Lake Valhalla - 11.5 Miles Round-Trip

Lake Valhalla (4,838') is located 5.75 miles north of Stevens Pass along the Pacific Crest Trail in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness. This 24 acre lake fills a large bowl capped by Lichtenberg Mountain (5,844') and Mount McCausland (5,747').

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

The PCT follows an old graded rail bed along Highway 2 before turning up Nason Creek into the backcountry. It passes through pleasant forests and several meadows en route to the lake, which features two sandy beaches and a large Westslope Cutthroat Trout population (rainbows are also present).

Valhalla is also accessible from the Smithbrook Trailhead, a shorter route with less climbing. Consider a two-car shuttle between these convenient trailheads for a fun, nearly equidistant thru-hike:

The PCT trailhead is located between the green-roof building and fenced power station on the north side of Stevens Pass. The PCT heads NE along a wide, graded track where trains ran before the tunnel was built. It drops gently (if not uneventfully) until bending sharply NW over Nason Creek and out of view of Highway 2 (1.75 miles : 3,785'). 

The PCT wraps along a high contour line and crosses a creek into a thick forest (2.3 miles). It enters the Henry M Jackson Wilderness (3.25 miles : 4,155') and switchbacks steeply to the edge of a meadow with desirable campsites.

The trail arcs over the meadow and climbs into a second large meadow rife with berries (3.75 miles : 4,435'). It steepens above the meadow into a particularly nice forest loaded with berries and an otherwise open understory (4.5 miles : 4,740').

Steady, duff-padded switchbacks open and level across a talus field (5.0 miles : 5,010') to the route's highest point on a saddle over the lake (5.25 miles : 5,058'). Boot tracks branch off to campsites and decent aerial views of the basin. Avoid trampling sensitive heather in this area.

The main trail drops sharply off the saddle to a meadow along the inlet (5.6 miles). Follow a spur down to an outcrop on Lake Valhalla (5.75 miles : 4,838').

Hop off the outcrop to thin beaches on either side with plenty of room to cast. Backtrack and continue up the PCT for terrific views of Lichtenberg and the entire lake basin.

Valhalla is derived from the Old Norse word Valholl, which translates to 'hall of the slain'. In Norse mythology, the souls of noble warriors killed in battle were sent to an idyllic palace where they would live, fight and feast gluttonously. Today the term Valhalla is used figuratively to describe a place of honor or bliss.