Pass by the Verlot Ranger Station, where you can buy a Northwest Forest Pass if you need one. The hike continues to be an easy walk along the stream, but soon after you see a sign, take a left. The eventual payoff is worth it, though. Turn east onto Forest Road 21, continue 13 miles, and turn left at the Snowgrass Trail/Chamber Lake sign. Hike to Goat Lake in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains for an adventure with breathtaking views and a payoff worthy of the effort to get there. The Alpine Way Trail up to Goat Lake, Idaho has everything you could want in a beautiful mountain hike. So I set off for the trail head one afternoon to see what the hype was all about. Go later in the summer/early fall if possible. This is a loop. Goat Lake Trail is a 10.6 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Darrington, Washington that features a lake and is rated as moderate. In 2 miles, turn right at the sign pointing to Snowgrass Flat Trail. The trail to Hawkeye is the same trail and trail head to Goat Lake. Definitely recommended for a day hike, or an overnight. But compared to other more notable mountain ranges nearby such as the Tetons, it is nonetheless just as stunning and dramatic. Wear comfortable, sturdy hiking shoes or boots with good traction. Bring a swimsuit! You will be on a twisty trail surrounded by conifers, alders, ferns and skunk cabbage. Start planning your Idaho adventure. Goat Lake offers good Cutthroat Trout fishing. There are a couple of difficult parts to navigate and some uphill sections that can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Next morning, catch the sunrise over Oregon’s 11,250-foot Mt. You can complete this hike in a day if you’re short on time (the trail is only 8 miles round trip), but we wouldn’t recommend that. At 10.4 miles, it can be either a day-hike or a quick early season overnight. Follow this road to the end where there is parking across from Iron Creek Campground. Beautiful forest, a rushing creek, waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, history, and of course a large blue-green lake surrounded by snowy peaks. And it’s a beautiful location! Goat Lake in Stanley, Idaho is one of the local bucket list hikes in the area. Time and distance are returnThe hike to Goat Lake in Waterton Lakes National Park starts as an easy stroll along the Snowshoe Trail. The bridge is gone, but there is still a rushing waterfall worth visiting. Sign up for the Visit Idaho Newsletter for year-round Idaho adventures. Your first creek crossing comes just after this sign. Goat Lake is in the Sawtooth Wilderness, and a wilderness permit can be obtained at trailheads. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Make sure to follow the below directions to Goat Lake because the trail isn’t well marked the last mile or so. The trail switchbacks to the left here, but the adventurous will want to take a quick side trip to the right. There were a few stream crossing in mid-May when we went but stepping on rocks allowed us to stay dry. There are several campsites at this junction. Enjoy your time at the Sawtooth Wilderness with beautiful nature all around you. Goat Lake Way Trail is a 3.0 mile trail in Washington. Or if you want, you can hike up farther and camp right on the cliff looking down on the lake. Pack warm, but lightweight layers for the night. You might consider doing a quick 20-minute hike on either side of the pretty canyon while your legs are fresh. Difficult but fun and accessible for most hikers in decent shape. The hike consists of an approximately one and a half mile loop through the woods on lightly groomed trails. Hood, 80 miles south. To continue onto Goat Lake, look to the south for an angled slab of granite rock covered with slick scree. Goat Lake Trail is a 9.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sequim, Washington that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Camp Handy via Upper Dungeness Trail … This hike to Goat Lake via Goat Ridge follows Trail #95 from the Trail Head on Forest Road #2150.040 near what is referred to as the Berry Patch. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Overview Like goats themselves, this trail appears friendlier than it is. You won’t be alone, though – this is a popular trail with both hikers and backpackers. Goat Lake is a great hike for a first-time backpacking trip; it’s a good distance to get used to carrying heavier packs and has some steep sections toward the end, but it’s not overly difficult. WALPUT LAKE TO GOAT LAKE OR OLD SNOWY MOUNTAIN. It's 6.8 mi (10.9 km) both ways. Early fall is good too, but if you want to see a spectacular display of wildflowers, late summer is better. From wildflower-filled meadows to top-of-the-world ridgelines, the hike to Goat Lake showcases the beauty of the Goat Rocks Wilderness, a haven for day-hikers and backpackers in the South Cascades. The trail goes through the forest alongside Iron Creek. As you switchback up the hillside, keep your eyes and ears open for a large waterfall on your right. A nice hike with plenty of variety. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. At 1.1 miles you will officially enter the Sawtooth Wilderness and soon after come to a marked junction. In just a few minutes, come to a well signed junction for the Upper Elliot and Lower Elliot trails. There is some steep terrain. The campsites and two open-air privies are to the left. This is where most people go wrong and get lost. You’ll have to contend with some fallen trees, but none of them are too bad.After a bit more climbing, reach a well-signed junction just before the lake. This isn’t an easy hike, it’s rated moderate-to-hard. Up toward the lake, you can hike around the rim and find some beautiful spots, to listen to the snow pack runoff and small waterfalls that run into the alpine lake. This hike is great for a longer, steadier incline and for an early season backpack trip. Hike to Goat Lake - Grey Otter OUTventures® A hike to Goat Lake in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains has breathtaking views, includes some route finding, and has a payoff worth the effort to get there. Start on the trail early in the day so you can get to Goat Lake by early afternoon and claim a prime camping spot right on the lake. She was especially impressed by the incredible view of Mt. About half a mile after you start at the trailhead, the trial Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Darrington Ranger District, Day Hiking: North Cascades (Craig Romano - Mountaineers Books), Buy the Green Trails Sloan Peak No. Over the next 2.5 km the trail rises about 500m. We venture here to escape the crowds that often flock to other parts of the state, to recharge our batteries and to search for the serenity that can only be found in the wilderness. Follow the signs carefully when you park. There is an eroded culvert in one of the streams that is a little tricky to navigate, so take it slow and if you feel unsafe, don't go beyond your ability level. To cross the stream, you will need to balance on some logs. Both Goat Lake and Goat Falls can be found by traversing an 8-mile out-and-back trail that starts at the Iron Creek Trailhead in Sawtooth Wilderness. The trail starts at the far end of the large parking lot. A couple weeks ago, when the Cascades were filled with smoke, I hopped a ferry and headed to Goat Lake in the Olympics. Starting Trailhead - Walput Lake. If you have time, you can venture up to Upper Goat Lake on the same day. There was once an old wood-planked road here and a bridge across the river to an old town site. Hike Description . Great hike. Rainier. Beautiful forest, a rushing creek, waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, history, and of course a large blue-green lake surrounded by snowy peaks. Both will take you to Goat Lake in about the same distance (~3 miles), but each offers a different take on the area. After having lived here for a full two months, I was ashamed to admit that I hadn’t yet hiked it. Mike Scavezze. If you enjoy fishing, bring a lightweight fishing pole, waders, and an Idaho fishing license. Camp 3 - Cispus Pass. You won’t be alone, though – this is a popular trail with both hikers and backpackers.The trail starts at the far end of the large parking lot. The Goat Lake trail is accessed from Red Rock Canyon. Trail Access: Foot; Difficulty: Alpine; Hiking Trails (5) 1. The Goat Lake hike starts at the end of the Red Rock Canyon. There is an easier and shorter route. At 10.4 miles, it can be either a day-hike or a quick early season overnight. Last summer (2018) my daughter Amy hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from southern Oregon to Canada. You’ll drive about two miles until you reach dusty Forest Road 619. Drive 1 mile and turn left at the fork onto the unsigned Forest Road 2150. This part of the trail is quite precarious, so use caution by shimmying up the slab and loose gravel. There are at least 15 sites here, though none of them are particularly private. Turn right at the road signed "Elliot and Goat Lakes." Or continue past the Snowgrass Flat sign 0.6 mile to the Berry Patch Trail head (4,700 ft). The trail head is not the same as the trail head to Snowgrass Flats. The hike to Goat Lake is approxiamately 4.0 miles with an elevation gain of 1500 feet. Here are some tips on backpacking to Goat Lake: Go later in the summer/early fall if possible. 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