I'm not quite sure why the loop isn't on WTA's drop-down, but it really is a good one.
24.5mi and ~4,900ft of gain takes you from the Greenwater Lakes trailhead all the way up to Noble Knob and Corral Pass via Lost and Echo lakes.
You could also drive up Corral Pass and start the loop from up there, cutting out the ~5.5mi out-and-back from the Greenwater Lakes trailhead to start the loop. But it's a very pleasant forest with excellent tread.
There isn't much that can't be gleaned from other trip reports to Echo or Lost Lakes, so here are some quick details on the loop:
- Would recommend going CCW - between Corral Pass and the south end of Echo has no tree cover anymore...doing this between 9am and 4pm would be pretty toasty
- Corral Pass to just south of Echo has quite a few blowdowns right now
- The real damage is actually between Hidden Lake and the southside of Echo Lake...maybe a sizeable blowdown every 1-2 minutes
- Trail is still there and we didn't drop below 2mph
- Definitely no camping opportunities near trail in this stretch
- There are 1 or 2 spurs to Hidden Lake where you can camp outside of deadfall range, just not the best spots
- The W side of the loop (Lost Lake, Quinn Lake, Noble Knob) was far more popular than the E side
- From Corral Pass to Greenwater Lakes, didn't see anyone (on a holiday weekend, go figure)
- Seems like a ton of TRs mention how bad the bugs are at Echo vs. Lost
Comments
Scott Alpine on Greenwater Trail to Lost Lakes, Greenwater and Echo Lakes, Noble Knob
It would be great if this showed up in the WTA menu. This is a fantastic loop.
I did this June 25&26th and then went back with some hand tools on July 8&9th and cleared several of the trees between Corral Pass and Echo lake. I got rid of the blow downs in the two really bad sections and cleaned up and strung ribbons to make the bypass more clear for the other really bad spot. I brought a machete too and cleaned up some of the bushes along the trail, especially the stinging nettles that got me on my last trip.
On June trip I camped at Hidden lake after watching the elk and had no issues with bugs but my July trip I camped along the trail between Hidden and Echo Lake and the mosquitoes were brutal. I put trip reports up on All Trails.
Unfortunately the burned area the trees on the trail will be on ongoing issue for years to come.
I didn’t go all the way to Echo lake but the worst of the trees are passable now.
Posted by:
Scott Alpine on Jul 22, 2025 05:25 PM