Snowgrass Flat, Heart Lake via Lily Basin Trail — Monday, Aug. 15, 2016

South Cascades > Goat Rocks

This was a great (long) day hike, up Snowgrass Flats trailhead, Lily Basin Loop and then down to Berrypatch. The people had thinned out some because this was a Monday, but there were still plenty of backpackers on trail and in the campsites. Several dogs were on the trail as well so if you don't like that, this is probably not the hike for you! As you go up to Snowgrass, you will come to a junction with Lily Basin Loop. If you want to go to Goat Lake or do the loop, this is where you will leave Snowgrass trail. LB loop heads down through camps and meadows until you reach a nice creek running through wildflowers. They are stunning and this is a nice place to enjoy a bite to eat. Once you leave here you will start to climb the rocky basin trail heading to Goat Lake. The lake is another nice spot to get a drink and let the dogs swim. We saw a human dive in as well. Brrrr. There was just a little patch of snow left for the dog to enjoy as well. Leaving here and continuing up towards Goat Ridge you will go through an incredible array of wildflowers. Blues, purples, pinks, yellows, white....all are full on in bloom and the colors and the smells will take your breath away. Water is plentiful here so if you have an empty container fill it up for the dog....there is very little on the way out and down the other side heading to Berrypatch. They will love you for it. After the last stream down, the way is very rocky and dusty until you hit the covered forest closer to Chambers. Not a lot of shade (and no water) til then. Once you get to where you can see the parking lot you need to take the side trail to the left. It is about a half mile around to the Snowgrass trail, then you take a right back onto that to the parking lot. You can do the loop either direction but Snowgrass Flats trail is my preferred route. However, if you go this direction, don't forget to look back! Mt. Adams is out in all it's glory during the entirety of the ridge hike. Enjoy!