Please be warned: VERY difficult trail conditions. Not recommended for equestrian or inexperienced hikers.
Due to trail conditions on the Hidden Lakes trail (477), we ended up changing our itinerary from a loop to out-and-back. The deadfall of burned out trees from the 2017 fires is so bad in several areas that it is almost impassable at these locations:
- Between Eightmile Pass and Drake Creek
- Between Drake Creek and Lucky Pass
- Descent to Diamond Creek from Lucky Pass
- Everything north of the 477/485 Junction to the East Fork of the Pasayten River
Rough, small campsites at Drake Creek and Diamond Creek. Best campsites at Cougar Lake and at the unmarked Ranger station between First and Middle Hidden Lakes (a small shelter there).
The trail junction for 485 to Tatoosh Buttes was unmarked and not found.
The trail junction for 451 was covered in deadfall and not found.
No bridge at Drake Creek.
Highlights: We were the only ones on the trail the whole weekend. The wildflowers and berries were exploding. We ate our fill of wild raspberries. Heard wolves howling and saw many signs of them, plus deer, elk, beaver, and bear. Bugs weren’t bad and after a couple rainy episodes, they were nonexistent. The area is super green now and carpeted with new saplings of pine, fir, and spruce, along with willow, alder, and aspen.
Cougar Lake was our favorite by far. Great campsites, very swimmable, and big fish! Look for the signs of beaver at the lake outlet. A pair of loons were lovely and haunting to hear during morning coffee, especially as we watched the morning mists shift off the lake.
If you’re wanting the feel of untouched wilderness, this area might be for you. Just travel light and wear some brush guards or long pants to keep scratches and puncture wounds at bay!
Comments
Christian Gustafson on Hidden Lakes
Finishing #360 Basin Creek project this weekend. Considering a visit, see what’s possible. #485 sounds like it’s sloppy from the Lease Creek side, too.
Posted by:
Christian Gustafson on Jul 23, 2025 05:09 PM
Yogamom2 on Hidden Lakes
It's all pretty sloppy in these old burn areas, apparently. We originally planned to do a loop hike up 477 to 485 (East Pasayten River) to Dollar Watch Pass then back to Billy Goat TH, but the junction trails there were fairly nonexistent, buried under pick up sticks.
The Methow Valley Ranger Station told me that they had all of their funding cut for seasonal labor, including trail maintenance, and many of their staff were laid off. All of the trail maintenance remaining is via the area non-profits and WTA at this point. So, support these organizations if you want to keep using these trails. Otherwise, I think most of them will eventually return to nature.
Posted by:
Yogamom2 on Jul 23, 2025 08:27 PM
Christian Gustafson on Hidden Lakes
E Fk Pasayten is #451. I think I'll spend a full week out from Billy Goat TH over Labor Day, see how far I can make it on a loop #477 returning via #502. I'd really like to take a peek at #456 Dean Creek on the way. Someone needs to clear that one.
See my TRs on trails #505 and #360; those logs you're climbing over are < 90 mins of work.
Posted by:
Christian Gustafson on Jul 23, 2025 08:42 PM