Tank Lakes is a backpacking destination high in Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness. This incredible hike starts off unassumingly, ambling alongside the forested East Foss River before shifting gears and rapidly gaining 5,300 feet of elevation through rugged terrain dotted with lakes.

It's 12 miles one-way to Tank Lakes, with sections of rugged trail near the end. If you survive the climb to the top, you'll be rewarded with awe-inspiring views of towering snow-capped peaks, pristine alpine lakes, and plenty backcountry exploring in a stunning section of Washington's Cascade Range.

Bring your Northwest Forest Pass for parking at the Necklace Valley Trailhead, and self-issue a free wilderness permit at the trailhead kiosk. The trailhead parking area is small and will fill by mid morning - if the parking lot is full by the time you arrive, look for additional parking along the forest road shoulder.

Start your hike at the Necklace Valley Trailhead, also known as the East Foss River Trailhead 4.2 miles up Foss River Road off Highway 2. I've marked the location of the trailhead in the pin below. The gravel road to the trailhead is well-graded and passable by any vehicle.

The Necklace Valley trail's first five miles are relatively flat and easy going, and you'll pass through a dense forest with the East Foss River on your right. Along the way, you'll spot multiple dispersed campsites near the East Foss River, which make decent lunch spots.

Once you cross a foot bridge at the five mile mark, the trail begins to climb in earnest. In 3 miles of hiking you'll gain almost 2,500 feet of elevation on a rough, rocky trail, after which you'll finally reach the southern end of Jade Lake. Jade Lake is the first lake in the Necklace Valley chain of lakes, which also includes Emerald Lake and Opal Lake.



Jade Lake has a small campground on its northern end, and mountain peaks are visible to the north and the south. We saw fingerling trout jumping in Jade Lake, and stopped to take a short swim to cool off from our climb up. Despite being mid-summer, the water in Jade Lake is freezing cold, but the heat of the day made it feel refreshing.


Continuing past Jade Lake, you'll hike past the very rustic Necklace Valley cabin, Emerald Lake, and then Opal Lake. There are plenty of campsites spread around Emerald and Opal lakes, and you may also take a rest at the cabin. The cabin was built in 1950, and is a dirt-floored, wooden structure that provides some cover from the elements.

The trail past Jade Lake is abundant with wildflowers, bubbling streams, and the occasional small waterfall - for weary hikers, it is also mercifully flat. Take your time at the alpine meadows, and enjoy a brief respite: The remaining miles to Tank Lakes are a grueling climb over boulders, shale, and patches of snow.

Beyond Opal Lake, you'll arrive at a fork in the trail. Take the right fork to continue towards Tank Lakes - past the fork, the trail becomes more rugged and difficult to follow. I strongly recommend using a GPS track past this point to aid with navigation. The following pin shows the location of the camping area at southern Tank Lake.

The remaining 2-ish miles to Tank Lakes start off steep, scrambling up a brushy hillside that transitions into a boulder field. The boulder field is dotted with rock cairns to help mark the way - follow the cairns up and to your left for the easiest route. At this point, traces of trail will have all but disappeared, except for the occasional cairn.

Past the boulder field is a strenuous hike up a rocky hillside, with a view of La Bohn Peak on your left. By this point in the trail we started to feel extremely fatigued, but knew it was only a mile or less to Tank Lakes. The reassurance that we were closing in on our destination kept us in good spirits, and gave us the energy needed to push through this difficult trail section.

One painfully tough climb later, you'll crest the rightmost arm of La Bohn peak and be rewarded with the view down to Tank Lake. This view is absolutely jaw-dropping, and I found Tank Lakes to be one of the most stunning places I've ever seen. The lake is a deep blue, surrounded by rocks, snow, and Three Chief mountains. Glaciated Chimney Rock rises impressively beyond the lake - to see it in person is to truly appreciate its beauty.

Be aware that the final part of the trail is extremely difficult, and requires navigation skills. Patches of snow may linger in this area as late as August or September.


Tank Lakes has several campsites spread around the basin, all with an incredible view of the surrounding scenery. I recommend taking some time to explore the basin plateau for a view of Bear's Breast Mountain, Iron Cap Mountain, and Dutch Miller Gap.

If you're looking for additional hiking at Tank Lakes, you could scramble up the side of La Bohn Peak for a top-down view of the area, or hike cross-country to northern Tank Lake. We were lucky enough to see a black bear close to northern Tank Lake, which scurried away shortly after noticing us.


If you're visiting Necklace Valley, pack along bug spray (such as DEET), and/or clothing with good coverage. This area is notorious for mosquitoes and biting flies during the summer.

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is home to black bears, so please remember to pack bear-resistant containers, and store all food and scented items securely.

Still have questions? Send me a message over email to connect. Happy Trails!