Lake Wapiki Overnight

Trail Name: Indian Heaven Trail to Lake Wapiki

Enter/Exit: Cultus Creek Campground

Trip type: Out and Back

Difficulty: Difficult Due to Elevation

Distance: 9.5 Miles

Elevation: 2473’

Guide: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/indian-heavan-trail-to-lake-wapiki

Review: I first backpacked Lake Wapiki (via the Lemei Rock Trail though) in 2017. It was my nieces first trip and it was steep and tough but doable for a 10 year old. The views were dramatic and the forest were dense. In 2018 I returned with a couple coworkers but as we camped at Cultus Creek Campground on a Friday night after work, we decided to leave from the campground and follow the Indian Heaven trail to Lake Wapiki. This trip ended up being harder than expected due to the copious amounts of snow once we got into the Lakes area as well as the steep elevation.

Thankfully on my most recent trip the summer of 2023, when I took a good friend on their first backpacking trip, conditions were much more favorable. We spent the first night at the Cultus Creek Campground to get a feel for the gear and learn how to pitch the tent and use a lot of the gear. The morning of day 2 we packed up our gear and hit the trail.

The initial climb from the campground is steep and seemingly never ending. The occasional views would peek out and the forest seemed lush due to the overnight rain.

Once we reached Cultus Lake we made a turn onto the Lemei Trail which had a lost of overgrowth and grass. Due to the previous nights rain, we were quickly soaked from the waist down which led to soggy feet for the rest of the day. Eventually cresting Lemei Rock we posed for pictures before beginning the steep descent to the Lake Wapiki branch trail. Once at the trail junction you begin to climb until you emerge from the forest with Lake Wapiki expanding in front of you.  

The lake had numerous groups of people already camped there despite our noonish arrival. Thankfully we were able to find a nice campsite between Lake Wapiki and a smaller side lake. We pitched camp and began to enjoy the rest of our afternoon lakeside. The weather was calm but cool and the following morning we stayed bundled up while we packed up camp. We followed the trail back the way we came and picked up speed once we began the final long descent back to the Cultus Creek Campground.

Although there were a few regrets, like my friend not bringing his camp shoes (I talked him out of it) overall it was a successful trip especially for my friends first time.  

Rating: Come Back! I hike this trail at least once a year. Cheers!

Rating Guide:

-Gram it: Check out the pictures on Instagram because this one is not worth seeing in person.

-Hike it: It’s short and sweet. Might as well knock it out in a day.

-Bag it: Pack a bag and spend the night.

-Bring a friend: Easy enough to bring a friend. Maybe this is where you can introduce someone to backpacking.

-Come Back: I will keep doing this trip it is so good!