If you want solitude, epic views and a solid workout, look no further! It also helps if you like rocks - there are plenty of them.
We did an 18-mile out-and-back with just shy of 5600 total elevation gain. We did an overnight at Little Heart on day 1 night and Big Heart on day 2, with further exploration on the second day that took us to the overlook between Angeline and Big Heart, which is STUNNING. Hiking midweek was great as we saw very few people (spotted about five tents over the two days).
Trailhead - Little Heart Lake: 5.6 miles, 3000 elevation gain. The trail starts out flat in the forest and is mostly covered, which is nice since the elevation gain is gradual and continuous all the way to Little Heart. Spot huge old growth trees, mountain views, and Trout and Copper Lakes along the way. There is camping directly on the trail at Copper Lake but I recommend continuing to Little Heart. For those campsites, take a right at the head of Little Heart Lake and cross the log jam.
Little Heart - Big Heart Lake: 1.8 miles, 815 elevation gain. This part is a also a gradual climb. There are campsites along the trail closer to Big Heart, though we opted to go about a quarter-mile past the head of the lake and found fantastic sites with mountain views. (Go past the toilet sign on the left side and reach an opening where you can set up tents. Keep going up a bit further until you see a small trail on the left. Climb that and emerge in a blissful grassy area!)
Big Heart - Angeline Lake (Roundtrip): 2.8 miles, 1145 elevation gain. The goal was to reach Chetwood Lake but getting to Angeline was enough of a workout for us! The trail goes over large boulders and can be hard to find at times but its well marked with sticks and cairns. There are a few camping spots but no water source, so unless you want to lug up all your agua, I recommend this as a day hike option. The view is PHENOMENAL.
Big Heart - Trailhead: 7.4 miles, 630 elevation gain. Most of the uphill battle is at the beginning and will even out.
Overall, a wonderful few days. I will definitely return!
Quick Notes:
- Bugs were awful! I wish I had a net.
- Poles were helpful, though the narrow trail could make them cumbersome at times.
- Road to TH is accessible to all cars but very pot-holed.
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