NF 7720

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4.3/5 (39 reviews)
Wilkeson, Washington (Pierce County)
Last Updated: 07/15/2022

Trail Information

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.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.3/5 (39)
Open
Visited: 08/25/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

I made it up to the ridge by the lake where the road T's (right-towards the lake). I ended up leaving early because the offroad app said there was an active wildfire (which there wasn't when I passed it going down)...so that was a bummer. Drove my '05 Honda Pilot with 30'' all terrain tires, I used the V-tm4 lock a couple times...not sure I needed to though. I'll be back up there soon to do some volunteer road maintenance, if anyone wants to help let's plan a day, with more people we can cover more ground. ...Tools that help - chainsaw, shovel, hedge trimmers, loppers. USFS isn't going to maintain this road so it's only going to get worse every year, the loggers and quarry people might maintain the lower section but most of the area to the back is Clearwater Wilderness and I don't believe the USFS uses those roads for anything anymore...although I'm still looking into it.
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500
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 06/19/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Ran up the mountain to the lookout over the lake. It was outstanding because noone was in a rush and trail was empty. Great views. Fun shakedown run of my new radius arm build. Ran it in 2wd for the whole ride up and down. 100% love the point to point directions on the trail
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500
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 06/19/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Ran up the mountain to the lookout over the lake. It was outstanding because noone was in a rush and trail was empty. Great views. Fun shakedown run of my new radius arm build. Ran it in 2wd for the whole ride up and down. 100% love the point to point directions on the trail
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100
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 06/11/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

After a few days of steady rain there was a lot of standing water and mud on the trail. About halfway in the pot holes increase in size and the last 1/3 or so it gets fairly rough. I aired down at the start, which looking back was a smart move for the last stretch. Be prepared for some serious pinstriping towards the top.
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 10/23/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

We got to waypoint 12 but turned around due to the snow. I was with my family and didn’t want to risk it. Surprising amount of snow up there already, but could be fun with a group to finish the ride. The trail was gorgeous but hampered by all the shooting and garbage. The first ten miles of road was just pull out after pullout of people blasting away and litter all along both sides of the road along with the ranges being full of old appliances etc. Unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures. The overhead and side clearance at the latter part of the trail gets pretty tight due to all the trees being bent over from the snow.

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