Upper Boulder Lake [Suggest Edits]

Description

A group of beautiful and secluded lakes that are well worth the adventure and effort to reach. The largest of the three, Upper Boulder Lake, is reached by a faint unmaintained section of trail that ends near a nice campsite. From this staging point, it's possible to continue off-trail to explore two additional mountain lakes that offer their own views and charms.

Half-Day Hike: From the end of the maintained Boulder Lake Trail, make your way over the creek and follow the faint unmaintained trail to Upper Boulder Lake.

Around a third-of-a-mile up, there is a choice between two trails. You can either scramble up the steep eroded creek bank to an easy trail through the forest, or stay low along the creek going up and down, over boulders, and making an exciting move under a cliff. It's six of one versus a half-dozen of the other. The two trails rejoin in a quarter mile.

Half-a-mile ahead the trail traverses a small cliff face that requires care. Continuing on, cross Boulder Creek. There's no bridge, although there are fallen logs. There's no specific place to cross, it's just a marshy area. If you miss this crossing and stay on the south side of the creek you'll get stuck in a boulder field in a quarter-mile.

After another half-mile, cross back over to the south side of Boulder Creek. This crossing is obvious as there's a cliff on the north side. There's no bridge. In the next half-mile the trail requires careful attention as it goes around a marshy area and then up a series of benches to reach Upper Boulder Lake.

Cross the outlet to the north side of Upper Boulder Lake where there is a small campsite where the creek comes down from Secret Lake. The trail ends a little past here, next to a larger campsite. From there, it's possible to make an off-trail loop to the west and then north to explore two additional lakes before heading back to

Gem Type: Lake