Backpack to Alice Lake (Tin Cup Trailhead)

Starting at a 6,996 elevation, this 11 mile out-and-back hike begins its 1,600 foot ascent at Tin Cup trailhead. We got a late start to our trip and camped one night along Pettit Lake to get an early start to Alice Lake. The 5.6 mile climb to Alice Lake took us about 3 hours. The ascent is short but steep so be prepared to hike switchback trails for a consistent mile until you reach even ground. There is one deep river crossing and three shallow crossings along the way so make sure to pack a quick dry towel or keep your sandals at the top of your bag. 

If you plan on hiking into Alice Lake early in the day, I recommend bringing a good book, a deck of cards and your camera to keep you entertained. The views are breath taking and sure to keep you preoccupied with pictures. During the day the bugs seem to be pretty tame, but sun down is brutal - Deet is a necessary item on the packing list. 

Getting there:

At the T in the road in Stanley, take a right to Highway 75 and drive 17 miles to Pettit Lake. You will drive down a gravel (and bumpy) road for about 2 miles before continuing toward Pettit Lake Campground. We hiked about 2 minutes onto Tin Cup Trailhead and found an awesome camp site along Pettit Lake (there were hardly any bugs, too!) On your way back, be sure to make a pit stop in Stanley to visit the Peaks + Perks Espresso stand for some fun vibes and a caffeine kick.