Miles of hiking trails surround more than 600 glacier-carved lakes tucked among the craggy peaks of the central Cascade Range that are the centerpiece of this magnificent wilderness. This guide not only covers backpacking options inside the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, but includes many of the popular routes across the highway for a selection of the best overnight hikes in the region.

Jeff Smoot is a climber, hiker, and author based in Seattle, Washington. His other books include Hiking Washington's Alpine Lakes: Day Hikes and Easy Overnights, Adventure Guide to Mount Rainier,Rock Climbing Washington, and Climbing Washington's Mountains.