West Fork Foss River and Lakes — Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Trip Report: West Fork Foss River (Trout, Malachite, and Copper Lakes)

Hike: West Fork Foss River (#1064)

Date: 28 November 2025

Stats: 9.5 miles RT, ~3,000 ft elevation gain

Conditions:

• Road: Rough but passable for all vehicles.

• Bugs: None.

• Snow: Snow covered trail (intermittent to consistent).

• Trail: Muddy, blowdowns.

Gear Used: Microspikes, Trekking Poles, Waterproof boots. Brought an ice axe but didn’t need it.

The Report

Road & Parking

The road is generally in good shape. It is rough, but any car can make it up without issues. Be mindful in the last mile, as that is where the worst of the potholes are hiding.

Lower Trail to Trout Lake

The trail starts off very wet and muddy, meandering at a nice flat grade along the river. Don't miss the absolute forest giant—a tree hundreds of years old—guarding the valley on the way in. The trail is clear of major issues all the way to Trout Lake.

The Climb & Obstacles

Snow becomes patchy starting from the trailhead but isn't a real obstacle until you hit 3,000 feet. From there up, expect several inches of accumulation.

The biggest obstacle is past Trout Lake. There are a few blowdowns, but one significant tree is blocking the trail completely. The trunk was too snowy and icy to climb over safely. Fortunately, previous hikers have established a bypass up the slope to the left of the tree. Take caution here—the bypass is steep, wet, and slippery.

Stream crossings are frequent but the water levels were manageable. The crossing with the log bridge is completely covered in snow, so crossing it requires a bit of trust that the timber isn't rotted underneath!

The Lakes (Malachite & Copper)

I took the side trip to Malachite Lake. It’s a bit of an extra uphill slog, but worth it. The lake is very pretty, completely silent, and I had it entirely to myself. There is no ice on the water yet.

Continuing to Copper Lake, the stream crossing was easy. Like Malachite, there is no ice on the water yet, but there is about a foot of crusty, hard-packed snow surrounding the lake.

Snow Conditions & Gear

Timing is everything right now. In the early morning, the snow was firm with a thick crust; microspikes were perfect for this.

However, on the return trip in the late morning, the sun turned the open slopes into a sloppy, slippery mess. The conditions varied rapidly from frozen pack to wet slush depending on sun exposure. Spikes were great for the firm stuff, but less effective in the slush—trekking poles were essential on the descent to keep from slipping.

Crowds

I broke trail in the morning and didn't see a soul until my return journey. Even then, I only passed one person above Trout Lake. There were a few small groups at the lowest lake, but overall a very uncrowded and peaceful experience.