Larch Lakes, Myrtle Lake, Cow Creek Meadows
Jul 03, 2009
by
Carolyn
—
last modified
Jul 07, 2009 12:54 PM
- Type of Outing
- Multi-night backpack
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Larch Lake
- Region: Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains
- Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee Natiomal Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, Leavenworth
- Trails: Larch Lakes (#1430)
- Avg Rating: 3.50
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Myrtle Lake
- Region: Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains
- Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Entiat Ranger District
- Trails: Myrtle Lake (#1404)
- Avg Rating: 2.80
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Cow Creek Meadows
- Region: Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains
- Trails: Cow Creek Meadows (#1404)
- Avg Rating: 3.75
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Snow on trail
- Bugs
We hiked in to Myrtle Lake on July 3, making camp for two nights. Although there were quite a few people camping there, there were enough available campsites that it didn't seem overly crowded. Enjoying a swim in the lake was a must for all of us after setting camp.
Bugs were pretty noticeable at Myrtle. The flies were pretty thick, especially close to the lake. We camped away from the lake a bit, and found that the bug problem was drastically reduced by retreating even 50 feet into the woods.
July 4 was the hiking day. We set out early on the Larch Lakes trail, climbing the switchbacks past some lovely views and waterfalls. We paused at Lower Larch but were quickly driven on by the mosquitoes. There was snow on the trail from lower to upper larch, but not so much as to make the going difficult. What *was* difficult were the thick and relentless mosquitoes that plagued us from just before Upper Larch lake to well beyond.
From Upper Larch, we continued on up toward Fifth of July Mountain. There is a debris field from a fairly significant avalanche about a mile past Upper Larch Lake. We had to make our way carefully around trees and boulders and over snow, and then work a little to find the trail again on the other side.
After the avalanche debris field, there were no major blockages on the trail up to fifth of July or beyond, down the Cow Creek trail and back to Myrtle Lake. The only problem we had was, once again, swarms of mosquitoes as we began to descend toward Cow Creek meadow. Despite early and often re-applications of deet and continual swatting, we three hikers received well in excess of a hundred mosquito bites each.
The views as we neared the top of the hike contouring Fifth of July were absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend the hike.
Bugs were pretty noticeable at Myrtle. The flies were pretty thick, especially close to the lake. We camped away from the lake a bit, and found that the bug problem was drastically reduced by retreating even 50 feet into the woods.
July 4 was the hiking day. We set out early on the Larch Lakes trail, climbing the switchbacks past some lovely views and waterfalls. We paused at Lower Larch but were quickly driven on by the mosquitoes. There was snow on the trail from lower to upper larch, but not so much as to make the going difficult. What *was* difficult were the thick and relentless mosquitoes that plagued us from just before Upper Larch lake to well beyond.
From Upper Larch, we continued on up toward Fifth of July Mountain. There is a debris field from a fairly significant avalanche about a mile past Upper Larch Lake. We had to make our way carefully around trees and boulders and over snow, and then work a little to find the trail again on the other side.
After the avalanche debris field, there were no major blockages on the trail up to fifth of July or beyond, down the Cow Creek trail and back to Myrtle Lake. The only problem we had was, once again, swarms of mosquitoes as we began to descend toward Cow Creek meadow. Despite early and often re-applications of deet and continual swatting, we three hikers received well in excess of a hundred mosquito bites each.
The views as we neared the top of the hike contouring Fifth of July were absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend the hike.
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