Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap Trail is a 5.9 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Naches, Washington and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, trail running, and backpacking and is best used from July until October.
kid friendly
backpacking
hiking
trail running
no dogs
NOTE: No Dogs allowed in Mount Rainier National Park.
Love this hike. Fairly easy to lake but a pretty good work out to the gap. Keep going through gap and stay left on the trail. There's another gap with lake and view of Rainier. No dogs past that point. National Park boundary.
For how many people use this trail it was in pretty good condition. The views are great and the area very clean. I went with a scout troop and even the youngest made the hike to the lake with a pack with only a few breaks. It was difficult to find an empty camp site because we arrived late Friday (around 9pm) but the trail was easy to follow. I will be taking my family up here in the near future.
Trailhead is very easy to find, just past the restroom at end of parking lot. Very nice hike, no bugs in September. Can be a bit dusty if no rain recently and you are following hikers. Suggest hiking past the gap towards Crystal Lake for views of Mt Ranier. Sheep Lake is very picturesque and a great short hike.
Such a nice hike
I couldn't find the trail head. anyone know where it is.
Nikki B.
Great trail for the kids. Gradual incline up to the lake. 1st part of the trail has a steeper drop off on the side and you can hear the cars on 410 but as soon as you round the corner about a mile in all car sounds fade. Lake has a couple of great areas to relax and eat lunch and play in the lake. We continued on to Sourdough Gap and had great views of the Cascades and Mt. Adams.
Linda M.
Top of Chinook Pass, East of Tipsoo Lake, large paved parking area. Requres USFS Forest Pass. Starts at 5,400 at pass, 5,800 elevation at lake. it is on the Pacific Crest Trail. lots of bugs at lake! fabulous views. trail is narrow in places.