Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Wednesday, Jul. 9, 2025

This was a really nice trail with some serious steepness in the first 3 miles. Just over 2100' of vertical starting up just past the parking lot with no level breaks.

Unfortunately we had low clouds with mist and light drizzle at times that drenched all the plants and us we hiked. But there were several different species of wildflowers blooming everywhere. Absolutely gorgeous! And we saw a marmot and pikas running in the boulder fields.

Once at the top of the main vertical you cross over a pass and drop down to Mason Lake. You gain another 750' as you wander from one basin to the next until arriving at Island Lake, and there's a fair bit of up and down between the lakes.

Be warned! Mosquitos were horrible at the lake. I swear a large group surrounded one of my hiking partners and tried to lift them whole to carry away! My Deet kept me from getting bitten but did not stop dozens of them from buzzing me during lunch.

You'll feel the ups and downs on your muscles on the way out headed for the pass and then the long drop back down to the parking lot.