Wyeth Trail to North Lake - 12.8 Miles Round-Trip

(Reporting by David Levy, Editor | October 23, 2016)

North Lake is located 6.4 miles from Wyeth Trailhead in the Mark Hatfield Wilderness. This challenging hike climbs steadily through diverse, mature forests with occasional views to the Green Point Ridge Trail split, where it drops and rises back to North Lake.

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While it may lack the charisma of a Cascade Range alpine lake, North Lake's surrounding forest and predictable solitude are highly compelling.

Fishing is generally good, and there are several small but serviceable openings around the lake from which to cast. The Wyeth Trail continues past North Lake with access to Rainy Lake, Bear Lake and Mount Defiance.

A $5 fee or valid recreation pass is required to access this trail. Poison oak is particularly abundant; long sleeves are recommended:

The trail begins on a dirt road to the Gorge Trail - Gorton Creek Bridge junction (.1 mile); turn left to remain on Wyeth. It rises past a campground access trail then dips across a brushy powerline clearing to Harphan Creek (.5 miles : 223').

Hop the creek (getting wet may be unavoidable) and resume steady climbing under a tall fir canopy (1.0 miles : 655'). The understory is relatively thin, which offers a nice look through these mature columns of timber.

Travel steepens considerably on methodical switchbacks to a small clearing across talus (3.5 miles : 2,558'), just past which you'll round a corner to the first of several high, open view points.

It climbs steadily to a short reprieve across an open grassy slope (4.05 miles), then up to the Mark O Hatfield Wilderness Boundary (4.55 miles : 3,547'). The sign may be in disrepair but the board is still prominent.

Grades moderate through uniform stands of silver fir to the Green Point Ridge Trail split (5.05 miles : 3,885'); keep left. The trail tilts down a rockier path to an open talus slide with great views of Mount Defiance (5.45 miles : 3,820').

It continues mildly down, then up to a short spur that splits (right) to North Lake (6.4 miles : 3,988').

This main spur leads to a berm over the outlet, which forms Lindsey Creek; other social trails lead to various points around the lake.

The final 1.4 miles (from Green Point Ridge split to North Lake) pass through old growth fir and hemlock, arguably one of the nicest sections of this trail. Bear grass, Oregon grape and huckleberry cover the forest floor and attract wildlife. There are several good campsites among large trees on this stretch. 

(Reporting by David Levy, Editor | October 23, 2016)