Stats: 4.5 miles RT, 750’ gain, saw no one on the trail and only a few people near the parking area – a very quiet day!
We brought snowshoes and micro spikes, but used neither. The snow was only about 4-6 inches deep in most places making the trail easy to follow. The only place we had trouble staying on trail was near the creek crossing. On the north side of the creek there were orange flags to help us stay on track.
We arrived at the parking area by Colonial Creek campground at 9 am. There is an open, clean, stocked (TP and hand sanitizer) outhouse just behind the Thunder Knob information kiosk. We headed through the closed, northside-of-the-road campground to the Thunder Knob trailhead. We then followed the snowshoe tracks/foot prints toward the creek. At the creek there are a few options for crossing. We veered left and crossed where we could see orange flagging on the north side of the creek. Crossing was pretty easy, but the rocks are very icy and slippery—CROSS WITH CAUTION. Poles definitely helped.
Once across the creek we followed the orange flagging till the trail became very obvious. There are a lot of switchbacks. Peekaboo views through the trees revealed Colonial Peak to the SW, Ruby Mountain to the SE, and to the south the Thunder Creek valley and the Hwy 20 bridge over Diablo Lake.
When we arrived at the first viewpoint, the views of Diablo Lake were limited and the clouds swirled about providing only occasional views of Sourdough Mountain and Davis Peak. Pyramid Peak was completely enshrouded in clouds the entire time. We could look east and see the Diablo Lake overlook on Hwy. 20. The views south up the Thunder Creek valley were superb.
After a quick snack we headed back, taking an alternate crossing of the creek but it was not any easier so just look for the orange flagging. It was a fun, half day adventure in the snow!
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