Recent work by the Washington Trail Association has greatly improved the experience. It's a wonderful, clear trail. I did the blue North Loop with my old dog, Bob. It was a beautiful, fall walk.

Wildflowers are at their peak at Fishtrap Lake!  Our crew of 10 was out to collect GPS data for BLM, hiking almost everything that has been built since the first WTA work parties out here in 2015 until the most recent trail segments just wrapped up on May 4th of this year!  We had to skip the burned section only due to high wind gusts.  It's really quite wonderful to see all of the trail segments put together, and now BLM can use the GPS data to update the area maps and improve the on-trail signage.  I can't think of another local trail with more variety in spring wildflowers.  We also saw a lot of birds (from a pelican to turkey vultures, and every songbird and waterfowl in between!) and a few mule deer.  It's a great time of year to check out Fishtrap's trail system!

I always avoid Fishtrap at the height of summer heat, but now that's more like fall hiking weather, it's a perfect time to return!  I recommend sunset if at all possible.  There's nothing like the evening light out there, especially if there are a few clouds in the sky to add interest.  The trail is a little brushy in spots due to a wet spring and lush summer growth.  There are also cattle grazing.  They all ran away when they saw us, but know that there are a few cow pies to avoid on the trail and it's a good idea to keep dogs on a leash to avoid a rolling-in-pies situation!  Fall color is just starting, and there are a few flowers still blooming.  On this visit, my hiking friend & I had the entire place to ourselves despite fantastic weather and hiking conditions.  

Also: there will be a big National Public Lands Day event out here on September 29th!  See https://www.wta.org/volunteer/schedule/workparty/a2mA00000000hw2/

Nine friends and I went for a hike from the Miller Ranch house to the end of the trail. When we headed back, the end of the trail was closer to the lake. It was a lovely warm sunny first day of spring.  Some of the trail was soggy or even flooded, but most of it was fine firm trail.

A friend & I returned to Fishtrap for a trailrun this morning, connecting all of the outer trails in the system for one long 7.5 mile route.  (It would be easy to connect over the Hog Canyon Trails for close to another 6 miles, too!)  It was a gorgeous fall day.  Most of the aspen have now lost their leaves, but there's still a bit of fall color.  No wind, and the lake was like glass.  It is stinky right now, as WDFW recently treated the lake with retenone to kill off illegally introduced fish.  This makes it a good time for bird watching for anyone who doesn't mind the stench; we saw several bald eagles feeding on the dead fish.  Closer to the parking lots, we saw several people who were out for the upland bird hunting season, so wearing orange is recommended.