This was our first time seeing larches and we loved them! We could see them from the road and parking lot as well. There was a bit of snow on the trail, but it wasn’t slippery this afternoon. The larches are just beautiful and some are already dropping needles, so I think it’s the perfect time to do this hike. 

Really nice afternoon for this hike, the smoke cleared enough today, and all the larches are beginning to turn! It was popular today, but still not so many people as to feel crowded. Trees around Lake Clara were gorgeous. Lake Marion is mostly dried up, but still very impressive rocky backdrop. Starts from the mission ridge parking lot, very clear signage.

Haven’t seen any trail reports this fall so I decided to go check out the larches. There wasn’t really much which was disappointing. Give it another week or two and they should be popping. Fall colors were out and pretty. Overall, short and easy hike. Round trip was 3.6 miles and 1000 feet elevation gain. Parking is at Mission Ridge.

Actually hiked the loop of which the Clara Lake trail is a part, starting at the Upper Devil's Gulch trailhead, up the FS road, across to Clara Lake, down the Clara Lake trail, and back on the pipeline trail, about 6.1 miles. It makes a pretty easy loop and eliminates the steep climb and descent between the pipeline trail and the Clara Lake Trailhead. Road to the trailhead no problem for a RAV4.

Wildflowers were out in force. I photographed and identified 77 different varieties on the loop. That counts all the teeny white ones, the different species of similar types, and such, but still, it was pretty impressive. Lots of Tweedy's lewisia, arnica (heartleaf and broadleaf), rock clematis, yellow columbine, two types of paintbrush, low and showy Jacob's ladder, scarlet gilia, brushy penstemon...oh, and a purple lupine carpet under the Ponderosas on the way up. It was a colorful day!

The first part was a road walk through mostly open Ponderosa pine and larch that have burned in the past, but there were so many flowers we didn't notice it. And nice mountain views to the north. The trail eventually leaves the road and runs more or less level along the base of a large boulder field where new varieties of flowers were found.

Nearing Clara Lake the forest thickened, the flowers thinned a little, and the mosquitos started showing up. Moderately bad, but with repellant and movement, I only was bitten when I stopped to take pictures. Yea, so I got quite a few bites. At the intersection with the Clara Lake trail, we skipped the short side trip to the lake and headed down the trail for a new mix of forest loving flowers.

Left the Clara Lake trail at the pipeline trail for the last couple miles back to the car. More of a road walk, but lots more flowers, quite a few butterflies, and occasional views down towards Wenatchee. Only passed a couple other people on the trail, a couple cars and motorcycles passed us on the road. Mostly quiet solitude and flowers. A beautiful day!

Was a beautiful day for a hike in the PNW. Got to the trailhead at 6:30 and I was the first car in the parking lot. Parking lot is at Mission Ridge, once you see the Mission Ridge sign the parking will be to the left. The trail was in great condition and was gorgeous. Round trip was 3.5 miles and 1000 feet elevation gain. The lakes weren’t too spectacular but the solitude was great. Only saw 10 other hikers on my way down. Lots of birds chirping, perfect time to come hike here.