Road was short, the potholes near the end are deep but navigable. I did it in an impreza. It will take some skill and the extra distance is worth not damaging your undercarriage.

Lot had more cars than expected at 6:30am. Only one tent up at the top, so I guess that is a lot of early AM hikers!

This hike starts out very wet. I cannot imagine how muddy you'd be in a wetter month, probably a lot. The water crossings were fine but I can see how they'd be difficult if the water was any higher. The big crossing over the creek is a tricky as there are lots of social trails probably made by people trying to find an optimal crossing when water levels are higher. Stick to the main trail for the easiest crossing.

The first portion of the trail is pleasant. The old growth is nice. Going up towards Headlee pass is nice too. Headlee itself is steep and it is easy to knock rocks loose, but the switchbacks make it manageable. Fall foliage is past its prime but still was pretty once the sun illuminated it.

Once you are out of breath from headlee and you get your first view of Vesper peak you may have a sinking feeling that the hardest part is yet to come, and you'd be right. Rock and roots give way to granite. There is no right way to the top but plenty of wrong ways. Often after scrambling up something difficult I would notice I did not take the optimal path. The cairns are a rough marker to let you know you're headed the right direction. Honestly, heading down was more difficult than up. I put my climbing gloves on for the scramble down and that helped a lot.

Took me just shy of 4 hours to get to the peak. Views were great though slightly hazy, so that was a shame. Could still see Baker and Glacier Peak. Nice views in every direction! Took me about 3.5 hours to get back to the parking lot (though I did have to stop and manage some blisters that were forming so probably could have done it in less time under ideal conditions). I saw some people with dogs heading up and after scrambling on the granite I am mildly curious if any of them actually made it to the top - feels it would be difficult for many dogs to manage all the way up there.

I started in the dark and so had shade for half the hike up. If this was peak summer weather, I think the heat and direct sun would make this extremely difficult.

Saw (and heard) a couple ravens, some sparrows in the forest (unsure what kind), and many, many pikas.

Overall, fun and difficult hike!

Absolutely stunning day hike to Vesper Peak. As a novice hiker, this hike was definitely the hardest I've ever done but the pay off is absolutely tremendous. The view that appears for the first time as you summit looking over Copper Lake and Big Four is beyond words; I would highly recommend going with good weather and early enough during the day to see the sun touch the water to appreciate just how turquoise it is. In all honesty though, the view looking opposite of the lake is even prettier in my opinion but you get to see it for about the last mile of the climb. 

The hike itself has such spectacular views throughout. Headlee pass which is the most annoying part of the hike looks over the valley which is only more beautiful on the way back when you get to look in its direction. The amphitheater that holds Vesper Lake is just a joy to be inside and the view up as you scramble the granite to Vesper's summit is awe inspiring. I'm definitely inexperienced to views this awesome but regardless, I can't recommend this hike enough to those who are physically capable. I've also read some complaining about the creek crossings but all of them felt sturdy to me and I only got one of my boots wet. 

Time up: 4 and a half hours

Time down: 3 hours

Distance and elevation: about 8.2 miles, 4100 feet according to All Trails

Arrived at parking lot at 6, was the third vehicle there. Long vehicles may have trouble turning around in this narrow lot at the end of the access road.

A few creeks to cross in the beginning of the hike, we were able to find makeshift log bridges or stepping stones for all deep crossings.

It is very easy to lose your way in the scree field after the lower wooded area starting at 3600'. Cairns are all over the place and do not necessarily mark the trail. This scree was very loose in places and gave out from under me on our way down. Arguably more dangerous than the scramble up top.

The trail is fairly well defined once you exit the scree to take the many switchbacks up to the pass to get to Vesper lake until the boulder field at the top.

Again in the boulder field cairns are more an indicator of "this worked for me" than the actual trail. As you approach the top, veer left and take the ridge to the peak unless you're looking for a steeper scramble.

Traveling down is a slow slog of route finding and knee abuse so we took our time.

Distance was 8.6 miles, up took 4.5 hours down took 3.5.

Seconding everything in willhikeforshrooms's trail report for the same day. It's very easy to lose your way in the boulder field up toward Headlee Pass, and there is greater rockfall danger there than for the scramble up to the peak. When we were coming down from the pass, we saw a group in the boulder field knock down a pretty large rock that tumbled down the slope, including across the trail, for several hundred feet before stopping. Fortunately, nobody was in its path, but it could have seriously injured somone. Please take this as a reminder to be careful where you step, and if you do cause a rockfall, keep yelling "Rock!" until it stops moving.

We took the slightly more exposed/scrambly route up the last stretch to the peak, which was fun. Great weather, great views. Roughly 3 hours up and 2.5 hours down (slowed down significantly by getting off-trail in the last part of the boulder field and following a creekbed parallel to the trail for a ways, then having to bushwhack over).

I had a few spare hours on a sunny Monday and thought I would spend them exploring the Vesper Lake/Peak area, especially after reading the trail reports of others.

Road and Trailhead:  The 2.2 mile gravel road is in fair condition, a little narrow in spots and some large but shallow potholes in others.  Shortly before the parking area there is a fairly deep washout or rut across the road that does not look like it would be kind to an average sedan, but one could park a car below this point and hike the last few hundred yards to the trailhead.  There is no true parking lot, but rather a widened section of the road to accommodate vehicles on one side of the road.  There were 7 cars at 8:15 a.m. and 20 cars at 2:00 p.m. on this Monday.  The pit toilet at the trailhead was small, smelly and not stocked.

Trail:  While the trail starts out very smooth and gentle, do not let this beginning fool you.  This is a reasonably difficult hike on a somewhat rough trail.  Lots of exposed roots and rocks will test your ankles (especially on the downhill portion!), and some route finding ability will prove useful as the trail can be difficult to identify in places (cairns help).  I often do not use hiking poles, but felt best using poles for added stability on the steeper and rockier sections.

Cresting Headlee Pass after climbing dozens of switchbacks will take your breath away (from the hike and the views), but better views are to come in the basin of Vesper Lake and along the ridge hike to Vesper Peak.

Happy trails to those that want the challenge.