Big Lava Bed

From Crest Camp, hike south on the Pacific Crest Trail for 3 miles along the west edge of the Big Lava Bed and then onward to the summit of Big Huckleberry Mountain.

This 8,200-year-old lava bed covers an area more than 20 square miles running south from Goose Lake for 10 miles to the community of Willard. Up close, the lava flow is a massive jumble of basalt flows fractured into a maze of huge lava blocks, fissures, ridges, crevices and collapsed lava tubes, all covered with a stunted lodgepole pine forest. This is a difficult area to traverse and a place where hikers can easily get lost.

In 2.5 miles from Crest Camp, pass a water source at a PVC pipe. In another .2 mile, pass Big Lava Bed Camp, a large, well-developed campsite with a metal fire ring and bench seats. This can be a good turnaround point for a shorter hike.

Beyond Big Lava Bed Camp, the PCT leaves the jumbled lava behind and enters evergreen forest. In 2.1 miles, the trail passes Big Huckleberry Camp, which has multiple campsites, some with metal fire rings.

Hike another 1.9 miles to the Grassy Knoll/Big Huckleberry trail junction, climbing the shoulders of Big Huckleberry Mountain. The trail environment alternates between thick forest and sweeping views of Mount Adams. At the trail junction, climb a short, steep trail about 0.3 mile to the summit destination of Big Huckleberry.