Our group of 2 dads and 4 kids (ages 9-13) spent 2 nights at Thorp Lake. Our original plan to loop via Little Joe Lake become impractical when the Thorp Creek trail was closed for the season because of a dead horse on the trail. (The ranger website says it's closed and the ranger confirmed this by phone.) So we hiked in from Knox Creek and back out via French Cabin Creek, leaving a bike at the latter trailhead to retrieve the car at the former.

We sweated up the short steep hike on the Knox Creek trail. At the top, where you meet the Kachess Ridge trail, you can scramble up a steep face for a great view down into Thorp Lake. The ridge walk north to the junction with the lookout trail offered views of Kachess Lake. We continued north to the junction with the Thorp Creek trail, which is easy to spot even though the sign has completely fallen apart. Then we dropped steeply down to the signed junction with the Thorp Lake spur. (There's no sign from that end saying anything about the trail closure beyond.)

As you approach Thorp Lake you first reach a very large campsite suitable for groups. A few yards further, perhaps 30 paces from the lake, was our choice site, with space for 2 or 3 tents and nice logs for sitting. If you walk around the lake clockwise (the trail fades in spots but you can't get lost), you'll find a couple more small sites. All these spots are well shaded. Then, on a bit of land that juts into the lake, lie a couple of more open spots that also looked appealing. It's possible to continue circumnavigating the lake by scrambling across rocks, though one section would be a little dicey with backpacks or young kids.

Given the effort required to reach the lake with the main access closed, we were surprised the next day to be visited by another hiking party, who had apparently come in via a "fisherman's trail" (which they had trouble following) from the end of road 4312. And a day hiker came in that way the next day.

On the way out we took a side-trip up to the lookout, but alas, the only looking that day was into thick fog. No ranger was present.

A few notes on the hike south along the Kachess Ridge trail from Knox Creek (junction with 1315.1) to French Cabin Basin (junction with 1305): the trail climbs from 5300' to about 5650', partly on a ridge with a deadly drop on the left if you're not paying attention. (We felt OK with our kids who were 9+, but a younger or less responsible hiker could be in danger.) There's actually one short section that still has some snow, but it's no problem. Then it drops to 5500' before climbing again to 5766' and then dropping to the junction with the French Cabin Creek trail (4900'). Shortly before that junction it meets a forest road which is .2 mile away according to my 2002 Green Trails map, but ignore the road and continue left on the trail. Then you reach the signed junction with the French Cabin Creek trail #1305.

Also, there is a signage problem with that trail #1305. It's called 1305 on my map and the wooden sign at the top of the trail. But at the trailhead (the upper one, a half mile drive on a very rough road above road 4308) is a metal sign saying simply "1307". (There is a less conspicuous "temporary sign" near there that says "1305".) The only trail 1307 I can find is 5+ miles away near Jolly Mountain. Either I'm missing something or someone made a serious mistake. I've emailed the ranger in hopes of getting this fixed.

The drop down 1305 is steep and quick. Despite the numbering confusion, we were happy to discover that we'd left the bike at the right place, and I took a nice ride back to our car at Knox Creek trailhead, 4 miles, 400' down, and 900' up in 50 minutes.

We found a few mosquitoes on our hike but they weren't a problem. There are still some good wildflowers and we found a few berries in spots. There were a couple of blowdowns and muddy spots, but not significant so I won't check those boxes.

I was looking for a quick overnight goat-friendly hike that was snow-free, and found it!
We opted to access Thorp Lake from the Knox Creek trailhead, for the added views and to avoid the creek ford that is involved with the fisherman's trail directly to the lake. We hit the trail at 4:00 pm Sunday evening. The trail is quite nice and open as it climbs the ridge, intersects with the ridge trail and continues toward Thorp. Lots of wildflowers the whole way. Bugs were around, but a layer of DEET made things ok.
We saved the lookout for the next day due to our late start, and descended to the lake. A few snow patches remain just near the top of the ridge, but nothing to worry about. We had the lake to ourselves, with the exception of a loud (heron?), two marmots, two bucks and a doe. There are two large boy-scout-style camps at the lake. Not a lot of small private areas - I'd hate to try to find a quiet place on a Saturday night.
Monday we climbed back up the ridge and to the lookout cabin, which is still boarded up. Nice views south to Rainier and Adams, North to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and straight down to Keechelus Lake.
This was Pedro's second trip out - he was a champ - and it was Franz's first overnighter. He did well too - though he's not in as good of shape as Pedro. They each carried about 20 pounds.
"Thanks" to the nice couple who stopped and waited as our goats tried to switch teams and follow them back to their car.
The road to the trailhead is not in great shape - lots of brush on the side not great for those who value their paint job.

My hiking partners would say I would be remiss if I did't try to list some of the highlights of the hike: fording the up to knee deep water of Thorp Creek at the beginning and end of the hike ( we brought extra footwear just for that), going over or around several downed trees on the trail, some of which required climbing over) fording several streams across the trail, (the trail to Thorp Lake actually is a stream half way to the lake), several snow fields and patches to cross (one was a good 100 yards on an incline) and a bit of scrambling and route finding because of the late snow.

We were rewarded with thousand of wild flowers-hundred of Glacier lilies following the receding snow line and great 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains, ridges, lakes, and valleys. In the next couple weeks there will be even more flowers.

Some sort of traction devices for boots would be recommended along with trekking poles for awhile longer as there is still quite a bit of snow on the trail.

Headed out Sunday for an overnite at the lake about 11am. Was a bit worried there would not be any spots left at the lake but only one car at the fisherman's trail. The creek is running at max, the first part of the trail is underwater so a bushwhacked around the creek was required and caught the trail higher up. Hit snow pretty quickly and it was patchy but the trail was still trackable up to the pass that drops down to the lake, from there it was snow all the way and we had to hunt for a good snow bridge to cross the creek on to get to the camp sites. Once at the lake we found we had it all to ourselves. Still some snow with patches of ground showing. We picked the driest spot and set up camp. The lake is pretty much clear of ice. Only one day hiker came through the whole time we were there. Probably another 3 weeks before all the snow is gone.