Type of Hike
Day hikeTrail Conditions
Obstacles on trail:Muddy or wet trail,
Overgrown in places.
Road
Road rough but passableBugs
Bugs were not too badSnow
Snow free
This is a hike for the very agile and strong, which alas we were not. Everyone we met on the trail said that it was a fabulous destination, but in the end we stopped short; daunted by the final, steep, looming boulder field up to the lake. The pro's: beautiful area, sections of old growth and well-grown second growth forest, blooming wildflowers, salmon berries and huckleberries (we kept expecting to see bears), cascading waterfalls, small ponds, mist-shrouded vistas. See prior reports for accolades about the lake. The con's: many stretches of steep trail, no switchbacks-just up through the eroded tree roots and boulders, brushy and overgrown (guaranteed to soak your pants), boulder fields (where any misstep could twist a knee or break a leg). Muddy sections at the start. Difficult to find the trail in several locations.
We did enjoy the hike and really really wish we had made it to the lake but we made the sensible choice for our ability and for the time left in the afternoon.
Tenas Ck Road is past the 8-mile mark on the Suittle River Rd. It is not signed as such, once you turn on it, you will see the FR 2660 marker. The narrow, single lane, gravel road has few turnouts, but is generally in good shape with only a few potholes. A high clearance vehicle is nice because of the vegetation down the middle. One downed tree can be pulled aside or driven around.
Comments
easy route
I'm sorry that you didn't make it to the lake. I know that looking up that talus slope to the lake is very daunting. But the good news is that there's an easy route that avoids the worst of the talus and gets you to the lake quickly! I just returned from backpacking there last weekend and had the benefit of knowing the route from past trips. If when you get to the meadow from where your photo was taken you keep going below the slope across the grass and across the outlet stream, then a little bit further, you can find a skimpy, but very useable trail that switchbacks up the talus to the lake. It's not a posh trail, but it's easier in some ways than much of what you did to get there. And, the lake is well worth it. Then if you want more adventure you can continue to the even prettier and more remote Pear Lake. The route leaves just as you approach the lake itself. You just take a hard right up the meadow and steep slope picking your way and following the path of least resistance until you top out above pear lake. Then it's a fabulous meadow wander down to the lake or you can scramble Boulder Peak, or just have a rest with great views. I hope you try it again. I spent three days there over 4th of July Weekend and had only two other parties at Boulder Lake and no one at Pear.
Posted by:
wolfwoman on Jul 13, 2015 09:51 PM
easy route
I'm sorry that you didn't make it to the lake. I know that looking up that talus slope to the lake is very daunting. But the good news is that there's an easy route that avoids the worst of the talus and gets you to the lake quickly! I just returned from backpacking there last weekend and had the benefit of knowing the route from past trips. If when you get to the meadow from where your photo was taken you keep going below the slope across the grass and across the outlet stream, then a little bit further, you can find a skimpy, but very useable trail that switchbacks up the talus to the lake. It's not a posh trail, but it's easier in some ways than much of what you did to get there. And, the lake is well worth it. Then if you want more adventure you can continue to the even prettier and more remote Pear Lake. The route leaves just as you approach the lake itself. You just take a hard right up the meadow and steep slope picking your way and following the path of least resistance until you top out above pear lake. Then it's a fabulous meadow wander down to the lake or you can scramble Boulder Peak, or just have a rest with great views. I hope you try it again. I spent three days there over 4th of July Weekend and had only two other parties at Boulder Lake and no one at Pear.
Posted by:
wolfwoman on Jul 13, 2015 09:53 PM