Reflection Ponds via Greider and Boulder Lakes Trail — Sunday, May. 24, 2026

We did not hike all the way to the Greiders, this was a date hike with Soaringeagle who can't do the long steep ones anymore. To be honest, I have a harder time with those kinds of hikes too, alas Father Time.  I do have updates for Grieder from talking to other hikers tho, posted at the end of the report. Soaringeagle hadn't been up here since you could drive all the way to the Boulder Lake TH, which we did when we subjected our kids to a wet backpack to Boulder. Since the road closed, this walk has gone from a BRW to a nice trail. There are bridges over the swamp now and bridges over 2 of the dippety do creek crossings. Enjoy the forest, the view along Spada, the waterfalls and lots of birdsong. The reflection ponds are a worthy goal with a nice little loop trail. Access is either from the Boulder trail or the Greider trail. After the ponds we chose to go back to the Bear Creek viewpoint where there are 2 picnic tables where we ate lunch. Loos there also.      Greider Lake trail conditions as reported by some young backpackers. The big blowdown that has been there for a few years is still there and the stairs are still falling apart. There are several more blowdowns now across the trail that challenged these young hikers, but they persevered. Also, the bridge to Big Greider is falling apart but still crossable.  The road into the TH is in great shape with only a few potholes and wash boarding. I wish all forest roads were this good!  Register at Olney Pass and get the permit for your car. Remember this is the drinking water for many of us, aren't we lucky, from the mtns to the faucet!