I have done Naches Loop a number of times and always admired Dewey Lake from the ridge but yesterday was the day to finally make a proper acquaintance. We parked at Tipsoo Lake and took Naches loop trail up to Chinook Pass and then over the wooden pedestrian bridge and around the north side of the loop to the Dewey Lake junction. There is compact ice/snow on this section, and as a minimum poles are a good idea.
After the junction the PCT to Dewey Lakes is in the sun and was snow free as it drops down via first a rocky then lovely soft tread over a long switch back to the lake basin. Once at the the lake basin there was again compact snow (more than ice) in shaded areas.
We had decided to try and hike around the larger of the two lakes and I had read the trip description but still made several mistakes so you can learn from us. We did not see the "crossroads" junction mentioned in the description and took the first obvious junction to the left on reaching the basin. That sent us through some campsites and then on to the north "beach" area so all good. We were then able to find and take the "boot trail" along the east side of the lake. It's easy enough to follow although a couple of times it splits and then rejoins itself. This is obviously a favorite of animal and lots of scat of different types but no sightings. You can still see the lake through the trees most of the way round.
At the far end of the lake we stayed on this boot trail (ignoring spur trails), thinking it would dump us out on the Dewey Lake trail coming up from 410. As we lost sight of the lake the trail started to lose elevation but it was still pretty boot-like so we kept going. We passed a waterfall and figured we would meet the trail below that where it crosses the creek but still no joy. Not wanting to climb to far for home we decided to give it up and just retrace our steps. Of course when we did that we saw our mistake. We had actually joined the Dewey Lake trail without realizing it. I've included a picture looking north where that happened so you can see that if coming down the trail you need to be looking for a sharp "spur" trail where you almost double back as soon as you get close to the lake end.
Back on the correct trail we crossed the outlet on the footbridge (great view up to Mount Rainier). Next up at a strange dog leg turn we thought we wouldn't be fooled twice and took the spur trail towards the lake, wrong again but wow more great views. There is actually a trail sign on a tree here so if you do as it directs you all will be good. So again back on track we followed the Dewey Lake trail mostly through gentle forest tread until it T-bones obviously into the well signed PCT. Then it's turn right or north for home. The trail gets close to the lake shore as it skirts under a rock face with nice view to the east and soon you are back in the upper lake basin. We then passed the trail junction mentioned in the description, we just had not hiked far enough south the first time.
The area between the two lakes is lovely there are many trails leaving the main trail here (leading to campsites and lake side spots). Lots of little ponds and water ways - I can see why summer bugs love it here. We returned to the north of the main lake and had lunch in the sun on the sandy beach there. Then we explored a trail that lead to upper Dewey Lake for a gorgeous lake view. Lots more to explore here and I think there is a way around the upper lake, but we will leave that for next time.
Then it was off for home, stopping only to remove layers as it was still warm in the sun on the climb back up.
Notes: Out-houses at Tipsoo Lake open and stocked, mask wearing pretty low as you approach Tipsoo Lake. Wait time for the 410 detour zero minutes in the morning, and 50 minutes at around 3:30 eastbound.
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