Wanted to hike near Rainer with the dogs and found some good options in Dewey/Cougar lakes but needed to make a loop where we didn't start in the national park. 

Started out Friday afternoon about 5PM at the Mestachee Creek Trail-head - at the time the parking lot was totally empty and we parked to the side of the road to leave the campsites open. On the way out we took Dewey Lake Way along the American River and hiked a little less than 6 miles in to camp at a  site along the river right before the trail turns up towards the climb to Dewey Lake. We were the only ones on the trail all of Friday - great quiet hike.

Saturday morning we broke camp and hiked up to Dewey Lake which was very beautiful with low hanging clouds still breaking up over it. After the lake hopped on the PCT - which was the most crowded part of our hike - and then turned off at the American Ridge trail then took the split off to Cougar Lakes. Lots of blueberries along this part of the trail - we definitely had blue stained fingers by the end of the day. Found a great site at the lakes (though many are closed for restoration there's still good spots to be found) and though the lake was probably warm enough (by which I mean not totally frigid) to swim in it was really windy so we settled for dipping our feet in to avoid turning into popsicles when we got out.

Sunday we took the American Ridge trail out to the Mestatchee Creek trail which took us all the way back to the Trailhead. Very nice trails - though very dusty right now - but it was nice to have a soft ground underfoot while going down 3200 ft. We didn't see anyone on the trail until about a mile from the trail-head. I would definitely recommend doing the loop in this order (up on Dewey Lake Way and down on Mesatchee Creek Trail) because the way down on Mestachee Creek is a very manageable incline but very very long and might have been a spirit breaker if we had to go up that way.

All in all a beautiful trip with lots of berries, flowers, nice weather, and beautiful views.

Hiked on a Monday.  Tipsoo Lake parking lot full at 11 am.  Many hikers on the Loop trail.  Not as many going down to Dewey Lake.  Dewey Lake water not too cold.  Great for quick swim and perfect for cooling off with some wading.  Lake easily accessible for either.  Flowers still blooming but look like they're close to done.  Lots of ripe blueberries.  

Completed Naches Peak Loop and Dewey Lake Trail for our second time. We tried the trail counterclockwise this time and were able to avoid the crowds better that way. We started at 0645 and finished at 0910. We did run into quite a lot of people around 0830 who started the clockwise direction. Clocked in 5.94 miles with 1,347 foot gain. Wildflowers were beautiful! 

If solitude is what you want only saw 2 groups and not till the final day around American Lake. Went up the Mesatchee to American Ridge.  Several sources of water and 2 had camps associated with them.  Once on the ridge water still at first pond but more at 2nd pond. Camped here bugs were not bad although there were noticeable swarms on the pond - bit of breeze on the ridge and the many dragonflies feasting away! Day hiked the ridge about a mile east of Big Basin.  The trail past Big Basin continues to narrow to an elk track and has some sketchy washout areas -big rocks and juniper for handholds.  I turned back around the second bad one.  It would be beyond my comfort level to cross these with a big pack. The views were astounding and saw lots of elk and coyote prints. No water and flowers are about spent but berries ripe. Next moved camp to Cougar Lake. Again only 1 trickle along the way to wet your bandana. There were a few manageable downed trees.  There is water at the junction with the Cougar Lake Trail.  Note this side trail climbs about 200 ft then drops about 800 ft - quite rooty and rocky.  Very blessed to share the lake with only the resident bear and jumping fish.  Lots of secluded campsites along both lakes so please respect the signage and don't camp on the spit. Continued west on American Ridge to loop out to the PCT - tons of flowers in this section with more water and a stately bull elk.   Continued past Dewey Lakes (bugs were horrible around Dewey Lake)nice waterfall just past lake and even bigger about 1.5 miles. Upper American River ford is just a rock hop and one camp available here. This is the only camp between Dewey Lake and the Mesatchee Creek -American River ford. This trail is also littered with past present and future downed trees.  All were passable and only one required removal of pack. Many little creeklet some murky others clear and watch your step lots of frogs in this area between the fords.  The Mesatchee has no true course thru this section but is easily passable.

Route: Naches Peak Loop, Dewey Lake, and 3 miles beyond/south of Dewey Lake on the PCT. 

Wildflowers: Tipsoo Lake, the Naches Peak Loop, and the PCT along Dewey Lake all have really good flowers right now. The 3 miles of the PCT I hiked south of Dewey Lake had some pockets of flowers, but nothing really exciting. There are very thick flowers around Tipsoo Lake and on about 5 areas of the Naches Loop. I'm guessing these will be starting to fade in the next week; if you like this hike, get out there soon. 

Crowds: Starting at 5:30 I saw a few sunrise seekers around Tipsoo Lake (I parked at the western exit of the loop), I saw nobody on the trail until the 3 mile point. There were a few backpackers on the PCT, coming up from Dewey Lake at 10 AM there were about 10 groups coming down, and I encountered about 15 groups completing the loop. It helps that most people go clockwise, it doesn't help that there are portions of the trail that are difficult to distance on.