My hiking group hiked Naches Loop / Dewey Lakes today. We pulled into the Tipsoo Lake parking area just before 9:30, the lot was 3/4 full.  The bathrooms were open, with supplies but very smelly.  It was 61 degrees with hazy, sunny skies.  Our route made a clockwise loop of Naches Peak Loop with trip down to Dewey Lakes.  Trail traffic was busy the entire time we were on the trail mostly day hikers going both directions on the Naches Loop.  The entire trail is dry and dusty with a couple muddy spots from the last melting snow higher up. Going around the north end of Dewey Lake there were a couple downed trees to step over over or go around. The wildflower display has begun with flowers blooming the entire route. We saw valerian, anenome, spirea, cinquefoil, Cusick Speedwell, lupine, paint brush, heather, partridge foot, lousewort,  bear grass, aster, arnica, blue bells, mountain ash and more. We had no major wildlife sightings - there were a couple chipmunks, swallows and water ouzels down at Dewey Lake and fresh elk tracks on the small sandy beach at the north end of the lake.  After reading recent trip reports we were prepared for the mosquito onslaught and took the suggestion of wading out in the lake to eat our lunch rather than be eaten alive sitting close to shore.   Bug spray was applied before starting out and reapplied as needed, a couple in our group were glad they had their bug head nets.  We did not linger too long and retraced our steps back up the PCT to finish the Naches Loop.  Hikers were just starting out when we walked back to our vehicles at 2:30.  Another amazing day out in nature with friends.

We started our hike going to clockwise direction on the Naches Loop Trail which I highly recommend for the stunning views of mt rainier toward the end. The loop trail was in great condition with a couple of snow patches that required a little more attention, but were pretty easy to pass. You might want poles if you feel like you’re a more unstable person. I imagine the snow will melt in a week or two? It was also a bit muddy and slick in some areas, but these patches were very easy to step around as long as you’re paying attention.

The trail down to Dewey Lake was in great condition. We had to eat our lunch in the lake as the mosquitos were absolutely relentless on shore, but not much of a bother once we were all waist deep. Overall it was a pretty pleasant experience as we just got to stand in the lake for a while and take in the views.

We had a great time despite the mosquitos, and the views of Mt. Rainier were amazing! We also got to see Mt. Adams in the distance looking beautiful. I did forget to take a picture of Dewey Lake from above which was so pretty, oops.

Was trying to think through an interesting loop near Chinook Pass and finally landed on this 21.5mi 4200ft gain one.

Starting at Mesatchee Creek Trailhead > we went up Dewey Lake Trail > joined the PCT to Chinook Pass > continued on the PCT across 410 > up-and-over Sourdough Gap > down Bear Gap Trailhead road > briefly scuttle across 410 and back to Mesatchee Creek.

I'd definitely recommend this loop as it just had a bit of everything. Maybe next time make it a little longer via American Ridge. Anyone ever do a similar, longer loop?

Quick notes below:

Dewey Lake Trail

• Some reports aren't too optimistic on this one, but I found it mostly easy going
• There definitely are a lot of blowdowns between wilderness boundary and ~1 mile shy of the PCT
• But I never found any to be all that heinous
• Ford or log shuffle required at American River
• Plenty of water as of now

PCT, Dewey Lake to Bear Gap

• So amazingly cruisy and pleasant
• You could do this loop starting from the trailhead here...but it was a madhouse today
• After Sheep Lake is completely dry until hitting the road down from Bear Gap 

Bear Gap back to Mesatchee

• It's a bit of stretch to connect these, but my new years resolution was no out-and-backs and I'll be damned if I break that
• Good trail down from Bear Gap, and a pleasant road walk down
• The section on 410 isn't as enjoyable - but there's an unmarked dirt road ~1/4mi down after you join that shortcuts to the trailhead

We had hoped to overnight to Cougar Lake via Chinook, or even hike Chinook to Grove of the Patriarchs via the PCT to the 3 Lakes Trail. Chinook was still very much snowed in, and we had to bail on the clockwise (Eastern) PCT approach to Dewey. We had spikes and poles, but some of the snowfields felt too steep/exposed to safely traverse without an axe. We decided it was too much snow to even bother with the counter-clockwise (Western) Naches Loop approach to Dewey, so we settled for the 3 Lakes Trail. Trail was in great shape, minor blowdown but nothing too difficult to pass. Snow and bugs started around the 3 Lakes, and got deeper/worse until the PCT junction. Spikes recommended about a mile before the PCT junction, but passable without. We made it a mile or so NOBO on the PCT before the trail crossed over to the Northeastern side of a ridge, and again we were turned back by exposed snow traverses. So we camped near the 3 Lakes Patrol Cabin, and exited the way we came the next morning. Bug pressure was terrible at 3 Lakes. Water available on trail around mile 3, and commonly thereafter. All in all it was a great adventure in the woods, even if we had to settle for backup objectives. Felt good to try something challenging, but also know and abide by our risk limits.

The trail is covered in snow and following GPS is a must. we had to climb up about 10 feet and most people were using snowshoes. none of us had Microspikes with us so we turned back pretty early, it was wet and slippery, the melting slushy type of ice snow.