NF 7720

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Status:	Open
Typically Open:	Year Round
Permit Information:	Permit Required - Click Here
Length:	15.43 miles
Highest Elevation:	4600 feet
Duration:	About 2 hours
Shape of Trail:	Out & Back
Best Direction to Travel:	East
Nearest Town:	Wilkeson
Nearest Town w/ Services:	Wilkeson
Official Road Name:	7720
Management Agency:	Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
District:	Enumclaw Ranger Station

Highlights

NF-7720 is a 15.39-mile journey to "Cedar Lake" overlook and can be accomplished by most stock vehicles. The road winds you through a network of smaller forest service roads, many of them unnamed that travel out to various lookouts of Mt. Rainier to the east and the Tacoma Valley and Puget Sound to the west. You will travel through old-growth forests crossing two beautiful creek bridges. The last mile or so is a climb up some loose rock and ends with a lookout upon "Cedar Lake". It is about a quarter-mile hike down to the lake but there is not really any trail taking you there. If you to trailblaze your way down to the lake you can expect some serious fishing for Rainbow & Brook trout. Though they are small, this lake does not get much pressure so the fish are pretty hungry. Almost one fish per cast. This trip would make for an excellent weekend outing or day-long exploration for the kids and family.

Video

Route Information

Technical Rating

( EASY )

Waypoints

1. Trailhead Start (0 mi)

There are two entrances off "Double Rainbow Lake Road" to get onto NF-7710. Use this road to get to the start of NF 7720. This writer chose the second road to the right called "South Prairie Road" as the trailhead for this write-up. This is also where you want to air-down tires as the road is gravel and rough from this point.

Directions to Trailhead

Starting Point: Wilkeson, Washington

In the town of Wilkeson, locate the Wilkeson arch and start your trip meter here. Continue south and at .02 miles turn left onto Railroad Avenue. There will be a Wilkeson Elementary sign as well as a large red train caboose on the corner. Proceed 1.1 mile to the end. The Sunset Lake Camp is private property. FS-7710 which leads to FS-7720 and the trailhead is on the right and the road name is "South Prairie Creek Road". This is where you want to air-down and disconnect sway-bars as the road is going to be very bumpy with lots of wash-boards and pot-holes to dodge.

Camping

Dispersed

Trail Reviews (27)

Questions & Answers (0)

Writer Information

Michael Graham

Mapping Crew - Washington

Michael Graham is retired from the U.S. Army as an Infantry First Sergeant with 23 years of service. He did a tour in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He presently owns a Process Service Company in Tacoma. He is originally from Upstate New York but after being stationed in Washington knew immediately that this part of the county felt like home. He had a Jeep CJ5 as his first 4x4 but back in the 80's there wasn't a lot of hype and add-on parts as there are today. Building your rig is half the fun, making it your own style. He has actually found it to be an addiction. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, in the Tacoma / Puyallup area and loves the sport of "wheeling" which allows access to so much more than a hiking trailhead. He enjoys organized rides and poker runs and the freedom and exploration this sport allows. Finding this website and authoring trail write-ups has really enhanced this sport for him. If you are new to the sport or just looking for someone to show you the trails he would love to hear from you.

Wilkeson, Washington (Pierce County)