Eagle Lake
Two miles past Barclay Lake is Eagle Lake. The trail is unmarked but pretty clear and the way is steep.
Driving Directions:
Follow the directions to the Barclay Lake trailhead.47.7917, -121.4559 Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Features:
Fall foliage
Issues:
Blowdowns | Water on trail | Snow on trail
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The first 2 miles to Barclay lake were easy with no sign of snow. A little frost on the...
The first 2 miles to Barclay lake were easy with no sign of snow. A little frost on the trail around the lake but that was it. We had a little difficulty finding the trail to Eagle lake -- there are two signs that say "toilet" off to the left. The one to Eagle lake is the second one that is passed immediately after a wooden footbridge.
The trail ascends pretty much straight up through the forest and is marked only by ribbons. After about 3/4 of a mile through the forest the trail comes to a boulder field next to a stream and you climb that before coming out into a flat, forest trail. We hit snow here and it was quite slippery. I had a pair of Ice Trekker slide on crampons that I wanted to try and they worked pretty well. You will certainly want poles and hiking boots for this hike. There was at least 6+ inches of fresh snow up at Eagle lake. It's quite a isolated and serene spot after you get all the way up there. We didn't see anyone else attempting Eagle lake that day and we had the place to ourselves. Nice views of Mount Index' sheer walls from the lake. The lake itself was already almost completely frozen over. It was cold up there. Going down was hard but not too difficult. Climbing down the boulder field was the hardest part (rough on the knees) and as I got sorer I lost some flexibility and had to go slower. All 7 of our group made the lake and got down fairly quickly. I wouldn't recommend taking a dog on this hike or anyone who isn't in moderate to good physical condition. Taking anything more than a day back up there would be pretty challenging as well, but the reward of a private and isolated camping spot might be worth it. All in all a good, challenging hike that I'm happy to check off the list. Certainly bring poles (or a good hiking stick) and wear plenty of layers and hiking boots. The hike at times is strenuous but the challenge is well rewarded. This hike is probably best attempted next summer or within the next few weeks. I would not want to climb down the boulder field with it covered in ice and snow. Crappy cell phone pics warning! Day hike
Features:
Fall foliage
Issues:
Blowdowns
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Part II of a trip to Barclay (http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2011-10-30.1384512005) and Eagle Lakes
We encountered the unmarked Eagle Lake "trailhead" at the "Toilet"...
Part II of a trip to Barclay (http://www.wta.org/[…]/trip_report.2011-10-30.1384512005) and Eagle Lakes
We encountered the unmarked Eagle Lake "trailhead" at the "Toilet" sign. We followed the orange and pink ribbons, and a "Wild Sky Wilderness" sign confirmed that we were going in the right direction. The first part of the trail is a steep climb through forested mountainside. There is little underbrush, but there is little trail to follow. The ribbons were necessary to guide us uphill. The uphill climb is steep, and it is helpful to have hiking poles. After we came out of the trees (we did see the jutting rock and dead tree noted by Janice Van Cleve in her 8-5-11 report, see picture), the hike became more difficult. The "path" continued over a granite boulder field, marked with cairns and occasional ribbons. Near the end of the boulder field, due to our slow progress, half of our group turned back to descend. Three of us continued for another 20 minutes. We reached the top of the boulder field, and crossed over the creek to a forested area, but we were unable to pick up additional ribbons or cairns as guide markers. Since we were worried about running out of time or dealing with the onset of darkness, we turned back without glimpsing Stone Lake or Eagle Lake. Going down was as tricky, if not more so, than going up. Boots are a must for the downward scramble. We relied on cairns to guide us, but I'm sure that we came down a different way than we came up. This trail is definitely more difficult than the 4-mile roundtrip and 1500 foot elevation gain suggest. However, it is worth the visit, especially with the fall colors. I plan to return next year, with more time available to devote to the Eagle Lake part of the hike.
Barclay Lake, Eagle Lake
— Sep 23, 2011
— LuminousAphid
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Blowdowns | Overgrown | Mudholes | Bugs
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the Barclay Lake trail is one of the easiest I have hiked, which makes for a nice warm-up period. Not...
the Barclay Lake trail is one of the easiest I have hiked, which makes for a nice warm-up period. Not much new info to post here, except that it was (like others have posted before me) challenging to keep fully on the route up to Eagle lake, especially now that the brush is at its tallest and the streams are also mostly dry, I got off track going up a couple times but it's pretty easy to find the way trail again in most places. Barclay lake is really low now and about half its normal size, the top half is all a big meadow with grasses growing heartily.
There were lots of little fish jumping after the millions of bugs at Eagle lake, and I saw one guy out on the other side with an inflatable raft; he might have been fishing but was definitely drinking. The meadows are worth the climb up, and I was thinking about going up Townsend but ran out of steam due to being out of shape and out of sunlight just after I got to Eagle lake. All-in-all I would say this is a good hike for the fall when it gets a little cooler; I was drenched with sweat the whole way up the hill toward Stone and Eagle lakes, and the brush dying out after the first frost might make the going a little more pleasant. There will be some amazing colors on the sides of Mount Townsend and in the meadows as well, and I may go back there in October to see what it looks like. Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Ripe berries
Issues:
Mudholes | Bugs
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Beautiful day and a lovely destination. The vertical comes mostly in the mile after you leave Barclay (look for...
Beautiful day and a lovely destination. The vertical comes mostly in the mile after you leave Barclay (look for trail to left just after bridge that is just beyond ‘toilet’ sign) and is steadily brutal, but mostly in trees so it’s shaded, tread is mostly soft dirt.
When you come out of the trees to the debris slope, make careful note of the large, bare snag ahead in the rocks, and keep orienting to it as you climb higher – it is your best marker for finding the way back to the trail on your way back down. Trail through the rocks is poorly marked, keep watching for the red ribbons, and the cairns, although not all the cairns are directive. After passing Stone Lake and crossing the divide, at a small boggy area the trail forks – go left to Eagle Lake, right goes to alternate (and much easier, if you want to get there without the sweat) trailhead off of NFS road 6517. Deceptively deep mudhole (tiny frogs here) ahead approaching the meadow – over the top of my boot! Watch for a bypass path on your left. Rest of the trail was dry, or firm enough to walk on/through where still muddy. Many flowers still blooming in meadow, Merchant Peak towering over the lake, lake not as cold as expected. Lots of biting flies, but the deet kept them from biting, mostly. Multi-night backpack
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Mudholes | Bugs
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Mosquitos and flies were incessantly irritating. (The lake elevation is 3888'). Some mud on the trail but with good boots...
Mosquitos and flies were incessantly irritating. (The lake elevation is 3888'). Some mud on the trail but with good boots not hard to get around it. Good swimming around the north side of the lake, but a rough and muddy trail getting there. Most of the shore is littered with logs.
Only 2 campsites on either side of the outlet, plus the cabin which was occupied, plus a site in the meadow around the north side at the bottom of a rock slide. We also saw people camped at the far end of the lake but it must have been hard to get to. Other campers all had fires, and we finally lit a small, smoky one which helped reduce the bug population. The meadows are pretty, both on the trail, and at the north side of the lake. |
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