Lake Dorothy - Lake Bear - Lake Deer

This is definitely a popular destination, but the crowds thin out further along the trail, past the Outlet Spur. I was surprised how clean everything was, despite the popularity. I got a bit of a late start, hitting the trail-head at 11:30am, so the parking was already full and several cars were parked along the road (there were even more when I left!). The first bit is a push up-hill, but the trail is "improved" with stairs and boardwalks. The grade mellows out along Lake Dorothy, then picks up again for the climb to Bear Lake. The Lake Dorothy Inlet crossing is cold and refreshing and about shin-to-knee deep; I was quite glad to have my Chacos to change into, rather than going barefoot as several other hikers did.

I did this as a day hike, scouting the trail for campsites for future trips. By the time I got there on Saturday, many of the sites were already full. Most of the sites along Lake Dorothy I saw are small, only big enough for 1 or 2 2-person tents, though there are a couple bigger sites (occupied by a large family and a Boy Scout Troop). Bear Lake was much less populated by campers and was a lot quieter (there were some guys yelling across Lake Dorothy, pretending to be Sasquatch I think!).

This is a pleasant hike. The Bunchberry, Tiger Lillies, and Fireweed were in bloom and the ferns are prolific and of various species. The lake is clear and refreshing, with lots of places to wade in (though the bottom gets squishy!).