Have driven past Money Creek on Hwy 2 so many times, but never explored up valley, set out to explore Crater Lake, Lake Elizabeth, and the Damon and Pythias mine entry. Didn't find any money, but could have laundered some, due to the drenching I got from the wet bush/mist, haha.
TL;DR;
- Crater Lake:
- Being a "unmaintained miner" trail, had a bit of everything
- If you are used to such things though, this one isn't too bad as it isn't that long
- Lake Elizabeth:
- Nice small lake with loop trail, trail could use some TLC
- Damon & Phythias Mine:
- Nice quick side trip, enter at your own risk
- People:
- One friendly group at Crater lake camping/fishing (said fishing better earlier in year)
- Nice couple at TH doing a last hike before heart surgery ( best wishes! )
- Berries:
- Start ~3200', but past prime and waterlogged
- Road
- Gravel in great shape for first 4-5mi ( kudos road crew )
- After that gets a bit rockier/berm-ier, and a couple dry fords
- So recommend medium+ clearance
- Can park at small Lake Elizabeth TH, or more room...
- A 1000' further up the road where the road is blocked
CRATER LAKE
- This trail is unmaintained, but thanks to the trail angels, I found "relatively" easy to follow (for a boot path)
- That said, I did have to back up a couple times on the way down
- And reset after checking the GPS
- Some sections are rooty, overgrown, rocky, muddy
- Did bang my knees a couple times on branches hidden in the undergrowth
- But the tricky sections don't last long
- Several blowdowns, but nothing difficult
- Today was very misty, and the vegetation was wet
- So was drenched within about a 100m of starting
- That said, I did have to back up a couple times on the way down
- At the end of the drivable road, take the rightward fork on a overgrown old road until it descends to cross the creek...
- Then a climbing traverse around into the Crater Lake drainage
- ( "round the back" of the ridge you see when starting )
- At about 3200' there is a complex of overgrown boot paths, going in all sorts of directions
- Look for easiest way upward for the Lake, or...
- Easiest way towards the sound of water, for the waterfall
- I missed the waterfall on the way up, but hit it on the way down
- Worth the side trip, blocky waterfall into pretty pool
- Would be a nice bath if hot
- As you approach the lake, the meadows get marshy/muddy, but soon emerged onto the lake shore...
- Looking like a bedraggled cat who "meant to" fall into that pool
- Through the mist, the lake looked nice, and...
- Was (currently) easily traversable on the W shore
- However missed out on the good views due to mist (see other TRs)
- Would have liked to explore up towards Red Mountain,
- But didn't see the point with the mist, and was getting cold
LAKE ELIZABETH
- Nice little lake with small roadside TH (couple cars) and loop trail
- The trail really needs a little TLC, and then could be the very nice nature walk it probably was when first constructed
- Start on E side ( anti-clockwise ) for best trail & views
- The N/W sides are overgrown and muddy
DAMON AND PYTHIAS MINES
- This hike was last minute, and didn't get any time to research, but saw CP and other's pictures, so knew I had to go check it out
- At the end of the drivable road, take the leftward fork road
- Past the road block(s) the road is smooth and easy ( compared to Crater Lake)
- And within 1/5mi you arrive at the mine site
- Quick jaunt up the tailings to mine entrance covered by a corrugated steel awning
- I'm a scare-dy cat when it comes to mines I have no beta on...
- So just wandered in a little.
- Do your research before venturing any further
- Some interesting history links at the bottom
- Discovered in the late 1890s
- Actively minded/prospected until as late as the 60s
- The terrain towards the high Apex mine looked pretty steep, maybe another day I told myself, then headed out
All in all, a nice little "adventure", might go back for views on a "sunny" day, since "partly sunny" doesn't mean much with these front ranges.
Comments
Muledeer on Crater Lake, Lake Elizabeth, Damon & Pythias Mine
If you are interested in wildflowers go back up there in June. There are some nice bog lovers that grow around Elizabeth and Crater Lakes, some I had never seen before. The lake is pretty on a nice day, and you can see an old mine up on Red Mtn. barely. My friend showed me this hike, and she had been up to the mine once.
Posted by:
Muledeer on Sep 13, 2025 08:41 AM
fadenz on Crater Lake, Lake Elizabeth, Damon & Pythias Mine
Thanks! Didn't see any mines on Red maps, so it's visible (barely) from the lake?
Posted by:
fadenz on Sep 13, 2025 09:34 AM
fadenz on Crater Lake, Lake Elizabeth, Damon & Pythias Mine
(ignore my question, on re-read you already answered, I'm an idiot :)
Posted by:
fadenz on Sep 13, 2025 02:58 PM