Lake Ingalls is a 9-mile round-trip hike with 2,500 feet of elevation gain to an alpine lake right under Mount Stuart. It starts at the end of the North Fork Teanaway Road north of Cle Elum, and it’s one of the most popular hikes in the Teanaway.
Quick facts
- Distance: 9.0 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 2,500 feet
- High point: 6,500 feet
- Difficulty: Hard
- Trailhead: Ingalls Way (#1390), shared with Esmeralda Basin
- Pass: Northwest Forest Pass (opens in a new tab) or America the Beautiful pass
- Dogs: Not allowed past the first 0.4 mile
- Wilderness: Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Why go
The payoff is the lake itself, with Mount Stuart rising straight up behind it. On the way you climb through Headlight Basin and over Ingalls Pass, with the Esmeralda Peaks across the valley.
Fall is the big season. The larches around the basin turn bright orange, and summer weekends get busy, so start early.
Our take: Good trail, but there’s quite a bit of scrambling to do toward the end.
Getting there
From I-90, take exit 85 and follow Highway 970 for 7 miles. Turn left on Teanaway Road, stay on the North Fork Teanaway Road, then continue on Forest Road 9737 (unpaved) past the Beverly Campground turnoff, bearing right at the fork for Trail 1394. The trailhead is about 22.5 miles from the Highway 970 turnoff. If the lot is full, park only on the west side of the road.
Before you go
- Bring a Northwest Forest Pass (opens in a new tab) for the trailhead.
- Leave the dog at home. Dogs are only allowed on the shared first 0.4 mile.
- No camping at the lake. Headlight Basin, off the right fork of the trail, has campsites.
- Always check to make sure the trails are open before you go.
- Packing list: our hiking gear checklist.
Common questions
How long is the Lake Ingalls hike?
Lake Ingalls is 9.0 miles round trip with 2,500 feet of elevation gain, topping out around 6,500 feet.
Can you camp at Lake Ingalls?
No. Camping is prohibited at the lake. Hikers who want to camp use the sites in Headlight Basin, off the right fork of the trail.
Can I bring my dog to Lake Ingalls?
No. Dogs are only allowed on the first 0.4 mile, up to the Esmeralda Basin junction.
Trail stats from Washington Trails Association (opens in a new tab). Last checked October 11, 2026.
More in this area: Esmeralda Basin (same trailhead), Navaho Pass, the Teanaway area guide and all Teanaway hikes.
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