We spent two nights backpacking at Larch Lakes and exploring the surrounding trails.
Our route was as follows:
1. Hike 4 miles from trailhead to junction with trail 1430 - this section travels through a burn area.It's hot and dusty, but a gentle grade and easy to follow.
2. Trail 1430 to Larch Lakes - the turnoff onto 1430 is not marked with a sign, but there is a tree with a horseshoe nailed to it. This is shortly after the wilderness boundary. You will need to cross the Entiat River. The water was a little over knee high when I walked across, a bit deep for my dog, but there is a log you can use to cross just a little down stream. This is where the trail got interesting. For the rest of the way to the lakes, the trail is pretty badly overgrown. Some route finding is necessary. There are orange and pink flags marking the trail most of the way, but you'll be doing a lot of skirting around trees, pushing through brush, and navigating a trail that has seen a lot of erosion. Almost the entirety of this trail is in a burn area. Bring lots of water! It's a climb and it's hot and exposed.
3. Larch Lakes - this area is gorgeous and not burned! We camped two nights at the lower lake. As a day hike, we hiked up to Pomas Pass (about 5 miles round trip from Larch Lakes) for incredible views on the Glacier Peak Wilderness. This trail is in pretty good condition.
4. Larch Lakes to Cow Creek Meadows - This section of the trail is in decent condition up to the pass, but goes through a dusty, hot, eroded burn area as you drop down to Cow Creek Meadows. Expect a lot of jumping up and over down trees. Cow Creek Meadows is gorgeous! I wish we could have spent a night here. It's open with beautiful rock walls surrounding it. There's a tiny snow field left up there to.
5. Cow Creek Meadows to Myrtle Lake to trailhead - Although this section mostly passes through a burn area, as well, it is much better maintained. Switchback down to Myrtle Lake for a cooling swim in the lake before heading back to the trailhead on the trail you came in on.
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