This hike started with a somewhat requisite search for the parking area & trail head. It's not obvious. I believe the succession of roads leading to the parking area may have changed given construction on I-90.

Re Directions: The forest service roads are not well marked so you have to feel your way, but the map does show the roads correctly for the most part. Take the rt as described on Gold Creek Road, BUT ignore the .5 mile left. The map takes you further east until the road turns uphill & switchbacks a bit (+/- 4 mi.) you come to a 'Y' where you bear right, then shortly thereafter you hit a 2nd "Y" ...stay left (Uphill). This will switchback and take you to the parking area on the left.

Parking: This area requires the forest service pass.

Trail head: Back out the entrance and up the road (not thru the back of the parking area). Its actually about 250 yds up, then bear left & up another road grade marked by rusting yellow gate posts(no gate). Eventually you hit the actual trail & marker. This beginning trail crosses back over another road a little further ahead before it leaves the road system altogether.

Hike: The logged area is as described, but the new growth is establishing itself & w/ trees, berries and color. A little dusty on a hot day. It climbs steadily. The forested area is very nice & soon you'll reach the ridge where you drop to Margaret Lk or continue left towards Lilian. It's quite a drop into the lake. You end up climbing quite a bit before dropping in. It's still a nice day trip, but it's a little more work than the usual 3 miles 1800 might imply. Worth it though. It's a nice quiet little lake. I think a lot of folks bail at the top and settle for the view.

A few bugs (no-see-ums) but manageable. No water on the trail unless you reach the Lake. Weather permitting, this will be beautiful in the coming weeks.

This was a surprisingly beautiful trip. The area in the hike description that is described as a clear cut is actually now about 10 years old, and lovely new trees are growing as well as colorful fall foliage. When you first approach the lake don't be misled by a small pond that you see. It is a pretty pond, but the beautiful lake lies just a few 100 feet away and its the real beauty. As you see in the pictures the fall foliage is definitely out, probably not even at its prime though. the views looking towards Lake Kachees were a bit foggy looking, I think probably due to forest fires in eastern Washington. As others have reported be sure that you don't follow the trail at the far end of the parking lot, but go back towards theentrance to the parking lot and follow a bit further up the road. There is a good sign to indicate that, but I might not have taken the time to read it if I hadn't seen the post by another hiker on this trail. We were actually alone at the lake by the time we arrived this afternoon. Amazing for an 1-90 corridor hike on a beautiful day.

What started out as a hike to Lake Lillian got truncated due to a bofus move in the parking lot. Failed to read the sign at the parking lot and took off on the trail at the end of the lot. This took us on a 3 mile, 2 hour diversion on an unmarked trail that immediately screamed "wrong". Regaining our composure and reading the parking lot sign in full, we were off again on the right path - if you can call it that. The hike to the ridge kinda stinks - maybe I was just crabby. The steep, rocky, dusty road followed by steep, rocky, dusty path grinding up to the ridge offered nothing other than a few views and some posies to admire. The "clearcut" is now has tree growth about ten years old (?). At about 1.5 miles and 1200' elevation gain, you finally enter the forest. The trail gets nice with gradual switchbacks in a pretty, older growth environment. 200 more feet elevation and you encounter the junction to the lake and path to Lake Lillian. Drop 350 feet on a steep path to Lake Yvonne and then over to Margaret. Outstanding lunch spot on a rock outcropping on the SE side of the lake. Didn't go for a swim but it was enticing. All in all, I won't do this hike again - that trashed "clearcut" did me in. Gotta love our toilet paper! Might try Lake Lillian thru the Lake Laura Backdoor instead.

Lost trekking pole at parking lot for trailhead. Offering reward! Lost 8/27 between 7:30pm and 10:30pm (I went back for it but it was already gone). Please email me: hankinsc@gmail.com if found!