to conquer!
- Yellow Aster Butte is literally just down the road from Winchester Mountain and it’s famous to locals for the amazing fall colors. I haven’t conquered this one yet, but it’s super high on my list.
- Chain Lakes Loop– You’ll find the Chain Lakes Loop Trail off of the parking for Artist Point at the very top of Mount Baker. it’s one of my all time favorites!
- Ptarmigan Ridge Trail – Ptarmigan Ridge is another super popular hike in the area. It’s difficult and long, so just make sure that you’re ready for a challenging trail.
Winchester Mountain Trail Description
Winchester Mountain Trail is one of the best hikes, if you want to do something short that has MIND-BOGGLING views!
The trees thin out and suddenly you’re walking through a postcard. I seriously kept stopping to take it all in and I couldn’t stop myself from saying “WOW” every few feet. Two lakes, one the color of turquoise glass, the other a deeper navy, sit side by side below you. Ahead, Mount Baker fills the horizon, its glaciers blinding in the afternoon light.
As you continue, mountains continue to appear, until there are waves of mountains all around.
With one final push, you’ll get to the top where Winchester Mountain Lookout sits, overlooking 360 degrees of mountains, and the two dark lakes below. As you peek around the summit, there’s some new rocky summit to take in at every angle. Canada is just over a couple mountains away!
This is one of those hikes that will wiggle its way into your heart.
Final Tips for Hiking Winchester Mountain
My husband and I love hiking together, so there was truly no better way to spend our anniversary than on one of the best trails we’ve found. We took a couple selfies, sat on a rock, enjoyed a sandwich, and took it all in. It was an anniversary that we will always remember.
Now, I hope that I’ve convinced you to add this incredible hidden gem to your bucket list!
Did you enjoy this guide? Let me know in the comments
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