Marten Lake — Sunday, Jul. 13, 2025

After having to turn around a couple months ago due to snow, was happy to make it to the lake this time! Tons of blueberries (a touch on the tart side but delicious) and salmon berries, and a few red huckleberries. Trail can be a little tricky in a couple spots; near the lake where there are two options for approach, the one on the right (north) has some deep sloshy mud to contend with (my dog underestimated the middle and sank in to her shoulders), while the left is much steeper. A relatively short section through the salmon berries is quite overgrown; I wouldn’t want to meet a bear there because there are no options for escape, but the dense growth means you’d probably hear one/see the bushes moving well in advance. The lower trail was crowded (no surprise at 11am on a Sunday), but once I turned off to Marten Lake I only saw one other couple and had the lake to myself while I was there, and thoroughly enjoyed a refreshing swim!