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Alpinejo.tripod.com: Backcountry Trails Guide
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Washington Backcountry Trails

Thorp Creek at Trailhead

 

Thorp Lake

Thorp Lake

Definition of terms below
Location: Wenatchee National Forest
Directions: On I-90, take the Roslyn exit, follow (903) just past Cle Elem lake and turn left, on FS RD 4308 crest the hill and hang a right at the Y- FS RD 4312, drive to the end of this road without turning off, park at the end of the road 
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation +/- 1600 ft elevation gain
Distance: 3 Miles Roundtrip
Rating: 10 out of 10, this is one of my favorite hikes
Fishing: okay 
Scenery: great, big mountains surrounding it 
Map: Printable Topo Map

 

Thorp Lake is well worth a weekend visit. The trail is a bit of a struggle. Although this trail is not maintained with some navigation skill you will reach the lake. I have done this hike several times, in snow, during the day and as a night hike. Thank goodness for a headlamp.

There is not a posted Trailhead. The trail starts out straight uphill climb from the road, what you do is hike up the usually dry creek bed. Once you crest the hill you veer right staying high on the hill there will be a rock basin on your left. The trail will show up here in the wildflower basin. Crest the next hill, drop down the next hill and veer left, cross the small creek and veer left through the tall brush and you should be able to see the lake. 

My favorite place to camp is on the right side of the lake, on the back side up on a perfect ledge. The views on a clear morning are breath taking.

For an added adventure bushwhack your way up to the ridge behind the lake. Up here you can go to the lookout tower or just gaze down at Kachees Lake.

I heard there were bears in the area a couple of years ago, some guys on horseback had scared them off before I got up there.

Fishing-- It was poor. There are a bunch of fish, the key is to be there when they are biting. I use a Kastmaster with a blue stripe and my all time favorite the brown Vibrax Rooster tail

 Do it again? Any time I have a chance

Other Links:

Climbing Mt Thorp-July 2000
Thorp Creek 1316
Little Joe/Thorp Lake Hike

 



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