Hiked a loop starting at the East Crater Trailhead, up to Junction Lake, around Bear Lake, Deer Lake, Clear Lake, and Lemei Lake, via the PCT and the Lemei Lake Trail (with a side excursion to Cultus Lake and Deep Lake, via the Indian Heaven Trail and the Deep Lake Trail).
Highlights, (in order from start to finish):
- Junction Lake
- Bear Lake
- Deer Lake
- Clear Lake
- Cultus Lake
- Deep Lake
- Lemei Lake
Huckleberry Fall Colors Report: Fall colors very much past their prime, especially along the upper portion of the East Crater Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail between Junction Lake and Deer Lake.
Fall colors at Clear Lake on the Indian Heaven Trail; and at Cultus Lake and Deep Lake, are also past their prime. The fall colors around Cultus Lake, however, are very pretty, still, and you can still get some beautiful photos there around the meadows leading up to the lake.
Fall colors along the Lemei Lake Trail are much better, compared to the rest of the loop, although they are well past their prime, too. There's two particular patches of good fall color left on the Lemei Lake Trail–one located at the north end of a medium-sized meadow somewhere south of Lemei Lake, and the other somewhere south of Lemei Lake before you get to the probably the largest, dry grassy meadow along the Lemei Lake Trail.
Access Road Report (via Carson, Panther Creek Rd, and FR-65 past Goose Lake):
Roads are all great, and any vehicle could make it. There are some deep trenches along the final approach road to the trailhead (beyond Forlorn Lakes Campground), but easy to go over, if you're careful. Even a Prius could make it, with care. There's also some washboarding on FR-65 and FR-60, past Panther Creek Falls, but before Goose Lake Campground.
Fall Colors on FR-65 and Goose Lake CG: On the drive up, the fall colors at Goose Lake were spectacular. The Black Cottonwoods were putting on a spectacular golden show. Be sure to stop by and snap a few photos here!
Fall colors on the Panther Creek Road are also starting to peak, with many showy Bigleaf Maples and Vine Maples putting on hues of yellow and gold.
There are also some larches starting to turn yellow on the final stretch to the trailhead, on FR 6035.
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