Olallie Lake via Pratt Lake Trail, Pratt Lake Basin & Lower Tuscohatchie Lake — Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025

9 of us from the Mountaineers CHS-2 (2-3 mph) cohort enjoyed the trifecta of lakes: Pratt, Lower Tuscohatchie, and Olallie Lakes from Exit 47. Total moving time for 14 miles and 3250' gain was 6.5 hours for a 2.2 mph average.

We met at 6:15 a.m. and the latrine was well-stocked although the door still tends to swing open if not secured tightly. All three lakes have operating pit toilets that aren't too full or stinky.

A Northwest Forest Pass is needed. There is a pay kiosk at the trailhead. 

The trail is in good shape overall, with running water at all the stream crossings. I continue to note in each Exit 47 trip report the growing pothole at the entry to the parking lot and loose boards on the boardwalk just before the Pratt-Talapus junction sign.

We had mild temperatures, partly cloudy conditions, and higher humidity than I expected. With the recent rains, there are areas of slick slabs and some mud especially in the Pratt Basin and heading east toward Lower Tuscohatchie. Prepare to get wet from dew/rain on the overgrown segments with all the ferns. Watch for rooted segments in Pratt Basin that could easily trip you.

New to me: we descended via the steeper boot path some refer to as the "winter route" (unmarked between Pratt/Talapus junction and the overlook for Olallie Lake) to save .7 miles of hiking and skirted the west side of Olallie before taking the bridge back to gain the main trail at about 3.25 miles. Nice to do that turn-off since I've never had the opportunity before today. Campsites galore; AllTrails navigation was helpful for that part in order to keep to the main throughfare.

FLORA: Wildflowers are past their prime but berries are abundant: watermelon, thimble, salmon, blue, and huckleberries.

FAUNA: We had 13 bird species including a belted kingfisher (skimming over Pratt Lake) and the American goshawk we heard last week at mile 2.5. Most of the warblers, flycatchers, and thrushes were silent or gone, except for 3 robins. Picas were calling, as well as chipmunks and squirrels. I actually spotted 3 picas today. No slugs.

HIKERS/BACKPACKERS: only a handful of people (1-2 dogs) on the trail today; the parking lot was only about 20% full when we got done around 3 p.m. One campsite was taken at Lower Tuscohatchie; a couple and their child were coming out from the main Pratt site where we spent 45 minutes wading, snacking, and swimming. 3 swimmers today and 2-3 waders. Brisk but refreshing. There's a submerged log in the middle of the lake that I climbed on; everyone called out that something was following me as I swam away - I guess I dislodged it from the mud. Looked kind of like an alligator bobbing in the lake, so that was funny.

TRASH: I collected seven dog poop bags on the trail today, mostly within 5 minutes of the trailhead, which is kind of disappointing as I usually don't find any. A reminder to everyone who enjoys hiking with their dogs: please, PLEASE have your dogs carry out their own waste or spend the extra five minutes disposing of them properly. Nobody likes seeing or collecting other dogs' waste bags. It's really an eyesore.