I started my trail run at Windy Pass. Most of Forest road 9070 is in decent shape but there are a few eroded spots that are rougher and rocky. Right before Windy Pass, just pass the Mount Catherine trailhead, 9070 really deteriorates! Fortunately it’s only about .25 mile from the Mount Catherine trailhead to the PCT, so I just jogged up the road.
I took the Pacific Crest Trail from windy Pass to Yakima Pass/Twilight Lake. The PCT is in good shape and fall colors are appearing! A good number of hikers were on the trail and a couple of backpacking groups were at or en route to Mirror Lake. Mirror Lake was beautiful- Twilight Lake is a much more modest pretty little lake. I didn’t find lakeshore access easy at Twilight Lake.
I retraced my steps past Mirror Lake and decided I would return to my car on Forest road 9070 / Mt. Catherine trailhead by taking the Cold Creek trail past Twin Lakes. There is about a mile of descent from the junction with the PCT as you head towards the lakes - this is an awful mile of rough overgrown trail with multiple fallen trees across it. Poles would help. Rocky, many roots, wet at times… It’s hard to follow especially near the lakes. Once you are at lake level veer right.
You’ll cross a stream draining from the lakes- look for the bridge made of 2 giant logs. After that crossing there are no more water crossings if you head to Mt. Catherine. Look for the square, weathered wooden sign uphill and past an obvious campsite in a clearing with a fire pit that marks the trail. Left for Mt. Catherine and right for Cold Creek.
The trail up from the lakes to Forest road 9070/ Mount Catherine is brushy and overgrown at times, a bit rough underfoot but nowhere near as bad as the descent from the PCT! It was fun to see a new trail but that mile of Cold Creek trail needs a lot of work!
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