Gifford Pinchot National Forest Soda Peaks Lake Hike ~ from Trapper Creek Hike 57
Length: 7.8 Miles round trip Elevation Change: 2680' Elevation gain Season: Summer thru Fall Difficulty: Difficult Permit: NW Forest Pass Required Features:
This approach to Soda Peaks Lake begins
off Forest Road #5401 which is a short
distance from the Wind River Hwy #30.
Also, this approach to Soda Peaks Lake
is for those who are desperate for a
heart attack... in other words this is
a very challenging hike!
See Hike #58 for a more reasonable
way to get to Soda Peaks Lake.
Having said that, lets hike. The
trail begins fairly level as it leaves
the trail head. The trail parallels
a private road that follows Trapper
Creek for about 1.5 miles. At .8
miles you will come to the junction of
Trail #132. Keep straight ahead and
continue on until you reach the junction
of Trail #133. Bear left and follow
this trail.
Trail #133 descends a bit to Trapper
Creek and crosses on a vehicle bridge
that has been transformed into a hikers
bridge. After crossing the creek, the
trail veers off to the left as it prepares
to climb like a homesick angel up a very
steep mountain. Just before lift off,
you will pass a junction of a trail that
leads back to the Government Mineral
Springs.
Now the climb begins. Thank goodness for
the switchbacks. This trail climbs and
climbs and climbs. Then it climbs some
more. Then after that... you guessed it,
it climbs even more. A couple enjoyable
aspects to this approach to Soda Peaks
Lake is that you get to hike/climb through
a significant Old Growth Forest. I mean,
these trees are really big and really old.
Then there are also occasional views as
you make your way up this mostly heavily
timbered trail.
When you finally do get to Soda Peaks Lake,
if you have any energy left, walk down to
the lake, then follow the user trail to the
east side of the lake and up the rocky part
of the East Soda Peak. Here you get some
frosting for your hiking cake as your
view out at Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier,
and Mt Adams.
A Virtual Hike in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
