First time in Larrabee, I deluded myself into thinking the Rock Trail would eventually loop around for a very long time. Eventually I just turned around and fought my way back up the hill. I took an entire disposable camera's worth of pictures of the stairs, trees, and cliffs. It's a very dramatic hike.

Trails were all amazing, beautiful, and in good condition. I wished I were wearing hiking sandals instead of boots! The only warning I have is the Cyrus Gates Overlook parking lot was covered in foot deep slushy snow. If you park there, you might get stuck.

Started at the lost lake parking lot around 12:30 and attempted this lake a second time. The first time we hadn't left enough daylight to get to lost lake and back but this time we had the later sunset on our side!

this hike is fairly easy and snow free until you get up double diamond trail. It has a nice incline, but there is lots of snow/ice up there. All of the stairs on the descent are covered in ice so I wore microspikes to avoid an awkward fall down all the stairs. My spikes helped me from that point on going through rock trail and then eventually arriving at the lake. The lake is completely frozen over! Looks pretty cool. Only ran into a few people after double diamond. Rock trail also has lots of precarious icicles melting off of the ledges close to the trail so look up every once in a while if you don't want to get clonked in the head by a pesky melting icicle. Got back to the parking lot around 5.

I did a loop hike beginning at the Cyrus Gates Overlook in a thin layer of snow and ice which had begun about half way up Cleator Road. I took the Double Diamond (now signed the Double Black Diamond) down. At about 0.5 miles I used the hiker trail that veers to the left and avoids bikers for awhile before joining the main trail once again. At the junction with the Lost Lake Trail I went left and began gaining elevation again. Just a bit before the junction with the Rock Trail I stopped to photograph the falls and then went on to Lost Lake. I was pleasantly surprise to see that the mucky area just before the north end of the lake was doable even with all the rain in the area. The Lake has no ice yet, just snow around the edge and on the snags in the water.

From the lake I back tracked to the Rock Trail and headed up to take in the incredible formations that have a different look every time I see them. Back at the parking lot there were about six vehicles there but I only saw one hiker all day. Winter and a work day. Visiting this area in winter you can see a lot more rock walls, especially along the Lost Lake Trail. Spring through autumn you only get glimpses through the foliage of the stuff the Chuckanuts are made of.

Cleator Road had snow and ice on it in the morning but some of it was melted out in the afternoon even though the temperature didn't go above 36 degrees,it was 32 degrees when I began hiking, but the road is in very good condition and appears to have been graded recently.

The Rock Trail is nice little gem tucked away in the Chuckanuts.

Cleator Road is a bit bumpy and potholed, but compared to some forest roads this one is otherwise in great condition. Any vehicle can make it up to the Cyrus Gates Overlook/parking lot. One privy available. 

The Rock Trail is a "reverse" trail; lose elevation on the outbound journey and gain it back on the return trip. Many stairs involved. This trail is best appreciated at a slower pace; there is so much interesting geology, mosses, and colors to admire. Quite muddy toward the bottom but otherwise in great condition. No snow, no ice. We were short on time, so we only trekked to the official end of the Rock Trail where it forks off to other paths. 

Such a beautiful, short trail!