Used the Keep Kool Trail to hike in to the tarns. Set up camp near Pt 5,665. Next morning, we continued on the trail to the scramble up Tomyhoi Peak. Hiked out the way we had come.
Road Conditions. Twin Lakes Rd was in very good condition to the pullout at the start of the Keep Kool Trail, a bit over two miles from the Mt Baker Hwy. No signage or facilities.
Trail Conditions. The bottom third of the Keep Kool Trail was clear of obstacles. Towards the middle, there were a dozen or so blowdowns to climb over or detour around, but the trail was easy to follow thanks to recent-ish maintenance. Once in the open, some sections were a bit overgrown with blueberry bushes, but still easy to follow. This trail was steep throughout, few switchbacks. Upon reaching the tarns, there were lots of social trails, so we just stuck to whichever one went in the right direction. The Tomyhoi Peak trail has some rough sections (steep, big rocky steps), but was very nice overall. Getting up to the false summit required a bit of scrambling; this recent trip report has a good description of the easiest route up with the current conditions. Didn't need traction or ice axes. I stopped at the false summit, but my hiking partner who continued to the true summit reported straightforward but exposed scrambling on solid rock, with one slightly awkward spot before reaching the area near the top. Plenty of water, including running water partway up the Keep Kool Trail, near the Yellow Aster Butte Trail junction, and at a nice tarn at 6.300ft.
Highlights. Tons of ripe blueberries, with the most abundant and tastiest ones at about 4,800ft once you get out of the forest on the Keep Kool Trail. Encountered a well-behaved herd of about a dozen mountain goats along the Tomyhoi Peak Trail. The false summit had two grouse (?) parading around. Heard, but didn't see a few marmots.
Crowds. Didn't see anyone on the Keep Kool Trail. Counted at least 4 parties camped around the tarns; must get busy on weekends. Encountered 5 parties on the Tomyhoi Peak Trail.
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