June Lake, Loowit Trail — Friday, Jul. 16, 2010

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens

June Lake Trailhead to Loowit to halfway to Ape Canyon Overall impressions Wow! The snow is GONE. This is a great section of the Loowit to hike, easily done for a day hike with incredible views, lots of wildflowers, and even some wildlife if you're lucky. We saw a pika, long-tailed weasel, tons of chipmunks and Douglas squirrels, some birds (heard more than saw), garter snakes, cool insects, and smelled but didn't see a herd of elk that must have only recently vacated the alpine meadow where we stopped. Do bring water as there is NONE from June Lake except a few snow patches that are rapidly disappearing. The lack of cover makes for extra hot hiking with the heat coming off the rocks as well as from the sky. It's about 1 1/3 mi. from June Lake Trailhead to Loowit junction, then 5 miles on the Loowit all the way to the Ape Canyon junction. The whole thing as a round trip day hike would be a moderate trip (under 12 miles, maybe 1,500' gain + some ups & downs). Or you could shuttle cars (or bum a ride) from one trailhead to the other. We only went about halfway to Ape junction, so don't hold me responsible for anything beyond that point. ;) To June Lake: The trail to June Lake is in great shape, but bring an extra baggie to pick up the leavings (wrappers, etc.) of less-educated hikers. The lake itself is beautiful and refreshing, if shallow & weedy. The trail from the shore to the waterfall is, well, a morass of devil's club, brambles, and barely-discernible pencil track. BUT it's really cool to look at the lake from behind the fall. A shower in the fall is lovely after a day of hot, dusty work or hiking, but that water is cold & coming down HARD! A dip in the lake is nearly as refreshing and you can still feel your scalp afterward (if you like that sort of thing). June Lake to Loowit and counter-clockwise: The trail up to the Loowit junction from the lake is fairly steep and parts need to be lopped, but it's no problem. There's a small path leading to the right part way up that goes to the waterfall. The last bit of that side-trail, though, is very steep and would definitely be dangerous for kids or anyone unwilling to go part way on your bum (deliberately or otherwise). Continuing on the main trail from the lake, once you turn right on the Loowit, the trail is GREAT thanks to the amazing work of 3 WTA work crews so far. The trail is seriously improved (brushed out, downed trees cut, scrabble catwalk widened to about 2 1/2' of nice tread) through about 2 miles past the junction. It then reverts to the scrabbly catwalk which, though narrow and covered with loose rock, is just fine if you're careful. Continuing toward Ape Canyon, the trail flattens out at around 4,000' and you need to watch your footing going in and out of a few washes that have eroded the trail. Past the 2nd large wash, you enter brush that is impinging on the trail pretty seriously, including a few trees that force you cliffside more than some may like. But don't worry; the WTA will be on that in no time. Views: starting from about mile past the June Lake unction, the views of Adams and Hood are fantastic. Continuing on, views of St. Helen's are also amazing. Past the 2nd large wash, you enter a large meadow where you are treated to views of these 3 + Rainier - breathtaking! Flowers in bloom (from June Lake Trailhead to 4,000' along Loowit way to Ape Canyon): Bear-grass. Tiger lily, lupine, thimbleberry, strawberry, white fawn lilies (almost done), Queen's cup lily, star-flowered false solomon's seal, mountain heather (white & pink), twin flower, trailing blackberry, subalpine spirea, paintbrush, goat's beard, bunchberry, western coralroot, alpine buckwheat, alumroot, foamflower, three-leaved anemone, Davidson's pentstemon