Stagman Ridge, Horseshoe Meadow, Lookingglass Lake — Saturday, Jun. 2, 2018

South Cascades > Mount Adams Area

We first tried to get to the trailhead southbound from Randle on NFD 23 but it’s closed at the pass because of snow. Turned around and went out to Cougar and drove NFD 90 then NFD 23 from there. NFD 90 is horrible with dips, huge potholes, and a one lane washout passable with a high clearance vehicle. Lots of rocks on NFD 23 to the turn off for 8031. The dirt/gravel roads to the TH are excellent and snow free. We camped for two nights at the TH. No pit/vault toilet but two picnic tables and three fire rings. It a dry camp too. The first 2 miles are snow free and the wildflowers are blooming. Annoying bugs. About 12 downed trees easily passable. The next 2 miles is snow covered with some route finder needed bring map and GPS. Made it to the junction with the PCT found a good lunch spot then hiked back to TH. The snow in some places melted and spoke with someone coming off trail 2 hours after us who said the meadow had completely melted out and was all water. Give this trail another week and it will probably be snow free if the temps stay warm. The trail could use some TLC but it’s doing great for a fire going through the area in 2012.