Long time since I took Burnt Lake Trail from the South - be advised Forest Road 2627(-207) is in terrible shape. The steep hill after the first switchback onto gravel required a slow, s-l-o-w crawl up a steep incline (passenger sedan) with few turnouts and even fewer turnarounds. Amazingly, nothing scraped.
I thought things would improve at the top of the incline when the road levels off as it turns sharply east. Actually, without drainage, it got worse with a giant mudholes of questionable depth. I decided not to push it, parked amongst a handful of shotgun shells and a Red Bull can, and walked the last two plus miles to the trailhead.
This road is really only suitable for a true high clearance 4WD, a marked decline since I last drove it two decades ago. There's clearly some dispersal camping/partying going on up there with rutted out side roads. Still, it was a pleasant enough with roadside roadies in full bloom.
The actual trailhead was deserted. Three fire rings around the perimeter define its more current use.
On the trail itself some blowndown but since the beginning of 772 is actually an old road, there's plenty of room to work around it.
The hike itself was great. Little streams gurgling out of the hillside everywhere. Lot's of trillium out now and the flowers should get better. Some mosquitoes and I imagine that will get worse before it gets better.
View from Zigzag always a treat, and actually much better than two decades ago as numerous clearcuts are growing back in - restoring carpet like tree cover. Only Lolo Pass road provides a harsh exception now. Lots of horseflies at the actual lookout - I actually love the evolving views along the ridge better - and great wildflowers up there. Chatted briefly with the only other hiker I saw all day.
Descended back via Devil's Tie in. More flowers and rushing water.
