Found in the Trinity Alps

November 1, 2019

Hi Blog!

If you read our previous blog, then you know we got lost in the Trinity Alps in search of the trailhead for the Boulder Lakes Trail. Having done a little more research, we decided to try again to see if we could find the trail. Rather than rely on Google Maps and our GPS, we drove down the highway and looked for the sign. Found it!  Sometimes the old-fashioned, simple way is the best.

Now that we started on the correct end of Forest Service Road 37N52, finding the trailhead was easy. As the road went further up into the mountains, we were treated to great views of Billys Peak.

For the most part, the forest road was well maintained. Kathy only had to get out once to move a rock from the road.

At one point along the drive, we got an unobstructed view of Mount Shasta!

Just before the trailhead was a spur road that led out to a great viewpoint of the Coffee Creek watershed and the mountains beyond.

To see what we saw, click the link to this 360-degree view from the road as we approached our trailhead.

Here we are at the trailhead. The trail sign no longer exists. The extreme winter weather has taken its toll. Since this area is being returned to the wilderness, the sign will probably not be replaced.

The first part of our hike was along an old forest road. We soon headed off into the wilderness.

No phone, no lights, no motor car, not a single luxury. Like Robinson Crusoe, it's primitive as can be.

At the highest point in our hike, we were surrounded by pointy granite peaks. Large glacier ice sheets covered this area creating pointy peaks of exposed granite.

The trail began to descend toward Boulder Lake. Before long we were standing on the shore of a beautiful glacier cirque with Tapie Peak looking down on us.

We ran into another couple hikers who were just leaving. Other than those friendly hikers, we had the place to ourselves.

We munched our lunch while taking in the beautiful surroundings. We walked to the far end of the lake to take a few more photographs.

We were sad to leave so quickly, but we had one more lake to find. Little Boulder Lake is just a 1.7 mile round-trip hike on a side trail from the main Boulder Lakes Trail. 

The wide open side trail to Little Boulder Lake gave us another great view of Mount Shasta.

Wow! Talk about saving the best for last. Yes, the lake was really that color. We did nothing to enhance this photo. This is Mother Nature at her best.

Here's another view because if one is good two is better!

We were surprised to learn that the Forest Service actually stocks these lakes with trout -- by dropping them into the water from the air! The water is so clear we could actually watch the little fishes swim along the lake shore sipping flies that landed on the surface. Note the circular ripple from a fishy rise:

After a brief rest, we started our trek back to the trailhead. Goodbye, Boulder Lakes. So happy that we finally found you!

Now that we found the Boulder Lakes, maybe we can go back and find those fishes on Lewiston Lake. Stay tuned.