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| Hiking | 13.67 Miles |
3,030 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.67 Miles | 6 Hrs 6 Mns | | 2.24 mph |
| 3,030 ft AEG | | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Made the long drive into Washington to hike up to Goat Lake. This is the most popular hike in the Goat Rock Wilderness and its easy to see why- great views, wildlife, and a scenic alpine lake, this hike has everything.
Left Portland a bit after 10am and arrived at the trailhead at about 2pm. Blue skies with not a cloud in sight, temps probably in the mid 60s. I counted about 20-30 cars between the 2 trail heads, but I really didn't see many people once I started hiking. I figured I had enough light to make it to the lake a couple of hours before sunset and then I would hike out and finish the last couple of miles by headlamp.
I decided to follow the shorter/steeper trail up to the lake, so I started by walking back up the road to the Berry Patch Trailhead. The first couple of miles are rather bland as the trail works its way up the ridge and climbs through the forest. Once Past the 95/95a split the trail begins to level out somewhat as it passes multiple viewpoints that continually improve upon one another.
Arriving at Goat Lake I was treated to the view of at least 20 Mountain Goats grazing on the hillside above the far shore. I sat by the lake for a bit watching them casually stroll up and down the hill as I listened to the wind whip across the peaks high above the lake. I wish I had more time to enjoy the views, but I knew I had to keep going to make the long hike back to the trailhead.
With the sun low on the horizon, the ridges glowed orange as I followed the trail along the base of Old Snowy Mountain and Ives peak, past numerous small streams and beautiful meadows that were beginning to change color with the shorter days of fall. I took my time, stopping every couple of minutes to admire the light and take pictures. I had just enough time to make it back below tree line where the trail drops towards Goat Creek when I finally ran out of daylight. Fortunately by this time the views had finally subsided, so I just powered through the last couple of miles by headlamp. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Light
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