South Burnt Lake Trailhead Road Conditions

Trip recommendations, current conditions, and other trail related Q&A
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Sugar Pine
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South Burnt Lake Trailhead Road Conditions

Post by Sugar Pine » September 30th, 2021, 7:57 pm

Attempted to hike the Zigzag Mountain Loop today, but didn't make it up the road. We drove (Subaru Outback) through a couple of puddles of water but turned back at this one.
IMG_0194.JPG
Road to South Burnt Lake TH
Seemed a bit too deep and too muddy (vs. rocky). Plus, it was forecast to rain today, so we assumed the road conditions would get worse before we came back through.

The road was quite potholed.

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Chip Down
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Re: South Burnt Lake Trailhead Road Conditions

Post by Chip Down » October 1st, 2021, 5:20 am

That has to be the pond just a few yards from the switchback viewpoint. The fact that it's still in that condition tells me the recent logging didn't extended that far, so we can be grateful for that mudbog. You may have noticed a shortcut to driver's left that bypasses the obstacle, but it's so steep and rutted, it's no improvement at all.

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Sugar Pine
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Re: South Burnt Lake Trailhead Road Conditions

Post by Sugar Pine » October 1st, 2021, 8:50 am

Yes, we noticed the "shortcut", although we didn't know it was a shortcut. Didn't even consider driving up it. We used it to turn around.

justpeachy
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Re: South Burnt Lake Trailhead Road Conditions

Post by justpeachy » October 2nd, 2021, 6:25 pm

How far before the trailhead is that big puddle?

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retired jerry
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Re: South Burnt Lake Trailhead Road Conditions

Post by retired jerry » October 3rd, 2021, 5:56 am

It's 1.5 miles from Lost Lake Campground to Burnt Lake Trailhead.

There's a small parking area just outside the campground that might be safer, because it's near the camp host. Avoid the obnoxious road. Or do a loop - up Burnt Lake trail, down Casey Creek. Or up Burnt Lake Trail to Paradise Park, down PCT to Ramona Falls Trailhead.

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Sugar Pine
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Re: South Burnt Lake Trailhead Road Conditions

Post by Sugar Pine » October 4th, 2021, 6:40 am

I believe we were about 1.5 miles from the trailhead where we turned around.

Retired Jerry, I think you are referring to the North Burnt Lake Trailhead by Lost Creek. I drove that road about a week ago. It was in far better shape than the road with the puddle to the South Burnt Lake TH. :(

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retired jerry
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Re: South Burnt Lake Trailhead Road Conditions

Post by retired jerry » October 4th, 2021, 7:19 am

oops - wrong Burnt Lake Trailhead :)

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