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Mildred Lakes

Day Work Party

Thu Mar 12, 2026: 8:30 AM — 3:30 PM

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Region

Olympic Peninsula — East - Hood Canal

Features: Earn Northwest Forest Pass

Crew Leader: Rick Bennett

Marmalade skies over Mildred Lakes. Photo by trip reporter DraconicExplorer.

Overview

The Mildred Lakes trail is a somewhat rough and primitive trail that leads to a spectacular set of lakes nestled below the Sawtooth Range in the Mt Skokomish Wilderness, Olympic National Forest. The lakes are reported to have great fishing and are one of the main reasons people choose to tackle this trail. We will not be changing the character of this trail but will be doing general maintenance and log out.

About the Area

This is a rough and primitive trail that has its origins as a boot beaten path created by fisherman intent on reaching Mildred Lakes. It is a hard 4.5 miles with 2000 feet of elevation gain to the three lakes that make up this group. These lakes are dominated by Mt Lincoln and Mt Cruiser in this alpine basin.

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference! No experience is necessary.

Project Description

We will be doing general maintenance and log out to remove some of the larger obstructions to getting to the lakes. Most of the work will be on the first mile of the trail.

Hiking Information

Our hike to the project site is expected to be 2-3 miles roundtrip with 2200 feet of elevation gain over steep terrain.

Schedule

  • 8:30 AM: Be ready to sign in and meet the crew, rain or shine
  • 8:35 AM: Gather for a safety briefing, then hike to the project site
  • Morning: Work at your own pace, and take breaks throughout the day
  • 12:00 PM: Lunch on the trail
  • Afternoon: Consider trying a new task before wrapping up the day's work
  • 3:30 PM: Sign out after enjoying refreshments at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a great day outside!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

  • No experience is necessary—just bring a great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need
  • Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 6 hours on uneven terrain
  • Recommended for ages 10 and older; under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and a parental consent form must be signed for anyone under 18

What to Wear

Required:

  • Sturdy closed-toe shoes
  • Work gloves
  • Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
  • Long pants

Recommended:

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots
  • Long sleeved shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

What to Bring

  • Lunch and plenty of water
  • Rain jacket and pants
  • Extra warm clothing in case of wet or cold weather
  • A pack to carry your personal gear
  • A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

Firearms and weapons are not allowed.

More Information

From the Hiking Guide

See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.


Partners

Directions

Travel Highway 101 to FS Road #25 (Hamma Hamma Recreation Area), 14 miles north of Hoodsport or 23 miles south of Quilcene. After 6.4 miles you'll come to a T, turn right to stay on FS 25. At 7.7 miles you'll pass the Lena Lake trailhead and at 8.1 miles you cross a bridge and the pavement ends. Continue along the gravel road, passing the Putvin trailhead at 12.1 miles, to the Mildred Lakes trailhead at 15.6 miles. This is a fee site, free passes will be provided.

Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.

Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.

Required Documentation

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