Goat Lake in Stanley, Idaho is one of the local bucket list hikes in the area. Camp Handy via Upper Dungeness Trail … Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For the best view of the falls, descend about 100 feet on a small footpath. Over the next 2.5 km the trail rises about 500m. Length 10.6 miElevation gain 1,732 ftRoute type Loop You’ll drive about two miles until you reach dusty Forest Road 619. Follow the signs carefully when you park. Goat Lake can be reached by a moderate hike that starts at Iron Creek Trailhead, outside Stanley, Idaho. At 4.8 km there’s a sign directing you north toward Goat Lake. 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 parking lot is at the end of the good gravel road. Take the Goat Marsh Trail … 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. Bring a swimsuit! Continue ~0.3 mile to the trailhead (4,600 ft). Drive US 12 to 3 miles south of Packwood. And trust us on this–when you first lay eyes on Goat Lake, you’ll want to stay. Because the elevation of Goat Lake sits at over 8,000 feet, there is usually snowmelt and a frozen lake until mid-July. You won’t be alone, though – this is a popular trail with both hikers and backpackers. You might consider doing a quick 20-minute hike on either side of the pretty canyon while your legs are fresh. This hike to Hawkeye Peak follows Trail #95 north along Goat … Go later in the summer/early fall if possible. Take the Mountain Loop Highway east from Granite Falls. In 2 miles, turn right at the sign pointing to Snowgrass Flat Trail. This is where most people go wrong and get lost. Idaho Department of Commerce - Tourism Development. This hike is off the beaten path and leads to the largest waterfall in the Sawtooth Mountains and a beautiful alpine lake. We wouldn’t suggest bringing super young children on this trail (we would recommend 8 and older). 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. Bring a hammock. Also, consider taking mosquito repellent for this hike because bugs are numerous there in July and … This section of the trail (4.6 km) is also very easy to bike on. Choose between two routes leading toward Goat Lake that join 1.6 miles before reaching Goat Lake. The hike to Goat Lake from the Iron Creek trailhead is a popular hike in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The campsites and two open-air privies are to the left. At 10.4 miles, it can be either a day-hike or a quick early season overnight. Hike by WTA Correspondents: Goat Lake Trail feels like a walk in the park for the first four kilometres until the elevation changes abruptly. 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. There are a couple of difficult parts to navigate and some uphill sections that can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Photo by Surviving Urban. Trail Access: Foot; Difficulty: Alpine; Hiking Trails (5) 1. If you’re staying at Triangle C Cabins, take a left out of our parking lot onto Highway 21. Her favorite part was the section that cut through the Goat Rocks, a beautiful wilderness area located between Mt. It's 6.8 mi (10.9 km) both ways. From the Goat Marsh Lake Trailhead, walk on a wide track heading down an old road bed among lodgepole pines, pass a horse detour, and clamber in and out of a washed out gully before reaching the Goat Marsh Lake-Kalama Ski Trail Junction. End of July and August is the ideal time to go. If you enjoy fishing, bring a lightweight fishing pole, waders, and an Idaho fishing license. This beaver dam is where you will cross on the left side of the creek. Sign up for the Visit Idaho Newsletter for year-round Idaho adventures. It can dip into the low 30’s at night. I hiked to Goat Lake on a Tuesday and still met 10 people along the trail. The Goat Lake trail is accessed from Red Rock Canyon. 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. You can improve or add to this guidebook entry, Washington Trails Association Eric and Christina McEvoy are photographers, writers and outdoor travel bloggers at. There are so many backpacking routes in the Sawtooth Mountain Range that it would probably take a lifetime to complete. Starting Trailhead - Walput Lake. There are several campsites at this junction. This is a good spot to filter and refill your water since you won’t get another chance until you nearly reach Goat Lake. Cross the canyon on a footbridge and look for the sign with trail distances pictured below. At 10.4 miles, it can be either a day-hike or a quick early season overnight. After a short distance, arrive at a signed day-use area. Adams and Mt. There are several sections of trail that are steep or have loose gravel making it particularly slick. At 1.1 miles you will officially enter the Sawtooth Wilderness and soon after come to a marked junction. She was especially impressed by the incredible view of Mt. The forest is open and the camp resembles a terraced hillside. In just a few minutes, come to a well signed junction for the Upper Elliot and Lower Elliot trails. The hike to Goat Lake is approxiamately 4.0 miles with an elevation gain of 1500 feet. Initially this is a trudge through trees and vegetation with little in the way of rewarding views. The first mile or so is close enough to hear the creek and periodically enjoy peek-a-boo views of it. Cross the footbridge and begin your hike following the Snowshoe Trail for the first 4 km. I hiked from Iron Creek Trailhead 3 times in the summer of 2014 but failed to take pictures of the trailhead. There are trout in this lake! Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Darrington Ranger District, Day Hiking: North Cascades (Craig Romano - Mountaineers Books), Buy the Green Trails Sloan Peak No. At the top of the scree field, you’ll be above the top of the falls. DO NOT CROSS this boulder field. A nice hike with plenty of variety. Follow the trail through the forest and alongside Iron Creek. Hotels near (FCA) Glacier National Park Airport; All things to do in Glacier National Park; Things to do near Goat Lick Overlook. 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. Pack warm, but lightweight layers for the night. This isn’t an easy hike, it’s rated moderate-to-hard. 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. Ending Trailhead - PCT Trail #2000 to Trail #101 to Lake Walput OR Nannie Ridge #98 to Walupt Lake. There is an easier and shorter route. This is an excellent spot to have your lunch and look for goats that may be on the surrounding cliffs. Your first creek crossing comes just after this sign. If you have time, you can venture up to Upper Goat Lake on the same day. If it’s warm enough and you have the right gear, you could skip the tent altogether and just hammock camp. After ascending the switchbacks, continue through dense forest to another junction at 2.9 miles. There are some trees to hang a hammock right on the edge of the lake, making it perfect for relaxing and enjoying the views. Turn right at the road signed "Elliot and Goat Lakes." Enjoy your time at the Sawtooth Wilderness with beautiful nature all around you. Buckhorn Lake Loop via Tubal Cain Trail #840 and Upper Dungeness Trail #833.2. WALPUT LAKE TO GOAT LAKE OR OLD SNOWY MOUNTAIN. Hotels near Cracker Lake Hike; Hotels near Kintla Lake; Near Airports. Trail Info. 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. Seattle, WA 98104. There’s another trail junction which goes east to the PCT and Old Snowy or north on the Lily Basin Trail. Some have even called it, “Idaho’s best-kept secret” because it doesn’t take much to discover an enchanting hiking trail, a quiet lake, or solace in the backcountry. Follow this road to the end where there is parking across from Iron Creek Campground. This is Upper Goat Lake. This part of the trail is quite precarious, so use caution by shimmying up the slab and loose gravel. Vacation is more than just scenery; it’s about making life-long memories. Children must be at least 5 … DIFFICULT 20.6 mi. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Rainier as she… The trail starts at the far end of the large parking lot. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. When you see pictures of the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho, your eye is automatically drawn to the rugged, jagged peaks and the jewel-colored alpine lakes that make up this mountain range. This is one of the best alpine hikes in Oregon and Washington - on your "must do list" for sure. Drive 1 mile and turn left at the fork onto the unsigned Forest Road 2150. Goat Lake's chilly turquoise waters, situated in a north-facing cirque, are frozen several months out of the year and are often snow-covered well into summer. The upper trail leaves the parking lot, following along an abandoned logging road. If none are available, continue on (now on the Lily Basin Trail part of the loop) and there will be more campsites before the trail reaches Goat Lake and just after Goat Lake. Last summer (2018) my daughter Amy hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from southern Oregon to Canada. NTS Map: 082G01Elevation gain - 530 m (1,750 ft). As a family who has been coming to the Sawtooths every summer for the last decade, these mountains are our own heaven on earth. A Ten Apple Farm goat hike is a two hour educational and recreational goat experience. The highest section of the hike, around Goat Lake, is snow covered until about late July, and is very exposed during bad weather so keep an eye on the weather reports. Beautiful forest, a rushing creek, waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, history, and of course a large blue-green lake surrounded by snowy peaks. There was once an old wood-planked road here and a bridge across the river to an old town site. Once you reach the top of the scree, you will see a giant boulder field. Make your way through a wooded area (not easily marked) to cross the beaver dam and creek, at which point you will easily see a trail that leads the rest of the way to Goat Lake. The Alpine Way Trail up to Goat Lake, Idaho has everything you could want in a beautiful mountain hike. 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. Camp 4 - Sheep Lake. The trail to the lake continues to the right. And it’s a beautiful location! The first 4 miles of this hike is mostly in forested areas with limited views. The hike continues to be an easy walk along the stream, but soon after you see a sign, take a left. When visiting Idaho, please practice the Leave No Trace principles. She and her family are from Boise, Idaho, but are currently traveling the world full-time in search of the most epic outdoor adventures. Goat Lake offers good Cutthroat Trout fishing. Camp 3 - Cispus Pass. It feels good after a hot day of hiking. Both will take you to Goat Lake in about the same distance (~3 miles), but each offers a different take on the area. Follow this Google map to Iron Creek Trailhead from Stanley, Idaho. The trail to Hawkeye is the same trail and trail head to Goat Lake. The final stretch is up gravel and rock slide: the goat path. Rainier. 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. Be sure to avoid the Chokwich Creek Trail, which branches off to your left at 3.6 miles from the trailhead. Goat Lake reflects the surrounding mountains on a calm day. A pair of trails creates a nice loop trip to a spectacular low-elevation lake with Cadet Peak towering above the headwaters. Turn east onto Forest Road 21, continue 13 miles, and turn left at the Snowgrass Trail/Chamber Lake sign. It may be doable with older kids who are experienced hikers (not recommended for little kids) or for the infrequent backpacker who is intimidated by a multi-day trip. At this point the trail becomes more narrow and significantly more steep. Camp 1 - Sheep Lake (Knoll south of Lake) Camp 2 - Lily Basin, day hike next day to Old Snowy or Goat Lake. And that is Goat Lake. There were a few stream crossing in mid-May when we went but stepping on rocks allowed us to stay dry. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. 111 map. To cross the stream, you will need to balance on some logs. So I set off for the trail head one afternoon to see what the hype was all about. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Even though the trail is popular, there is some room to spread out here. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. A couple weeks ago, when the Cascades were filled with smoke, I hopped a ferry and headed to Goat Lake in the Olympics. Hiker Headlines: Sno-Parks, Highway 20, Gorge Trails, Winning Photos. 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. where they document their family’s outdoor adventures and travels and inspire others to do the same. Make sure to follow the below directions to Goat Lake because the trail isn’t well marked the last mile or so. We ended up getting lost and taking the longer, harder route to the top of Goat Lake the first time, so to avoid that, follow these exact directions: Feature image credited to Christina McEvoy. They’ll rejoin in approximately three miles, so the choice is yours. Walk through a wildflower-covered hillside until the trail nearly disappears (around 3.3 miles), directly north of Goat Falls. The crystal clear, blue waters combined with sheer rock cliffs and remnants of ice caps leftover from winter, lined with lodgepole pine make this lake well worth staying a night. If you’re hiking in the heat of the summer, you will want to jump in and cool off, even though the water is icy cold! The trail goes through the forest alongside Iron Creek. To continue onto Goat Lake, look to the south for an angled slab of granite rock covered with slick scree. Great hike. Consider taking one trail to the lake, and the other one on the trip back to your car.The trail to the right drops down to the creek. This trail gains 1,615 feet (492 m) and offers great views of the Sawtooth Valley. Difficult but fun and accessible for most hikers in decent shape. But compared to other more notable mountain ranges nearby such as the Tetons, it is nonetheless just as stunning and dramatic. 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. As I was hiking up the steep single track I decided it would be a great training hike for a couple of women I coach who are planning to run the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim in October. Don’t get us wrong, there are some incredibly scenic trails to backpack in the Sawtooths–Sawtooth Lake, Alice-Toxaway Loop, Twin Lakes or Saddleback Lake to name a few. Hike Description . The eventual payoff is worth it, though. Here are some tips on backpacking to Goat Lake: Go later in the summer/early fall if possible. Mike Scavezze. At the fork, make sure to take a right. 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