Frigid, but beautiful day on trail (10 degrees!). Brought micro spikes and snowshoes, but no traction devices were needed all the way to Heli Pond. Path is well boot packed, and easy to navigate. Glad I could see the pond in winter before they close it for restoration.

Forest road to the sno-park is coated in snow. Sno-park pass required with plenty of parking on roadside. Maybe a handful of cars when I arrived at 10am on a Wednesday, with a dozen or so by the time I left. 

Glad to have made good use of a midweek day off to enjoy this popular little trail. It’s a beautiful sunny and calm day. There was still a long line of parked cars, but only came across a few parties. As mentioned a lot in earlier posts and generally expected these days, snow was very compact. I made the loop with hiking boots and poles and it was fine. Maybe the place that requires more attention is the access road which was icy.

We really loved the north shore of the pond. It was warm and quieter. Ice on the pond was melted at the NE corner, a nice winter reflecting view.

I spent a lovely Monday walking around Gold Creek Pond. I found micro spikes worked perfectly, multiple people without them were observed slipping and falling. Parking wasn't too difficult since it was a Monday. There is an obscene pile of dog poop bags beneath the sign that says 'no trash pick up for the winter, please pack everything out'. Truly disgusting!

*Snowshoe Report*

We saw three cars that were stuck down the trail to the regular summer parking lot. In winter, parking is along the road. Please don’t try to turn down the snowy trail to park. I put “snow and ice on road” for this trip report because the regular non-snowshoe lot is inaccessible to cars. The winter road parking is fairly clear. 

The trail is snow covered but well packed; we brought snowshoes but didn’t need them. Beautiful sunny day! The pond was still frozen over, but there were spots along the edge that were beginning to thaw. 

There were lots of ticketed vehicles, make sure you have a Sno-Park permit. 

It was Sunday so the parking and pond were crowded. I have hiked this pond many times and I have to say the amount of garbage I saw it’s out of control. I don’t know if it’s cause they haven’t picked it up since winter started- it’s possible. Or people are just inconsiderate. I have a dog. I also have a ziploc bug so if she goes, I can use a poop bug and then put in the ziploc and take it with me in my pack. Apparently nobody else does that. There is poop on the ground everywhere from the parking area to the beginning of the trail. People are leaving bags with dog poop piled up right under a sign that says “garbage not picked up in winter”. It blows my mind that people come here with kids and dogs and just leave trash as if it was a mall. 
I really hope they close it for restoration and then they either not re open it or have a no dogs allowed sign. I have dogs and I take them with me so I guess this is what we get for being dirty dog owners. They had ruined it for everyone.