Cora Lake via Big Creek Trail — Friday, Jul. 28, 2000

South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley

A short 1/2 mile hike to a pretty alpine lake under High Rock( near the Nisqually entrance to MRNP) and it's lookout 1500' or so above the lake's SW far end (you can just see the lookout building's roof waaay up there). The elev. gain is unknown but is moderate, following Big Crk. to it's source at the lake. Follow directions from my report of High Rock on 7/29/00, taking FS Rd. 8420, a spur from Rd. 84. The trailhead is on the left just before the road obviously dwindles to an unmaintained status (a sign says so). The trailhead has a small sign ""Cora Lake 1/2 mi."") The trail climbs thru forest & soon glimpses & sounds of the creek begin, and several easy creek crossings are made with a variety of waterfalls present. Soon Cora is reached, with a nice but not very private campsite where the trail pops out of the woods. I saw one other campspot and imagine more are out there. It was a hot day so I took a dive into the waters, surprised by the relative warmth near shore-- very refreshing. Lots of bugs, this seems to be a nasty season for them per other reports. Saw no one in the early afternoon I was on the trail and lake, until a family of four carrying fishing poles passed by while I was beginning to head down. This is a gem of a short little hike to a beautiful lake.