After reading about Lena Lake on the WTA website, I decided that I would try it. Seldom does a hiking destination exceed my expectations after reading about it on the web. You guys simply have not given it justice!
Lena Lake is certainly no secret. There were a lot of people there on Sunday. Many coming out after camping there on Saturday night and then a large number (twenty-plus) coming in later in the afternoon as we were coming out.
The trail of course is in excellent condition to the lake. Once you cross Lena Creek, maintenance becomes a little lax. In addition, heavily published heavy snow melt was in effect in the drainage. Just in the two hours we were there, the water level rose about 6 inches and covered the trail on the north side of the lake near the East Fork of Lena Creek where you can access the falls. According to those that camped near the lake said that lake levels rose dramatically over night. I would say several to six feet based on locations of trees.
Ah yes, the falls. I looked all over the web and it there was nary a reference to the falls! I can see where most of the day hikers stopped at the viewpoint of the lake on the southwest bluff, but I urge visitors to continue on to at least the East Fork of Lena Creek's confluence into the lake itself. What a great spot to end a great hike on a day when the water was roaring with snow melt.
I will have a more detailed report on my blog that will include photos and a video of the falls.
http://nwrockranger.blogspot.com/
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