Quartz Lake Loop Trail

The feel

The loop starts at Quartz Lake campground, skirts the lake for a half mile, then climbs the hill to the Glatfelder Cabin at mile 0.6. Charlie Glatfelder took a five-acre homestead here and built the cabin in 1956, and the dugout he built can still be seen. Just beyond the cabin, a low bluff looks out over the lake.

From there the trail goes over the hill and joins the Lost Lake Trail, then follows the Lost Lake campground road to the loop intersection and returns directly to the Quartz Lake campground. Beavers and bears are known to frequent the area.

What to expect

Route and terrain

Loop, 1.8 miles with 203 ft of gain, rated easy. The route runs along the lakeshore, up a hill and back along the campground road.

Time

About 1 hour.

Crowds and best time

The recreation area often attracts large crowds.

Parking

Quartz Lake Road is paved and winding and runs a little less than three miles to the large parking area at the State Recreation Site.

Kids

Rated easy.

Hazards

Beavers and bears are known to frequent the area.

Bathrooms and water

Toilets and water are available at Quartz Lake.

Season and access

The turnoff is at Mile 277.8 of the Richardson Highway. In winter the road and parking lot are plowed but low on the priority list, and the trail to the cabin is generally very well packed.

Mingo says

The cabin was reconstructed in 1998 and 1999. Beyond it, the low bluff has views over the lake.

Before you go

• Turn right off the Richardson Highway at Mile 277.8 onto Quartz Lake Road.
• Campsites are first come, first served, with no online reservations.
• Glatfelder Cabin is closed permanently due to bat damage, so no overnight stays there.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.