Kaleetan LakeRecent Trip Reports
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Denny Creek, Kaleetan Lake, Pratt Lake Basin, Melakwa Lake
— Jul 09, 2010
— Uli
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Bridge out | Water on trail
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Did loop: (parked at) Pratt Lake trailhead, (ran road to) Denny Creek trail, Melakwa Lake, Lower Tuscohatchie Lake, out-n-back to...
Did loop: (parked at) Pratt Lake trailhead, (ran road to) Denny Creek trail, Melakwa Lake, Lower Tuscohatchie Lake, out-n-back to Kaleetan Lake, Pratt Lake, Pratt Lake trailhead.
Main issues: 1) Some snow remains on last few switchbacks to Hemlock Pass, but not a problem (footing / finding the trail) 2) Kaleetan Lake trail, bridge is out: After about 3/4 of a mile you need to cross a major creek (outflow from Melakwa Lake). Your choices are: A) very slippery log above some rapids. B) jump about 4 feet onto a mossy boulder and hope you don't slip. C) wade through knee-deep, fast flowing water. I chose C, and it worked out fine.... Overall, trails are in good shape! I would not recommend the Kaleetan trail if you have IT band issues... If you run, do the loop clock-wise (like I did). Running down Denny Creek trail is not very fun. Whole thing took me 5:50h - 4:00h actual running time. Oh, yeah, and no wilderness permits in the box at the (Denny Creek) trailhead, and no TP in the restroom. Bet they come and check that every car has the trail park pass displayed, though. Last time I saw a ranger in the backcountry was 1998 in the Goat Rock Wilderness.... these days all they do is issue tickets. Overnight
Features:
Ripe berries
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I started from the Talapus lake TH, headed up past Pratt lake and onto the Kaleetan trail. The trail...
I started from the Talapus lake TH, headed up past Pratt lake and onto the Kaleetan trail. The trail is in good condition and there was only a single other lonely soul on the trail the whole way out. Not unexpected for a mid-week hike though.
Kaleetan lake has a great view of Kaleetan Peak. I walked around a bit, and there isn't great lake access. You have to walk through a small field to even get to the lake. There's a nice camp spot right next to the creek running out of the lake though. The only downside to camping here is that because of Kaleetan peak, you don't get direct sunlight until later in the morning. I left camp around 9AM and there still wasn't direct sunlight. There were a lot of nice, ripe (almost overripe) blueberries right around the camp area.
Kaleetan Lake
— Aug 14, 2007
— Type E
Day hike
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With a promotion more than doubling my work week and the birth of my second daughter finding time for the...
With a promotion more than doubling my work week and the birth of my second daughter finding time for the trails has been challenging. After the longest summer gap between trips I was more than eager to get out. Trying to make up for lost time I wanted as many miles as I could fit into a day. I was interested by some old reports claiming that there is a old trail from Kaleetan Lake to Caroline Peak. There is no short way to Caroline's summit and this certainly wouldn't be the shortest. I had been to Kaleetan once before on a day hike and knowing the length I wasn't thrilled to have to start at the Pratt Lake trailhead instead of the shorter Talapus Lake trailhead. As usually the case I was running behind and didn't leave the car until nearly noon. Of late I have had some boot problems, either my feet have grown a half size or my boots have shrunk. I chose to wear sandles until the Kaleetan Lake Trail. I dumped pack and switched to my boots..... too bad for me they have become even worse fitting. It was obvious to me they were a no go. I just left them next to the trail and put my sandles back on. I was a little concerned about wearing sandals on a long forgotten trail but much to my surprise the trail was in great shape. I steamed into Kaleetan and had a well deserved dinner. To keep from being eaten alive by the bugs I did some scouting for the rumored trail. I didn't have any success. The area North of the outlet is very brushy so I poked around the marshy area which bypassed the worst of the brush giving me access to more open forest. With little time left it was back to the business of making my way back to the car. As I was crossing the Pratt River I heard a low flying chopper which was obviously looking for a lost hiker. It flew less than a hundred feet directly over my head. By the time I made it to the junction above Pratt Lake it was time for the headlamp. Only seeing one person the entire day I was suprised to see a flashlight heading towards me below the Ollalie Lake turn-off. I was even more suprised to see a man leading a young child and wife. It appeared to me the wife was less than pleased about not yet being at Ollalie Lake. Not too long after I again saw some headlamps making there way towards me. This time it was 3 guys making their way in to search for the missing hiker. I gave them some info and again was off in the darkness. I very gingerly made the rest of the way to the car. Day hike
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I left the Pratt Lk t.h. at 0830 with the intention of going at least as far as Tuscohatchie and...
I left the Pratt Lk t.h. at 0830 with the intention of going at least as far as Tuscohatchie and from there making a go or no go decision to continue on to Kaleetan. Arriving at Tuscohatchie at 1030, I took a short break before crossing the bridge across the outlet and locating the sign pointing the way to Windy and Kaleetan. Seeing the posted mileage (2 1/2 to Windy and 3 to Kaleetan) I decided to press on. From here the trail quickly descends about 1/2 mi and 500 ft to a small river crossing where you have a choice to wade through the water and some very slippery looking rocks or to make your way across a log. The log is pretty slick too but easy enough to straddle and inch your way accross but if you had a fully loaded pack, kicking off the boots and carefully wading across would probably be the better option. Once across the trail starts steeply back uphill and doesn't stop for what felt to be about 2 miles. Now at about this point I was thinking back to that sign that said 2.5 mi to Windy Lake and thinking it couldn't be right since there was no sign of the lake. But soon enough the grade gradually lessened, rounds a corner to the right then the descent to Windy Lake begins and in about a 1/2 mile there it is. Past Windy the trail continues down another 1/2 mile to Kaleetan which is definitely the more scenic of the two. In all it took me a full 2 hours to go the ""3 miles"" from Tuscohatchie to Kaleetan but I'm guessing it's really closer to 4 miles than 3.
Kaleetan Lake #1010
— Aug 20, 1999
— Alpine Angler
Day hike
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We approached the Kaleetan Lake trail via the Talapus Lake trailhead, going past Ollalie and Pratt lakes to Lower...
We approached the Kaleetan Lake trail via the Talapus Lake trailhead, going past Ollalie and Pratt lakes to Lower Tuscohatchie lake, where we camped the first night. A hint about this lake - Don't stop at the outlet, the best camp is located 1/2 way up the north shoreline. Lots of small trout jumping, with a few larger fish seen but not caught. The next morning we caught the Kaleetan Lake Trail near Tuscohatchies outlet. The trail climbs briefly, then drops steadily to the Pratt River. This stretch is very nice forest, with glimpses of the Pratt Valley falling away steeply through the trees on your left. This stretch has a few blowdowns. At the Pratt crossing is a large barkless log which makes an easy ""butt-scoot"" maneuver possible. The river was really a creek at this point. Now the trail climbs steadily through deep forest. Our USGS map showed the trail going OVER the ridgetop (4600') to drop to Windy Lake but we were relieved when instead the trail traversed AROUND the ridge at 4200' to drop gently to Windy Lake. We stoppped briefly to lunch and fish (saw fish, no bites) and then took the trail the short mile further to Kaleetan Lake. The trail is thick with brush the last few hundred feet. It drops you out at the outlet and the only campsite we found, surrounded by a pretty but soggy meadow.The rest of the lake shore is brushy and hard to navigate. The view of Kaleeten was nice but we decided we liked little Windy Lake better and went back there for the evening. We hooked only one fish which jumped right in front of us and spit our barbless lure clear over our shoulders! The trail from Tuscohatchie to Kaleetan is basically in good shape and easy to follow, but there are a few blowdowns, minor brushiness and some muddy spots along the way. Fainter than most trails in the area, it has a lonely feel, and the forest is deep and quiet here. |
WTA worked here!
2011
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