I decided to do a bike and hike combo since it seems that the bridge on the road to the trailhead won't be fixed anytime soon. It will be a tough fix as some serious shoring up will have to be done prior to allowing vehicles to cross again. I did see some tracks of ORV's on the road so there must be a back way to enter this area. 

This adds 6 miles each way to get to the Blue Lake Trailhead and a 16-mile trip overall with about 3000' of elevation gain to Dock Butte. Push, ride, push, ride the bike up but the cruise down made it worth the effort. 

Though it has been nigh on two years the road has been closed, it is in surprisingly good condition. Only one large blowdown blocks it close to the official trailhead but it is a big one. The parking lot was lonely and empty when I arrived. A little snow starts here presently.

The hike up started out dry but solid snow covers the trail once atop the ridge. There is about 2-3' near the summit and it was quite firm but still good for kicking steps. This is more of a climb than a hike under the current conditions if the summit is the goal and an ice axe with traction would be handy on the steep bits near the top. The bowl below the summit where the summer trail ascends would not be friendly in avalanche prone conditions. 

On the hike down I heard an avalanche or rockslide come down above Blue Lake. Things are moving around out there. 

I knew from earlier trip reports that the road was closed by a partial bridge washout 6 miles below the trailhead, so I put my bicycle in the back of my car. The drive was fine in a passenger car, just a few potholes to go around carefully. The bridge was blocked by a Jersey barrier, but there were no signs saying you couldn't walk across. There was only one other car parked there (early on a weekday morning) and room for several more.

The bike ride to the trailhead ascends 1700 feet in 6 miles, with a pretty steady gradient. The road was in excellent condition; I rode a road bike with skinny 28 mm tires and didn't have any problems with big bumps or soft gravel (although bigger tires would be better, of course). The ride took me a little over an hour of steadily grinding upwards.

After leaving my bike at the trailhead, I hiked the 0.7 miles to Blue Lake first. The trail was in excellent shape, except for a couple of spots near the lake that required a little scrambling. The number of campsites and web of social trails at the lake make it obvious that it's usually a very popular spot, so it was extra special to have it all to myself. 

After returning to the junction, I hiked to Dock Butte. There was one large downed tree to crawl over or under, otherwise the trail was in excellent shape. The views from the top were spectacular, of course.

On the return, just after passing the junction with the Blue Lake trail, I headed northwest through the woods for about a quarter mile to Tuckway Lake. I didn't see any hint of a trail. Going there, I stayed in the saddle, which was pretty brushy; I returned a little higher up on the side of the ridge to the northeast, which was more open. Tuckway Lake was pretty enough, but kind of anticlimactic after Blue Lake; unless you're a lakebagger like me, there's probably no reason to go there.

On the bike ride back downhill to my car, I met two people who had hiked up from the road closure. They were about to turn around, but I told them they were only 0.8 miles from the trailhead and a further 0.7 miles from Blue Lake, and I think I convinced them it was worth continuing on. They were the only people I saw all day.

Sad. This used to be one of my fave hikes. 

The road is closed due to bridge being washed out 6 miles from TrailHead. So, if you walk up the dirt road ( 6 mile slog) to trail head, then start on the trail...it is overgrown, trees down, overall terrible shape. Not worth it. Go to Railroad Grade instead.

WE pay money for our passes each year. Where does it go? So many roads are in terrible shape now. So disappointing.

Forest Road #12 is closed a mile from the intersection with #13. No access. Another great family hike now lost. 

fs 12 closed 4.5 miles from baker lake road.