Copper Glance Lake Hike: An Incredible Larch Hike Near Winthrop
If you're looking for one of the best larch hikes near Winthrop without the enormous crowds found on some of the more popular North Cascades trails, Copper Glance Lake is an excellent choice. This somewhat lesser-known hike takes you through a recovering burned forest, past impressive granite peaks, and eventually to a stunning emerald-green alpine lake surrounded by golden larches.
We hiked Copper Glance Lake during peak larch season in early October and were absolutely blown away by the scenery. Despite visiting at one of the most beautiful times of year, we encountered only about 15 other hikers throughout the day. Compared to the crowds at places like Maple Pass or Lake Ingalls, it felt surprisingly quiet.
The hike is certainly challenging, particularly during the first couple of miles, but the combination of rugged mountain scenery, brilliant fall colors, and a spectacular alpine lake makes it well worth the effort.
Copper Glance Lake Trail Details
Trail Information | Details |
Location | Near Winthrop, Washington |
Region | North Cascades / Pasayten |
Distance | 6.8 miles round trip |
Elevation Gain | ~2,750 feet (our GPS) |
Difficulty | Hard to strenuous |
Best Time for Larches | Early October |
Parking | Small lot, approximately 7–10 vehicles |
Road Conditions | Generally accessible for passenger vehicles |
Our Rating | Highly recommended, especially during larch season |
Getting to the Copper Glance Lake Trailhead
One of the nice things about Copper Glance Lake is that the trailhead is relatively easy to access compared to some other remote hikes in the North Cascades.
From Winthrop, you'll head north toward Eightmile Road (Forest Service Road 5130), which leads to the Copper Glance Lake Trailhead. Although you're traveling into a relatively remote area, we found the road to be in good condition and suitable for most passenger vehicles.
The biggest limitation is parking. The trailhead has a very small parking area, with room for roughly 7–10 vehicles at most. We would recommend arriving early, particularly during the first two weekends of October when larch season is at its peak.
Hiking to Copper Glance Lake
The First 1.8 Miles: A Steep Climb Through Burned Fores
Copper Glance Lake certainly doesn't ease you into the hike. The first 1.8 miles are quite steep, with sections approaching 1,000 feet of elevation gain per mile.
Much of this initial section travels through a forest impacted by wildfire. Although the scenery isn't quite as spectacular as what awaits farther up the trail, there are occasional mountain views along the way.
After about a mile, the surrounding granite peaks begin to come into view, giving you a preview of the incredible scenery ahead.
Around 1.25 miles, the trail starts to enter more open terrain, offering increasingly impressive views of the surrounding mountains. We found this to be the point where the hike really started to become enjoyable from a scenery standpoint, even though our legs were definitely feeling the climb.
Miles 1.8–2.5: Mountain Views and the First Larches
After approximately 1.8 miles, the trail begins to level out somewhat, with a mixture of smaller climbs and descents.
The scenery throughout this section is fantastic, with open views of the rugged granite peaks surrounding the valley.
At approximately 2–2.5 miles, we started encountering our first significant stands of larches. Initially, they were somewhat scattered, but they became increasingly numerous as we continued toward the lake.
During our visit in early October, the trees were displaying brilliant golden colors, creating a beautiful contrast against the gray granite mountains.
The Final Descent to Copper Glance Lake
One interesting aspect of this hike is that you actually descend approximately 400–500 feet after reaching the upper portion of the trail.
This means you'll have some additional climbing to do on your return trip, something worth remembering if your legs are already tired.
As you descend, Copper Glance Lake finally comes into view, and it is absolutely spectacular.
The lake has a surprisingly vibrant emerald-green color and is nestled beneath dramatic granite peaks. During peak larch season, the surrounding trees turn brilliant shades of gold, creating one of the most beautiful alpine settings we've encountered in the North Cascades.
For us, this was unquestionably the highlight of the hike.
There are plenty of rocks around the shoreline where you can relax, enjoy lunch, and take in the scenery. We would recommend spending some extra time here, especially if you happen to visit during peak fall color.
When Is the Best Time to See Larches at Copper Glance Lake?
If your primary goal is to see golden larches, we would recommend planning your hike during the first week or two of October.
We visited during peak larch season, and the colors surrounding the lake were absolutely incredible although maybe a couple days past true peak.
Like other high-elevation larch hikes in Washington, the exact timing can vary depending on weather conditions, temperatures, and early-season snowfall.
We would generally aim for the first week of October, while keeping an eye on recent trail reports. By mid-October, some years may already have significant snowfall or larches that have passed their peak.
Of course, Copper Glance Lake would still be a beautiful destination during the summer months, with impressive mountain views and a gorgeous alpine lake even without the golden larches.
If you're planning a fall hiking trip to the North Cascades, timing your visit can make a huge difference. We've analyzed years of historical trail reports to determine the best time to see larches in Washington, including when golden larches typically peak at popular destinations like Lake Ingalls, Cutthroat Pass, and the Enchantments. Copper Glance tends to be about 3-4 days earlier than these hikes and it's a great resource if you're trying to plan your trip around peak fall colors.
Another fantastic fall hike in the Winthrop and Mazama area is Grasshopper Pass. While Copper Glance Lake features a gorgeous alpine lake and steep granite peaks, Grasshopper Pass offers spectacular ridgeline views throughout much of the hike. Both are excellent choices for a fall hiking trip to the North Cascades.
Can You Backpack to Copper Glance Lake?
Copper Glance Lake is also a possible backpacking destination, although we found the camping options somewhat limited.
There appeared to be a few potential campsites in the surrounding area, but we didn't notice many obvious places to pitch a tent directly along the lakeshore.
Much of the area immediately surrounding the lake is rocky, so finding a comfortable campsite could take some searching.
We would consider this primarily a day hike, although backpacking could certainly be an option for those who want to spend more time exploring the area. As always, camp only in appropriate established sites and follow Leave No Trace principles.
How Difficult Is Copper Glance Lake?
We would rate Copper Glance Lake as hard to strenuous, primarily because of the significant elevation gain concentrated in the first couple of miles.
Although the hike is only 6.8 miles round trip, it packs in a considerable amount of climbing. The initial ascent will definitely work your legs, and the additional uphill sections on the return trip make it more tiring than the mileage might suggest.
We also found some of the exposed, loose sections of trail a little slippery on the descent, so trekking poles would be helpful.
That said, we didn't encounter anything particularly frightening or technically difficult. For experienced hikers who are comfortable with steep trails, Copper Glance Lake should be very manageable with adequate preparation.
Is Copper Glance Lake Worth Hiking?
Absolutely! We think Copper Glance Lake is one of the most underrated larch hikes near Winthrop.
While the initial climb through the burned forest isn't the most exciting, the scenery improves dramatically as you gain elevation. By the time you reach the upper trail and descend toward the lake, you're surrounded by rugged granite mountains and beautiful alpine scenery.
During peak larch season, the emerald-green water surrounded by brilliant golden trees is a truly spectacular sight.
Perhaps our favorite part was how relatively uncrowded the trail felt. Despite hiking during peak fall colors, we encountered only around 15 other people throughout the day.
We suspect Copper Glance Lake will become increasingly popular as more hikers discover it, but for now, it remains a fantastic alternative to some of the more crowded larch hikes in the North Cascades.
If you're visiting Winthrop in early October and don't mind a challenging climb, we would highly recommend adding Copper Glance Lake to your fall hiking list.
Looking for more incredible trails? Check out our guide to the best hikes in Washington for more of our favorite mountain adventures throughout the state and see where Copper Glance rates. You can even filter by larches!
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