Beautiful fall backpack east of Mt Rainier. We started at Chinook Pass and hiked the PCT past Dewey Lakes to the Cougar Lakes trail junction. Amazing fall colors through this entire stretch of the PCT. Saw a bear just before reaching Dewey Lakes.
The Cougar Lakes trail junction is not signed and is only marked by a small cairn. The trail is rough, overgrown with trees and bushes, deeply rutted and very steep up over a ridge and then down to Cougar Lakes. But, it is also extremely scenic and the lake setting is gorgeous.
We camped by Little Cougar Lake. Most of the camp spots between Little Cougar and Cougar Lakes are marked as closed for restoration, but there are sites before and after this narrow divide between the lakes. We heard animal noises all night, including elk very near our camp and bugling around us.
The trail north from Cougar Lakes to the American Ridge trail is fairly steep but in much better condition. More huckleberry bushes in full fall foliage and views of Mt Rainier and our previous day's route along the PCT before rounding peak 6161.
We turned left onto the Mesatchee Creek trail. We passed through an area with Larch trees, some already turning yellow. The area had a great variety of trees, including Western Hemlock, Western White Pine, Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine in addition to the Larch trees.
Turned left again on the Dewey Lake trail to complete our loop. The forest was much darker and less scenic. We were looking for our next campsite but did not find one until just before the trail crossed the American River. We startled a large bull elk and he startled us on the trail. He ran off, but then bugled for another 10 minutes as we keep walking.
On the third day, we ascended back to Dewey Lakes, where we had a fantastic view of Mt Rainier across the lake. We missed this view on our way in. We came out on the Naches Loop trail and back to our car. Being Sunday, the trail was packed and parking overflowing. During our backpack, upon leaving Dewey Lake and returning to Dewey Lake, we saw only 4 other hikers including two others camped at Cougar Lake. the Naches Loop trail had a line of bodies moving up and down the trail.
Fantastic loop. Great fall hike.
Comments
Happy Hiking Mommies on Cougar Lakes, American Ridge, Dewey Lake
Did this is 2021 and planning a return in 2023. Was there still a lot of trees down between your camp before crossing the American River and the ascent up to Dewey Lake? We encountered about 20+.
Posted by:
Happy Hiking Mommies on Dec 23, 2022 08:16 PM
Dewey Lake Trail conditions
I don't recall downed trees between the American River crossing and Dewey Lakes. I'd likely remember if we had to scramble over/under/around many trees. Part of the trail between the Mesatchee Creek trail and the American River crossing was very swampy, we hopped around trying to avoid walking through water.
Posted by:
Sugar Pine on Dec 23, 2022 08:44 PM
Happy Hiking Mommies on Cougar Lakes, American Ridge, Dewey Lake
Thank you! Yes, there were several difficult over/under. It is horse country so I had hoped it had been cleared. I recall the swampy area before the area where the Mesatchee just flows thru in no real set banks. There are sundews along this section. A fairly rare flower that grows in sphagnum bog areas. Done this loop several times entering thru the Mesatchee trailhead. Always lonely and gorgeous area.
Posted by:
Happy Hiking Mommies on Dec 24, 2022 07:56 AM