Bottom Line:
First-timer! OK... I will admit that I have discounted this trail, often passing by and looking at the overflowing parking lot and wondering why folks hike here, when there are so many great hikes father up the Mountain Loop Highway. The stats and the relative closeness to the beginning of the loop also had me thinking if I am going to drive all that way, I should go for something bigger. I was wrong - I get it now! Yes, this is the "Snow Lake" of the Mountain Loop. But whoa - this is one BEAUTIFUL hike with a taste of everything, from waterfalls to the lake basin, old growth trees, rocky pocket gardens that reminded me of a Japanese garden in their perfection, and a trail that has some challenge in its rocky 2nd half, and (this time of year) with a snowy circumnavigation of the lake. This has to be the optimal time - a progression from spring/summer (it was in the 70s at the start), to winter/spring in the basin with snowy craggy peaks ringing the basin. The waterfalls are also full and simply gorgeous. I was schooled! :)
Stats:
- Distance: 9-1/4 miles
- Duration: 4-3/4 hours
- Vertical: 1710 ft
- Road/Parking: Having seen so many folks park on the Hwy in the past, I was surprised to see all the "no parking" signs (great!) and the notice at the trailhead about ticketing. The trailhead has a fairly big lot, but this is a busy place. Overflow available at the day use area across the street about 50 yards east, and then some additional overflow even farther down the freeway. But, when that busy, Heather Lake is quieter and right next door - we came expecting to be flexible, and indeed this trail is all about managing expectations with respect to crowds. National Forest Parking pass required. Toilets.
- Weather: Mostly sunny with increasing cloud in the afternoon with falling temperatures and increasing wind; started low 70Fs; finished 60Fs with rain just starting. The lake basin is cooler with snow starting about 1/4 mile from the lake (warm sunshine but I threw on a jacket). Some brave guy went swimming in the lake in the small unfrozen area in front of the bridge (WHOA)
- Flowers: Lots of salmonberry, otherwise little pockets of flowers here and there, especially if at the lake if you looked closely.
- Water: No real need to carry water if can filter; lots of water the whole way
- Trail: The trail is in good condition, with no significant mud, but some creeks flowing over the trail in spots. There is the mother-of-all-down-trees across the trail in one spot, but there are notches cut into the tree to get over it. The trail is moderate and family-friendly for much of its length, although the final ascent via switchbacks to the lake basin becomes quite rocky as one crosses a scree slope with some giant bigleaf maples. Snow starts ~1/4 mile from the lake basin, but nothing really requiring traction. The hike around the lake is well-tracked, but post-holing is significant, and some of the boardwalk bridges at the opposite end of the lake have deep unstable snow (CAUTION). The trail in general is beautiful - plenty of huge old-growth trees, waterfalls big and small the entire distance, and yellow light bathing the forest from the copious moss clinging to the trees. The trail was (of course) very busy, but everyone was really respectful, and I did not see ANY garbage. Nice! 95% of the folks did not really explore the waterfalls or the lake, so plenty of opportunities to have a quieter experience (thus the long time we spent "forest bathing" in quiet spots on this hike).
- Takeaway: Unexpectedly beautiful and varied - honestly surprised. I think this transition season is probably optimal in terms of beauty and contrasts. We had left our micro spikes in our backpacks by the bridge, so did not complete the circumnavigation of the lake - some sketchy snow bridges and I did not want to get wet resulted in an out-and-back to the far end of the lake! Next time ;) In the end, popular trails are popular for a reason.
It will take some time today to upload a 4K video of the trail highlights and convert to high definition.
#EarthDay2024
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