Visited: 08/18/2021
Difficulty Accuracy:
Harder
From Portland, Or, but decided to make the drive to this lake based off some pics I had seen posted in FB about it. I looked it up on the Forest service web page, and it said it was an easy route, so decided it would be a good trip to take my offroad trailer on. I have to say, I think the estimates of difficulty and what this site suggest (Easy) are underrating it a bit. During the trip in we got behind 3 basically stock rigs that were having some pretty good struggles making it. There are enough big rocks and erosion that they were often lifting a wheel off the ground, causing all kinds of traction and ground clearance issues for the unlocked vehicles. I was able to make it fairly easily, but the articulation for even my loaded down vehicle with its lift, UCAs and other mods was enough to break a sway bar end link in the front. And, it was also enough to cause me to drag my rear bumper and exhaust pipe on a rock or two, along with catching my folded up tongue jack on a rock and bending its foot pad (all happened on the way down, dropping off the rocks). It was dry, so never got close to being stuck or anything, but it would have been much more sporting if it were wet. The biggest fear I had was if we were to run into someone coming the other way. It was so narrow and rough, it would have been extremely difficult if I would have had to back down any significant way. And, we were totally lucky in that respect, as on the way up we did only meet 1 vehicle heading back down that Friday afternoon, that was already pulled off waiting for the 3 previously mentioned stock vehicles and myself to go by. The rest of the weekend was literally non-stop vehicles coming and going too! We were one of about 10 different rigs that were staying up there, and there were dozens more throughout the weekend that came and went, along with horse riders, trail bike riders, and hikers. We definitely weren't lonely. Many of the 4WD visitors were very surprised that we had gotten the trailer in there, and gave many appreciative comments. They did suggest to avoid traffic, leave extremely early in the morning, or head out at the very end of the day, or we were likely to hit a wall of vehicles, which advice we did take. We left about 5am on Monday morning, and didn't run into anybody. We also found out from a local that the Western half of the trail can be bypassed by taking the well groomed forest road 4330-170 that runs parallel to the jeep trail just to the north of it. Maps show the road as closed, but the local assured me it wasn't, which was what we indeed found as the case. Though again we weren't having huge difficulty on the jeep trail, I just really wanted to make sure we didn't run into anyone coming up, so took the easy (wide) way in an abundance of caution. Overall it was a great trail, and a decent workout for my setup. I would say again though it is underrated for stock vehicles. Doable, but not "easy".