We went to see the larches today and were not disappointed! Got the the trailhead at 7:30 AM to find about 20 cars. The road to the trailhead was bare all the way and in great shape. It was cold this morning-about 20 degrees. Passed about 10 people on our way to the lake. Passed too many people to count on the way down.
We DID NOT use spikes or poles. (Both would’ve been handy but it was very manageable without)
On the way up, the ground and mud was frozen over. We encountered snowfields as we walked down to the larches but walked on a well-traveled trail of compact snow. The only had trouble we had was climbing the rocks in the last 1/2mile to the lake. The trail was very icy here and we took our time getting up.
Hiked for 4 hrs in total. The larches are gorgeous and definitely draw a huge crowd. The snow on the surrounding mountain created a dramatic backdrop. It’s a must-see for fall!
Type of Hike
Day hikeTrail Conditions
Minor obstacles posing few problemsRoad
Road suitable for all vehiclesBugs
No bugsSnow
Snowfields to cross - could be difficult
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