At a glance
- 3.6 mi round trip
- 400 ft
- Out & back
- Easy
- National Forest
Best late July to October for wildflowers and clear trails. Chinook Pass (Highway 410) closes for winter; a Northwest Forest Pass is required to park.
Sheep Lake is a small gem: an easy alpine-lake hike that happens to follow the Pacific Crest Trail from Chinook Pass. Per the Washington Trails Association, it is a roughly 3.6-mile round trip with about 400 feet of elevation gain, reaching a high point near 5,750 feet.
There is a nice irony here. Inside Mount Rainier National Park, the PCT is the one trail where dogs are allowed — and this section, just outside the park boundary on Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest land, is dog-friendly throughout. So you get the PCT experience without the park’s restrictions.
With your dog
Dogs are welcome on leash. The trail is relatively short and gentle, which makes it a strong pick for families and newer hiking dogs. It is open and exposed in stretches with backcountry campsites near the lake, so bring sun protection and water. Because it is popular and close to the highway, a GPS tracker is reassuring if you stop to enjoy the lake.
Getting there
The trailhead is at Chinook Pass on Highway 410. Remember that Chinook Pass closes for winter — this is firmly a late-summer to fall hike, at its best from late July through October when the wildflowers are out. A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park.
Gear for this hike
Ruffwear
$99.99Ruffwear Approach Pack — Research Review
The Ruffwear Approach Pack is a compact dog‑pack built on Ruffwear’s WebMaster harness frame. It pairs radial-cut saddlebag construction and a weight-forward design with two zippered saddlebags (each with a smaller pocket) for about 13 L of total carrying volume. The pack is offered in four girth-based sizes (XS–L) and includes multiple adjustment points, leash attachment options, and trail-oriented load-tuning.
Ruffwear
$24.99Ruffwear Quencher Packable Dog Bowl — Research Review
The Ruffwear Quencher Packable Dog Bowl is a collapsible square bowl designed for food and water on the go. It is made from a durable water-resistant shell fabric with a lightweight waterproof lining and includes reflective trim. The Quencher comes in three capacities (Small 0.75 L, Medium 1 L, Large 2.5 L), folds flat for pocket or pack storage, and—because its fabric construction is not rigid—must be held or placed on level ground to maintain shape. Ruffwear provides a limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Tractive
$69Tractive DOG XL — Research Review
The Tractive DOG XL is the large-dog version of Tractive's cellular GPS tracker, recommended by Tractive for dogs of about 55 lb and up. Tractive describes a waterproof, submersible build, live location updates every two to three seconds, escape alerts, activity and sleep tracking, and a battery that can last up to about 30 days with power-saving zones. A subscription is required for cellular tracking.
Related
Sources & research
Read our research methodology and editorial standards →
- Trail reference Sheep Lake