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Soda Peaks Lake, Trapper Crk Wilderness; Jun 7, 2009 Posted by drm (2007-06-09)

Did a dayhike to this lake yesterday. It's on the other side of this small wilderness from the more popular Observation Peak. The Soda Peaks Lake trail itself gains about 2400 feet in about 3 miles, though the trail continues on over a ridge and out of the wilderness to a higher, still snowed in, trailhead. So I don't have anything that lists the exact mileage that I hiked. I started at the Trapper Creek trailhead, which adds about 1.5 miles to get to the Soda Peaks Lake trail. There is a closer trailhead that I noticed later. We're all used to seeing things grow out of logs, but I thought this tree growing out of an upended log seemed unusual. Hope you can see it in this photo. Note how the roots follow the length of the log. Some go into the ground, some right into the log. After crossing Trapper Creek on a very dilapidated bridge, you get that column effect for the trail. After gaining your 2400 feet, the lake is a nice sight. It has some good camping areas, and I will carry a pack there one of these days - presumably when the upper road is still closed. Does anybody get the idea that the following photo is the way it's gonna be this year on less populated trails? Actually, most of this trail has been serviced and some serious problems on the ridge up have been fixed. But there are still a few. This one was above the lake. The weather man had promised nice clear weather, but the lake was in the clouds and it was chilly. The sun started to come out as I was leaving. On the way down, there was a trail loafer who was enjoying the sun on the trail. These guys usually scuttle away at the first sign of us humans, but this one had to have a nudge from my pole. To get to this area, take WA hwy 14 east to the Carson turnoff, which is about 6 miles east of the bridge from Cascade Locks. Then head up the Wind River Rd/Hwy for about 17 miles. That road turns right at a place where you can go straight for Government Mineral Springs. There is no mention of Trapper Creek at this point. Very shortly there is a right turn to the Trapper Creek trailhead, or go straight for a closer trailhead "in town."

Re: Soda Peaks Lake, Trapper Crk Wilderness; Jun 7, 2009 Posted by fettster (2007-06-10)

Interesting post, I was over that way a few weeks ago taking the Trapper Creek Creek trail a ways past that junction with the Soda Peaks Lake turnoff.  Someone had written the bridge was closed on the sign, that must have been your "dilapidated" bridge.  Is it about to collapse you think?  I loved how accessible this wilderness is with respect to how easy the road travel is.  From what I could tell the Soda Peaks themselves don't offer any views with trees up top.  I need to get back over that way sometime.

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