Trip Reports

The trail is in excellent shape with only one log to step over. The lakes and trail are snow and ice free. A couple of snow patches are still visible from the lake. No bugs to speak of on the trail just a few at the lake. Not bad at all. I didn't look like there were any open campsites but I didn't look all that much. There are a couple of interesting surprises on the road to the trailhead so take it slow and easy.

I was looking for a quiet place for a Sunday afternoon hike. Left Seattle around 1:45 pm, turned off on the Sultan Basin Rd. around 2:30. After checking in at the DNR turnout, the ~10 miles of the South Shore Road were in great shape. There were only a few cars at the trailhead. After a couple hundred yards to get to the mountain, this trail switch backs up about 1500 ft over 1.5 miles - mostly through forest.

The trail was in great shape, and I met 4-5 groups coming out as I was going up, including a fellow packing out his inflatable fishing rig - the lakes are stocked. As you approach the top, the sound Greider creek becomes prominent.

Skirting Little Greider lake, I heard the familiar ring of bear bells and learned that a black bear had been roaming the area just 30 minutes prior. I crossed Greider creek and continued up to Big Greider lake and enjoyed a wonderful lunch on the logs at the outlet. There were 5 or six people doing the same. There were still snow patches around the lake, and waterfalls dropped several hundred feet to feed the lake. When the last group got up to leave, I thought about the roaming bear and decided to head down as well.

This is a wonderful trip for a shorter hike. It's easily accessible but because it's a little further out, it's less busy on the trail, and at least on this Sunday afternoon there was no noise other than hikers and running water.

Road gated at Olney Pass (7 miles from trailhead?) and four to five feet of snow on roadsides at that point.

Trail to lakes is rough as usual...lot of steps, rocks, etc. Good test for my new hiking boots. Went up to go see the viewpoint, but when I got to the lower lake, a sign with a map indicated that the side trail was closed. Anybody know why it's closed? Feel free to email me.

Anyhow, the big lake is a fine destination. We had lunch there and then hiked back to the lower lake and dunked our feet into the cold water. After a half hour of that, we decided to go on down.

This lightly used trail leads to two beautiful lakes about 2.5 miles from the trailhead. The first 1.75 miles are steep, but lovely, though a mature second growth forest. From the lakes there is a .5 mile spur trail to an overlook at about 3600ft. The spur trail is currently closed (not sure why, but assume trail has yet to be cleared). The trail to the lakes is snow and blow-down free. Total roundtrip hiking time including lunch - 3hrs. Drive time to trailhead from North Seattle - 1.5hrs.

The Sultan-Basin road is passable with some washboard and potholes. Despite the liquid sunshine the bugs were bothersome during lunch.