Chiwaukum Creek, Larch Lake
Sep 24, 2009
by
dadn
—
last modified
Dec 03, 2009 02:33 PM
- Type of Outing
- Overnight
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Chiwaukum Creek
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
- Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee Natiomal Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, Leavenworth
- Trails: Chiwaukum Creek (#1571)
- Avg Rating: 1.50
- 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
- Why You Should Go Now
- Fall foliage
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Overgrown
- Mudholes
Overnight trip up the Chiwaukum Creek trail to Larch lake in search of the elusive golden Larch trees.
I started the hike about 9:00am and was the only car in the huge parking area.
The first 1.5 miles are on a private road and next 6 miles are an up and down and up trail on a horse-beaten path of dust and poop. Then at the Glacier creek crossing, there’s a sign saying horses can’t go further - yea! About a half mile up the trail are plastic streamers on bushes warning about bees. Yep, a very large football size nest hanging above the trail with active critters…thanks for the warning. I tiptoed around and remained unstung. Then the uphill began… the first half-mile is quite overgrown and you need to use your arms and hiking poles to move the branches and brush out of the way. The next 2 miles have been totally cleared and the path graded … thanks!...however, it’s a south facing trail, steep, and was quite hot. Then you get to the wonderfully cool to the body Chiwaukum lake. There’s two nice camp sites at the lake. Next 3 miles take you go up a ridge, through spectacular meadows and there are some Larch trees ! I think I could tell because some of the branches were starting to turn golden….but, it was definitely too early for the show! I arrived at Larch lake after about 7 hours total on the trail. The lake was beautiful and several Larch trees were gold enough to provide beautiful pictures. Several signs around the shore warn that you must camp 200 feet from shore. I found a great camp spot amidst Larch and other trees and setup my tent for the night. Two other people were camping at the outlet, seemed to be right on the lake, but I never talked to them. Morning was spectacular, took several pictures, packed up everything and hid my pack in the trees. Then I hiked up to Cup lake. Wow, what an awful place! Desolation is the best description. The lake had a skim of ice on it and a huge iceberg in the middle covered with mud and rocks. The shores were rocks/scree/ and only a few larches…definitely not worth the picture…and the water had a muddy color. Obviously, this lake has been abused by nature. However, from the lake outlet, the view down the valley toward Larch lake and beyond is beautiful. On hiking down and across a meadow area I ran into 2 hunters with big guns. They said they were hunting deer. Of course I had left my pack and red shirt down below…and said I was glad they didn’t think I was a deer. They said they saw me coming down and decided to spare me this time … actually 2 really nice guys. I told them I see more deer in my back yard in Issaquah than I see in the National Forests ! I picked up my pack and started my trip out. I met a backpacker at Chiwaukum Lake who said he used his motorcycle to get to within 2 miles of the lake and then hiked over a ridge and down to the lake…saving the long Chiwaukum Creek walk. I told him he should be sorry he missed the exercise, brush, and horse poop and I felt sorry for him….he laughed for some reason. I got out in about 6-hours, car still lonely in the parking lot, and I had a fantastic time. Would I do this hike again? Maybe next year, and a little later in the season, but will definitely look into alternate routes ... and do not plan on buying a motorcycle !
I started the hike about 9:00am and was the only car in the huge parking area.
The first 1.5 miles are on a private road and next 6 miles are an up and down and up trail on a horse-beaten path of dust and poop. Then at the Glacier creek crossing, there’s a sign saying horses can’t go further - yea! About a half mile up the trail are plastic streamers on bushes warning about bees. Yep, a very large football size nest hanging above the trail with active critters…thanks for the warning. I tiptoed around and remained unstung. Then the uphill began… the first half-mile is quite overgrown and you need to use your arms and hiking poles to move the branches and brush out of the way. The next 2 miles have been totally cleared and the path graded … thanks!...however, it’s a south facing trail, steep, and was quite hot. Then you get to the wonderfully cool to the body Chiwaukum lake. There’s two nice camp sites at the lake. Next 3 miles take you go up a ridge, through spectacular meadows and there are some Larch trees ! I think I could tell because some of the branches were starting to turn golden….but, it was definitely too early for the show! I arrived at Larch lake after about 7 hours total on the trail. The lake was beautiful and several Larch trees were gold enough to provide beautiful pictures. Several signs around the shore warn that you must camp 200 feet from shore. I found a great camp spot amidst Larch and other trees and setup my tent for the night. Two other people were camping at the outlet, seemed to be right on the lake, but I never talked to them. Morning was spectacular, took several pictures, packed up everything and hid my pack in the trees. Then I hiked up to Cup lake. Wow, what an awful place! Desolation is the best description. The lake had a skim of ice on it and a huge iceberg in the middle covered with mud and rocks. The shores were rocks/scree/ and only a few larches…definitely not worth the picture…and the water had a muddy color. Obviously, this lake has been abused by nature. However, from the lake outlet, the view down the valley toward Larch lake and beyond is beautiful. On hiking down and across a meadow area I ran into 2 hunters with big guns. They said they were hunting deer. Of course I had left my pack and red shirt down below…and said I was glad they didn’t think I was a deer. They said they saw me coming down and decided to spare me this time … actually 2 really nice guys. I told them I see more deer in my back yard in Issaquah than I see in the National Forests ! I picked up my pack and started my trip out. I met a backpacker at Chiwaukum Lake who said he used his motorcycle to get to within 2 miles of the lake and then hiked over a ridge and down to the lake…saving the long Chiwaukum Creek walk. I told him he should be sorry he missed the exercise, brush, and horse poop and I felt sorry for him….he laughed for some reason. I got out in about 6-hours, car still lonely in the parking lot, and I had a fantastic time. Would I do this hike again? Maybe next year, and a little later in the season, but will definitely look into alternate routes ... and do not plan on buying a motorcycle !
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