The trailhead is located about a half mile down a gated gravel road that runs through the Ski Tur housing development. The bearing of the road is 019 magnetic from the bulletin board at the gate. The trail is very brushy in areas throughout its entire length, but is especially brushy for the first mile or so. The fords at Gold and Silver Creeks (3.0 and 3.5 miles) are calf-deep. There is a log across Gold Creek about 100 yards south of the ford, but use by anyone whose sense of balance is questionable is not recommended. There are occasional snow patches on the trail after Silver Creek. At the end of the maintained trail, the unmaintained Alaska Lake Trail climbs to the left, while the unmaintained portion of the Gold Creek Trail continues ahead. The Alaska Lake Trail is very brushy in places and very steep all the way. Watch for trail markers climbing the rock fields as it would be easy to lose the way. Alaska Lake is free of ice. There are parts of the Alaska Lake Trail that have a very narrow tread and careful stepping is required to keep from falling down the embankment. There are a few snow-free campsites around Alaska Lake. A deer skull is alongside the trail at about 1.8 miles. Columbine, tiger lily, thistle and other wildflowers are all along the trail. There are swarms of biting flies everywhere. There is no easy way down to Alaska Lake from the PCT/Ridge Lake. Hikers have been injured attempting this descent.