Lake Dorothy - Lake Bear - Lake Deer

Wow! A lot of very good trail work has been done here lately. More steps, turnpikes, and puncheons have been installed on the trail up to Lake Dorothy, although there is one big, old, wet blowdown nose down in the path at one point. The bridge is gone over the main Lake Dorothy inlet at south end of the lake but it is crossable on rocks as long as the flow is not too deep. The climb from Dorothy to the pass is a slog, stony in some places muddy in others. From the pass to Bear and Deer lake is like a dream. Perfect trails, gorgeous scenery, solitude, and some very recent sturdy puncheons and stairs. Bravo work crews! Your efforts are much appreciated!

It's a long drive from Highway 2, over the RR tracks, and up Miller Road to the trailhead at 2200 ft. Then an easy 2 miles brings you to Lake Dorothy, gaining 800 ft mostly on timber steps or log stairs. The next two miles along the east shore of the lake are a delight, especially on an October morning when the sun brings out all the colors on the opposite shore while steam rises from the cool waters. The tread along the lake is relatively even, although rocky in some places. On the south end of the lake, after negotiating several inlet streams, begins another 800 ft. climb. This mile is rocky, rooty, and muddy in places but still has some very nice stone steps in place. Not a lot of views during the climb.

But it's worth it to see Bear Lake and Deer lake. Sparkling waters dancing in the sunlight, very nice tread to walk, lovely campsites, and a nice rock at Deer Lake that juts out into the water for sunning. This is a marvelous day hike, 12 miles round trip with 1600 ft. gain in and 100 out. Best of all, the place is loaded with mushrooms of every sort and variety. Good thing the Mycological Society show is this weekend at the Urban Horticultural Center in Seattle.