Red Mountain #1330,Kachess Ridge #1315,Little Joe Lake #1330.1,Thorp Lake #1316.1,Thorp Creek #1316,Thorp Mountain #1315.2
Jun 28, 2003
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Red Mountain
- Region: North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
- Trails: Red Mountain (#651)
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Red Mountain
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass
- Trails: Red Mountain (#1330)
- Avg Rating: 3.50
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Thorp Lake
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass
- Trails: Thorp Lake (#1316.1)
- Avg Rating: 3.40
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Kachess Ridge / Kachess Beacon
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Cle Elum Ranger District
- Trails: Kachess Ridge (#1315), Kachess Beacon (#1315.3)
- Avg Rating: 3.25
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Thorp Creek
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass
- Trails: Thorp Creek (#1316)
- Avg Rating: 3.33
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Joe Lake
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Wenatchee Okanogan National Forest, Cle Elum Ranger District
- Trails: Joe Lake (#1314)
- Avg Rating: 4.40
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Thorp Mountain
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
- Agency: Cle Elum Ranger District
- Trails: Thorp Mountain (#1315.2)
- Avg Rating: 3.67
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Clogged drainage
- Mudholes
- Washouts
- Water on trail
- Overgrown
- Snow on trail
- Bugs
I hiked the Little Joe-Thorp Creek Loop described by Spring and Manning on a beautiful, clear day. The weather was hot, but most of the steep climb up to Little Joe Lake was shaded by second growth. Wood violets, vanilla leaf, and a few late trilliums were blooming here. I saw nary a soul til I got to the lake, and then only two people. Little Joe is a small, pretty mid-elevation lake with a greenish hue. It is shallow and has a thriving insect population, but they didn't disturb me during lunch.
The Red Mountain trail joins the Little Joe Lake Trail on the east side, continuing around the lake and heading west toward No Name Ridge. A beautiful meadow graces the north end of Little Joe. Glacier lillies abounded among yellow monkeyflower and other damp-loving flowers. It is easy to lose the trail here.
The high meadows between Little Joe and No-Name Ridge had spectacular spreads of phlox. The best wildflowers were near the pass between No-Name and Kachess Ridges. The Red Mountain trail is in very poor condition, with lots of blowdown and several places where the tread disappears suddenly. In one place it led right through a small pond behind a log dam.
I was disheartened to see that the valley between No-Name and Kachess has been heavily logged, right up to the pass, which has been stripped of vegetation and boulders to make way for the end of a logging road.
Once over the pass the trail quickly left the logged area, climbing through forest up Kachess Ridge to join the better-maintained Kachess Ridge Trail, also with blowdown. This follows the east side of the ridge in shade, and there was quite a bit of snow on the trail, soft enough for good tread.
I took the side trip up to the picturesque Thorp Mountain Lookout and it was the highlight of the trip. The way is very steep, but flowers were at their peak and the views from the lookout are first rate. Mount Rainier towers above Kachess Lake. The top of Adams can be seen as well. In the opposite direction looms the Mt. Stuart batholith and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Thorp Lake may also be seen below. I saw the first people since Little Joe Lake, over 4 miles away.
I stopped by Thorp Lake on the way down, but found it less appealing than the view from the lookout. It is low enough to be surrounded by brush, and close enough to the road to be crowded with campers.
The Thorp Creek Trail runs mostly through second growth. The tread is badly damaged for most of the way, but nice stands of columbine and valerian help to compensate. One large stump along the trail has been carved into a throne.
This loop is strenuous and not recommended for children, but the solitude, views, and flowers make it worth the effort.
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