Difference between revisions of "Goat Lake Loop Hike"
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This is one of the best alpine hikes in Oregon and Washington - on your "must do list" for sure. 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. | This is one of the best alpine hikes in Oregon and Washington - on your "must do list" for sure. 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. | ||
| − | You can start at either the [[Snowgrass Flats Trailhead]] or the Berry Patch Trailhead, and you can go either clockwise or count-clockwise. For this hike, we arbitrarily start at Snowgrass. If you're going up and back on the Snowgrass Trail, it saves 0.4 miles to park at Snowgrass Trailhead rather than Berry Patch Trailhead. If you're doing the loop, it saves 0.4 miles to park at Berry Patch. There is a large area at Berry Patch to park with large trees to the South so you get better shade for your car. | + | You can start at either the [[Snowgrass Flats Trailhead]] or the Berry Patch Trailhead, and you can go either clockwise or count-clockwise. For this hike, we arbitrarily start at Snowgrass and go clockwise. If you're going up and back on the Snowgrass Trail, it saves 0.4 miles to park at Snowgrass Trailhead rather than Berry Patch Trailhead. If you're doing the loop, it saves 0.4 miles to park at Berry Patch. There is a large area at Berry Patch to park with large trees to the South so you get better shade for your car. |
The Snowgrass Trail to Snowgrass Flat can be extremely busy on summer weekends - expect to pass 20 groups of people, but don't worry, at Snowgrass Flat several trails fan out in different directions so the people start thinning out. | The Snowgrass Trail to Snowgrass Flat can be extremely busy on summer weekends - expect to pass 20 groups of people, but don't worry, at Snowgrass Flat several trails fan out in different directions so the people start thinning out. | ||
Revision as of 19:18, 22 October 2007
- Start point: Snowgrass Flats Trailhead
- Ending Point: Goat Lake
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Distance: 12.8 miles
- Elevation gain: 2590 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Summer
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: Yes
Contents |
Hike Description
This is one of the best alpine hikes in Oregon and Washington - on your "must do list" for sure. 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.
You can start at either the Snowgrass Flats Trailhead or the Berry Patch Trailhead, and you can go either clockwise or count-clockwise. For this hike, we arbitrarily start at Snowgrass and go clockwise. If you're going up and back on the Snowgrass Trail, it saves 0.4 miles to park at Snowgrass Trailhead rather than Berry Patch Trailhead. If you're doing the loop, it saves 0.4 miles to park at Berry Patch. There is a large area at Berry Patch to park with large trees to the South so you get better shade for your car.
The Snowgrass Trail to Snowgrass Flat can be extremely busy on summer weekends - expect to pass 20 groups of people, but don't worry, at Snowgrass Flat several trails fan out in different directions so the people start thinning out.
Frome the Snowgrass Trailhead, you start on the Snowgrass Hiker Trail (96A) which ends at mile 0.2 where it joins the Snowgrass Trail (96). The Berry Patch Trailhead is left 0.6 miles. Stay right on the Snowgrass Trail.
At mile 3.7 is the junction with the Snowgrass By-pass Trail (97) which goes right. Stay left on the Snowgrass Flat Trail (96). The By-pass trail takes you up to the Pacific Crest Trail which goes South to Cispus Pass, which would make a good alternate hike. There are many nice campsites along this route.
At mile 4.9 is the junction with the Lily Basin Trail (86), which goes left, which is where we want to go. This is the beginning of the Snowgrass Flat area which contains many nice campsites and a stream for drinking water a short distance to the right (Southeast). A good alternate hike would be to continue on the Snowgrass Trail, up to the PCT, and then North to Old Snow and Elk Pass, which is the highest section of the entire PCT.
Following the Lily Basin Trail, in the next 1.5 miles, are about 10 of the nicest campsites you've ever seen. You get great views of Goat Rocks and Goat Ridge above you to the North and East, and great views South and West towards Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens. There are a number of streams for drinking water that cross the main trail. Whenever you see a short side trail, it probably goes to a campsite. Fires are allowed, and there are enough trees around for firewood, but keep this to a minimum to reduce impact.
At about mile 5.5 is an un-marked sidetrail that goes up to the PCT, Old Snowy, and Elk Pass.
At mile 7.4 is Goat Lake. The mile before and after is the most alpine, most exposed, last to be free of snow section of the hike. Great views. It's too steep for camping except at Goat Lake, where there are about 6 camp spots, but it's so exposed that it's not the best. If you do camp there, make sure and keep your stuff tied down or it will blow away.
At mile 8.2 is the intersection with the Goat Ridge Trail (95). The Lily Basin trail continues along alpine areas and would make a good side trip. In about 0.5 mile, the trail reaches the crest of Goat Ridge. You can follow the ridge (off trail) to Hawkeye Point which overlooks Goat Lake. You can continue on the Lily Basin Trail to other nice alpine areas.
For this Goat Lake Loop Hike, stay left on the Goat Ridge Trail. The trail looses about 300 feet elevation in the next 0.5 mile where it joins a stream through a meadow. There are several nice campsites near here. One inviting place is next to a tarn a ways off the trail to the West. This area would be much less exposed than camping at Goat Lake.
At mile 9.1 is the intersection with the Jordan Creek Trail (94). This trail is frequented by horses. It goes down to a trailhead you passed on road 21.
Continue down the Goat Ridge Trail to it's beginning at the Berry Patch Trailhead at mile 12.0.
Presuming you parked at Snowgrass Flats Trailhead, take the Snowgrass Horse Trail (96A) to the junction with the Snowgrass Trail (96) at mile 12.6, and turn right to get to the trailhead at mile 12.8.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- NW Forest Pass may be required.
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Goat Lake Loop Hike
- Martell 8/26/06
- jboppelt 7/24/06 - Follows the loop with a lot of additional hiking
- yma 7/14/06
- Add your own...