Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Nature reserve in Chelan County, Washington, United States.
The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a protected area in Washington's Cascade Range, covering 414,161 acres (167,605 ha) between Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass. It holds over 700 mountain lakes among craggy peaks, deep glacial valleys and granite walls. Elevations run from about 300 m to 2,870 m on Mount Stuart.
Congress established this area as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1976. That designation followed decades of conservation work beginning in 1946 to protect the mountain landscape from industrial development.
The name comes from the more than 700 mountain lakes set among granite walls and glacial valleys. Four properties in the area were listed on the National Register of Historic Places after the 1976 designation: the Stevens Pass Historic District, Salmon La Sac Guard Station, the Blewett Arrastra and the townsite of Liberty.
Hikers need permits for camping and backpacking in certain zones, especially the Enchantments area, where you must apply several months ahead. Planning early and checking local regulations before your trip will help you avoid disappointment.
The 2014 expansion added 22,000 acres in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley and gave National Wild and Scenic River status to stretches of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers. The bill rode on the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act and was signed by President Obama on December 19, 2014.
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