Hiked to Blue Lake from the Thomas Lake Trailhead for a mid-week overnight backpacking trip with a group of 5 women. It was a long drive down gravel forest service roads but they were in decent condition. Mid-week in the fall, there were only a few vehicles in the parking lot when we arrived mid-morning. The vault toilet was open but had no toilet paper. We saw very few people on the trail and very few people camped at Blue Lake. We found the campsites to be further apart from each other than it appeared they would be on the map. We initially chose a site near the lake but as the wind picked up, we decide to move to the group camp site (not labeled as such on the map but it's up a steep section of trail right after the PCT intersects with the Thomas Lake Trail). It was a little less windy there but still got pretty windy in the evening.

This was my first trip to this area. It made for a gentle backpacking trip as the elevation gain is minimal and gradual. The fall colors were stunning and we enjoyed the fact the there was another beautiful lake around every corner!

We set out to spend two nights but the weather for the second night and third day was going to be pretty miserable so we left after the first night. I'm looking forward to exploring these trails more in the future.

Get to this trailhead early! I arrived at 8:30 on a Saturday and the lot was full. I think it was a mix of day hikers, like myself, and backpackers. My goal was to try to see as many lakes as I could and fall colors! The trails didn’t feel as crowded due to all the side trails and places to stop. But still more crowded than trails I normally take, it did thin out once I passed Blue Lake (using the Thomas Lake Trail) and was on the PCT. I continued all the way to Deep Lake. I didn’t venture down to any of the other lakes along the trail unless they were right along the trail. I had no idea that each lake would be huge and so pretty! After Deer Lake, I took the Indian Lakes Trail up (it was very slightly overgrown in spots, but still easy to get through) to Deep Lake. Deep Lake was my favorite lake along the whole route – you could see Adams peaking above the tree line. After a short break, I headed back to take a detour to Lemei Rock via Lemei Rock. I only went up the rock trail until I could see views of Mt Rainier and Mt Adams. The trail was up the rock/dirt face, and I didn’t feel comfortable trying to scramble all the way up. I headed back down and then decided to return to the Thomas Lake Trailhead via the Lemei Lakes Trail. I then took the old Cascade Crest Trail from Junction Lake to Rock Lake. The Cascade Crest Trail was not signed and Gaia said it was unmaintained. I’ve been on maintained trails that were not as nice as this one! I only I had to go under one tree and over about 3 downed log/trees. Other than that, a very easy trail to follow. I returned to the trailhead and logged 16.15 miles. Great day with great views and lovely fall colors!

#HiketheState

Did a slightly different trail than the one described here. Followed the Alltrails app trail named "Blue Lake, Elk Lake, and Deep Lake Loop" for 14.5 mi. Just copying the trip report for that here since it would cover much of the same area...

This is one of my favorite SW WA trails. I opted to day hike this trail and went clockwise since I got a late start. I wanted to get past the poorly marked/decommissioned trail going to Bear Lake first so I wouldn't hit it at sundown. Def keep an eye on the GPS. I didn't even notice the trail before I passed it. It really looks more like a deer track or old user trail than a still used footpath. This trail would be very wet in the rain or in spring/early summer - like walking in a creek or marsh... Much of it is entrenched in spots, brushy in others, or very faint while going through the numerous meadows. I saw only 2 other groups on it. If you do a lot of hiking it's not too hard to follow once you are on it, it's more finding the trail start on either end of the trail. For inexperienced hikers, you may struggle staying on the decommisioned trail without GPS. All the other trails in the loop are well signed and easy to follow. The colors of the foliage are stunning right now, there's still lots of berries to eat, and fungi to forage. This hike takes you past 20ish lakes/ponds. Highlights include: Bear Lake is a beautiful aquamarine shade, Deep Lake has nice views of Mt. Adams, and Blue Lake is a gorgeous deep blue at the base of a mountain. As a day hike, you'd have better lighting for pictures going counterclockwise, but clockwise gets more of the elevation out of the way earlier on into the day hike and gets you past the harder to navigate trail earlier on. All the steams shown on the map are dry - water is only available at the lakes. I think autumn is truly the best time to hike this - no mosquitoes, fall foliage, plenty of foraging, birds and frogs calling... Photos really don't do it justice - this place is very vibrant and full of life and color.

Lot full at 9:30am. Road passable in a Hyundai elantra sedan. If coming from the south def take the Meadow Creek rd to 6507. Because I had no signal and it was using the downloaded offline map, google maps had me take the 65 the entire way back and it was so long on a dirt road and there is a creek crossing (currently dry) that I wouldn't do in a sedan if there was water running it. The 6507 was a shorter and nicer road than the 65.

Even mid-week, the trailhead for the Thomas Lake Trail is a popular spot.

We hiked at a leisurely pace, pausing to look for birds to add to our eBird list. We encountered large flocks of American Robins filling up on huckleberries to fuel their migrations.

We also paused to check out a pika site. A sentry was on duty so we knew the site still was occupied, and I captured data for a Cascade Pika Watch report.

We reached the central plateau of the Indian Heaven volcanic field and stopped at Rock Lake for lunch. From there, we continued on through meadows and forest, sampling the remaining huckleberries and enjoying the views of the small lakes and tarns while watching Turkey Vultures drifting south in circles overhead as they searched for updrafts to power them along. We marveled over the bright reds of the backlit Cascade bilberry bushes.

Reluctantly we turned around to head back to the trailhead for the drive home. September is such a special time of year and the ideal month for hiking in Indian Heaven, but it is fleeting.

Driving Tip: The washout on FR 65 has not been repaired. We recommend driving up the Wind River Highway to the junction with FR 6507. Drive gravel FR 6507 about 4 miles to the junction with FR 65, turn left on FR 65 and reach the Thomas Lake trailhead in about 1/2 mile.

pacific crest trail | crest camp NOBO to east crater rim #48 [2025]

Section H - WA PCT in Southwest WA

Indian Heaven Wilderness

18.1m, 2,540’ elevation

PCT NOBO - Crest Camp to East Crater Trail 48. The road to the TH is in great shape - crews are out maintaining the potholes in the last few weeks too. The trail starts out relatively flat. Just after the junction with Indian Race Track there is a hard turn to the right that I missed - ended up bush whacking back to the trail. The approach to Berry Mtn is lined with bear grass in full bloom! Views from the south ridge of Berry Mtn offers views of Mt Hood and Jefferson, as well as Red Mtn. Snow patches started at about 4,200’ and became heavier into the shade of the interior of the wilderness. There were about ~12-15 blow downs. A few backpackers at Blue Mtn; did not encounter any thru hikers or section hikers today. Turned around at the East Crater Trail #48 and back out to the car at Crest Camp TH.