Looking for an early-season leg stretcher? Necklace Valley via East Fork Foss River is a good choice. The trail is snow-free all the way to Jade Lake and points beyond. Creek crossings do present some obstacles.

Our group set out Friday afternoon hoping to beat the 4th of July crowds. We were greeted by an empty parking lot which made me kind of wonder: is there something we don't know? If there was, we never figured it out. We had the first campsite (an 5 easy miles in) all to ourselves, and saw only three other pairs until Sunday.

This is one of those classic river trails that ambles along until it heads pretty much straight up the hill. Overall the trail is in great shape though a little rocky/rooty at times. Look out for stinging nettles, certain sections could use a good brushing. All major river crossings have solid log bridges, and there is a brand spankin' new back country toilet at the camp five miles in. Thank you, Forest Service! Your efforts are all too often overlooked. Note to the person who left used toilet paper on the side of the trail. Please don't do that.

The trail along Jade Lake is under about a foot of water in places - at least one section required wading in the "refreshing" water. Just past Jade Lake the trail flattens out. The snow is melting fast, making the trail easy to follow. Nevertheless compass and map and/or GPS recommended if you want to explore the area. Pro tip: Ilswoot is especially worth seeking out. At the end of Opal Lake we reached a creek crossing that was just one degree too sketchy so that's as far as we made it.

But where was everyone? After a couple of days out I really did start to wonder. The answer: on their way in! We passed several groups just starting their trips on the way back to the car. When we got back to the parking lot it was totally full. Great to see everyone out! Just a tiny nag to please Leave No Trace... please no more toilet paper on the side of the trail, and while you're at it take your snack wrappers home with you, too. OK I'll stop now.

So many lakes, so little time. Al Lake... Opal Lake... Each of these lakes has it's own personality. What lies in store at Cloudy Lake and La Bohn Lake? Has anyone ever ventured to Foehn Lake and lived to tell the tale? I'll be back to this area for sure.

We backpacked to the Necklace Valley this weekend. The first 5 miles are fine, gentle up-and-downs with some nettles in the brushy sections- ZING! The log crossings at 5 miles in are fine, although on our way out the bridge crossing had water lapping up over it and we needed to use a second log rather than just hop up onto the bridge.

Then stay left-ish into the brush and follow the trail to the big log crossing more water. Up the boulder field and follow the often rocky and rooty trail a very long supposedly 2 miles, however, we've been here twice and GPS tracks it as about 8.7 miles to Jade Lake. Just before Jade Lake there is a patch of steepish snow. Jade Lake has one melted out campsite that we saw, the one at the inlet end of the lake is under snow as of right now. There appeared to be much competition for the one campsite and the parties we spoke with did not appear comfortable with the challenges of continuing on without obvious trail to follow. The lake water level is high so the trail that should go along the lake is in knee deep icy cold water. We took our boots off and waded across this section. Then you need to do the same for a much longer section, figured we'd go numb so we detoured up and around to meet trail near the under-snow campsite at the inlet stream. Watch for undermined snow around the rocks and trees. 

Trail crosses the stream here- it was tricky in the afternoon when the water was high. I opted to crawl across a log and then cross the second section on rocks. There is some hard snow in the area too. From here on the trail route is mostly under snow. Some of the snow is fine to walk on without issue, some is undermined with significant water beneath. The stream crossings were tricky too. I ended up postholing into knee deep mud at one point :/ nixing our possible plan to head up to the Otter Point ridgeline, not with super muddy wet inside-and-out boots. 

We contoured around Opal Lake and camped at a melted out site between Opal and Cloudy Lake. Bugs weren't too bad, but we were wearing clothes and hats with permetherin spray on them. Didn't need more than that. We took a boulder/forest/snow scramble around cloudy lake to overlook Ilswoot Lake and towards La Bohn Gap before bed. 

When the sun went down the wind REALLY picked up. Our portable weather station indicates that the gusts were like 20-30 mph. Not at all cold, but it was a record breakingly hot weekend. The noise of the wind kept us from sleeping soundly. 

We scrambled along the other side of Opal Lake, requiring a ford of the outlet stream. 

My synopsis: of course, it's going to continue melting up here. However, we met several parties who voiced genuine surprise that there was snow. Um, it's June. Yes, there is snow. Please come prepared to route find in June. You can't expect to always see every bit of trail. Some of the bits are melted out, enough to see that you're on route, but not enough to help if you are not practiced with navigation.  

We didn't use any gear other than boots but many people would be more comfortable with poles on some of the snow patches. 

Hiked in Friday night to about a mile before the official campsite. Camped at the second of two places along the trail where the trail is close to the river. Hiked past Jade lake where we had to take off shoes to get past one section of the trail underwater. The chutes past Jade were covered in snow, but melting fast causing risk of falling through with a misplaced step, as my partner and I did several times.

Stayed at the southern end of Emerald lake where we found a large dry patch. A couple other spots near there also available. Made a half-hearted attempt to get to Locket Lake, but we lost the trail. Not many bugs, although that change very quick as snow disappears. High winds at night. 

Snow is melting fast now and would expect most all snow to be gone up to Emerald lake by Fourth of July weekend. Beyond Emerald lake, I would expect there to be lingering snow for a 2 weeks or so. Camping locations are at a premium as snow continues to reveal the currently few available spots.

Although primarily a backpackers trail, this makes a nice day hike to 5 mile camp. It is a nice walk thru a very green forest right now with a gentle up and down grade. The old rickety puncheon bridge is still there and seems to be sturdy enought to hold hikers, although some of the timbers are starting to rot. The trail stays in the forest high above the river until about 3 miles in. Then as it goes thru a rocky avalanche shute it is a fern, nettle and thimbleberry mess of overgrown trail. Keep your zip ons zipped on unless you thrill to the electric like tingling of nettles. How do I know this? I was hiking in shorts and my lets are still tingling. A couple of brush whips and a trail crew could take care of this in a day. Once you drop down and head to the river you reenter forest again. When we stopped at the campground we had been the only people on trail all day. Suddenly we were innudated with groups of backpackers, big groups. Within an hour all the spots had been taken. So if you intend to backpack to 5 mile and day hike to the lakes, better get there early.