Hwy 504 is snow free - there were some patches of snow on the side but other than that no snow. It's so odd to see the road clear of snow at this time of year.
I started my hike at the boat launch. I was pleasantly surprised that the bathrooms were open and had hot water - what a treat!
The lakes trail was in decent shape. There was some mud and branches to walk around or move off to the side. The streams were flowing quite heavily, so I recommend waterproof boots and poles to hop stones to cross. Around the 4-mile mark, I had some intermittent snow patches. However, after crossing the bridge and starting on the South Coldwater trail, then the snow became more constant. Some of the snow drifts were about 3 to 4 feet deep! Someone else had hiked this trail before me, so I was able to use their steps to walk in and as a way to stay on the trail. Thank you fellow hiker!
The snow fields ended at the summit where all the old logging equipment is. Additionally, there are quite a few downed trees/branches that will need to be cleared at some point. They could be down due to snow weight though.
This loop was quite a treat - Beautiful mountain views, and I was able to see an eagle soaring above the lake; there was even a herd of elk and one grouse on South Coldwater lake trail.
I returned to my car via the one-mile road walk and explored the lake area before ending my trip. Overall hiked 12.3 miles with 2,149 ft of elevation gain.
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