Beaver Plant Lake

The trail to Beaver Plant Lake offers a less-travelled option off the Mountain Loop Highway, with lakeside backcountry camping or a day hike with a gorgeous picnic spot at the lake. 

Start from the signed trailhead on a wide, tree-lined path. At about 100 feet in, a trailhead kiosk offers information on the Morning Star Natural Resources Conservation Area, an ecologically complex area home to state-sensitive and state-threatened species, plus marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, Pacific fisher and bull trout.

The former logging road heads onward through a younger forest, dropping slightly to a metal bridge crossing a green-lined creek at 0.3 mile. From here, the trails narrows to a mostly singletrack lane and heads up, including a few stairs. The forest becomes denser here and old growth remnants are easily visible from the trail.

Soon, the route includes a few shorter, and then longer, boardwalk sections, winding through the skunk cabbage and ferns. Watch the footing here as this area gets upwards to 100 to 150 inches of rain per year, often damaging the boardwalks with excessive moisture and freezing temperatures. 

At 1 mile, the path climbs upward and crests a ridge. The trail descends and shortly comes to an intersection at 1.5 miles. Bear left to continue to Beaver Plant Lake.

At the lakeside, a boardwalk skirts the nearest edge, offering a stroll in the marshy area buffering the open water.  A bench presents a place to relax and enjoy the prevalent birdsong, many dragonflies swooping above the water and, hopefully, some sunshine and a snack. Post snack, retrace the route to the parking area for 3.2 miles in overall mileage. 

Extend your hike

At the intersection near Beaver Plant Lake, take the right option to continue on to Upper and Lower Ashland Lakes, adding just over 2 miles to the total in-and-out mileage. 

WTA Pro Tip: The closest public flush toilet facilities are at the Verlot Ranger Station, on the Mountain Loop Highway between the road to Beaver Plant Lake and Granite Falls.