Coffin Lakes Trail #209

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Wildflowers

You'll need to hike along Watkins Creek Trail #215 for nearly 2.5 miles to get to the beginning of this trail (shortly after the Watkins Creek Trail #215 horse forge over Watkins Creek). The trail will enter the forest and being ascending relatively new switchbacks (in 2019 the old trail was still visible).

You'll cross West Fork Watkins Creek multiple times, but rocks and logs should make it easy to cross with dry feet even in early summer. You'll get some views of the meadows along Coffin Mountain but no spectacular distant views. At the top of the switchbacks you pass West Fork Watkins Trail #216.

The trail will parallel Coffin Creek and continue ascending through forests with limited views. You'll come to another set of smaller switchbacks that let you know you're near the top. At the beginning of the lake there are log jams that are easy to access and offer beautiful views, just don't fall in. The trail follows the northern edge of the lake for about 0.10 of a mile offering more nice lake views and ending at a great campsite.

Grizzly bear, bald eagle, deer, trout, various wildflowers.