Barclay Lake — Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

ROAD:
The road up there is rough but if you have a SUV (I drive a Subaru Outback), you’ll be fine! Just take it slow.

PARKING & PASSES:
Small parking lot with a pit toilet and a picnic bench. You need a NW Forest Pass (or equivalent) to park there.

TRAIL & VIEWS:
Trail was extremely well maintained. A little muddy in some places, so waterproof boots are a must. I am three months out from a foot surgery, so this was my first “long” hike. I did a ton of research to make sure this wouldn’t be too steep in any one spot and I was pleasantly surprised to find the whole trail very accessible and a very gradual elevation grade when it wasn’t flat. I will say, though, my Garmin tracked 6.2 miles RT which is much longer than what is listed here on WTA and AllTrails, so plan accordingly. Views were lovely at the lake even on a super cloudy, gloomy day. This was a perfect hike for a rainy day because the canopy of trees keeps you pretty sheltered from the elements. Fall foliage is just now starting to fade but there is an abundance of moss, ferns, and mushrooms to see!

OTHER NOTES:
There were only 2 other cars in the lot when I arrived around 11:45am on a gloomy Wednesday. Only saw 2 cars when I made it back down. The trail had no trash on it except for one dog poop bag which I picked up and packed out. Let’s all work together to keep these areas pristine! No cell service either, so come prepared!!!