It can be a difficult trail to travel due to traversing rough terrain. A network of nearby trails offers miles of hiking and provides access to fishing streams, remote meadows and peaks, and crystal clear lakes. Excited to come back in a few weeks. keep in mind it was a Saturday. We would rate this more on the difficult side of a moderate trail. The clear water gathers at the top of a valley where boulder strewn ridges coalesce together and keep the lake secret on all sides but one. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution. The Snake is big, mighty, and beyond beautiful….but Caribbean blue waters is not part of its description. The trail is great! Read more. This was a magnificent trail that is on the harder end of moderate. Be careful. It is rocky in some areas. We want to go again! Will go again for sure! Dogs are also able to use this trail. Very pretty lake, with a trail around 70% of it. This high elevation rugged backcountry trail provides foot access to Crystal Lake. Los Angeles, California 33 contributions 2 helpful votes. Few more weeks maybe? We saw tons of trout from the shoreline. Le sentier offre plusieurs activités et sa meilleure utilisation est de juin à octobre. Drive slow and take your time. for ONE part. Large rock slides to walk through and rocks to clamber over. There can be snow here even in the first part of July so dress for colder conditions. A lake that is only accessible by foot, which makes for … Crystal Lake Trail ist ein 3.1 Meilen langer Hin- und Rückweg in der Nähe von Saint Regis, Montana. I use the term “road” loosely. This lake is located on the south end of the divide, between Cataldo and St. Maries. It can be quite steep in some areas with loose rocks, so make sure of your footing if carting a heavy pack. Crystal Lake is a lake in Idaho and has an elevation of 8114 feet. Turn left onto Crystal Lake Road (dirt) and go 5.3 miles to a Y intersection. Shoreline fishing is best near the outflow. I went the route from St. Marie’s. It can be a difficult trail to travel due to traversing rough terrain. Additionally, other things I did not particularly enjoy about this hike is that there is no trail that goes around the lake for being able to explore and that most of the camping sites are all right next to each other so no way to avoid other people if you are not the only campers there. Crystal Lake. Beautiful! The Lake: It will become Rochet Creek/Divide Road. I’ve gone in both ways and both are great, you can’t go wrong either way. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. - the rock slides really aren’t too bad, 395 Guide 4,422 views. Whether you’re baitcasting or fly fishing your chances of … Pretty little lake nestled in the mountains. So on the description it says that kids 5 and older should be able to hike this, unless your 5 year old is a seasoned hiker I would not recommend bringing them. - OnX app tracked: 1.46 one way, 45 m. The views are incredible! Trail is still covered in snow. - Head south from I-90 Exit 40 at Cataldo onto LeTour Road onto FR 613. The trail surface is natural dirt and rock at an elevation ranging from 5320-5440 feet. The best part is the overlooks along the way of Lake George and Lake Mary. The lake is cold even in late summer but the brave can still manage a quick swim. On July 22nd My husband, 10 month old, red heeler and I made our way up to the trailhead to camp. Mount Coeur d'Alene via Caribou Ridge Trail, Caribou Ridge, Trail 258, and Trail 257 Loop, Lower Caribou Ridge to Beauty Creek Road Loop. Getting into this mountain lake is … Would definitely recommend a high clearance vehicle. The views driving up were absolutely beautiful and we saw moose. We did this hike on 8/15. The well-worn trail is very easy to follow. The lake is beautiful but very buggy, definitely don’t forget your spray. I have the rare Toyota 4Runner without 4WD and didn’t have any problems. If you don’t have a 4WD vehicle with high clearance that you don’t mind abusing DO NOT GO THIS WAY. There are two ways to get to the trailhead. The length and elevation gain wasn’t bad, but the trail itself seemed on the dangerous side. Hiking up Crystal Lake (Crag) Trail in Mammoth Lakes, California - Duration: 6:49. Looking at the directions on how to get there we chose the road out of St. Maries. The first 1.5 miles of the trail are a mild incline and moderate-to-highly trafficked. If you make only one purchase during your trip to McCall, we recommend it be “The Hiker’s Guide to McCall and Cascade.” This book is fabulous. The lake was breath taking, we are suckers for mountain lakes. We intended to be there for a couple hours to enjoy some fishing but unfortunately a couple large dogs, that were off leash, showed up and decided we were in a great spot for them to swim while waiting for their owners to appear. This is a popular trail for hiking enthusiasts, but the remoteness of the area ensures that you'll probably have the place to yourself. Will return in July. The road from St. Maries is a primitive road without any severe ruts, potholes, or washouts. Crystal Lake Trail est un sentier aller-retour de 2.8 miles peu fréquenté situé près de Saint Maries, Idaho. It’s not a flat trail by any means. When we arrived at 930 only two other cars were there. Idaho gems can be found throughout the state, particularly in mining sites and stream beds. It is an old forest service road barely wide enough for our Jeep Wrangler. The trailhead was very easy to find and had a clean restroom, make sure to bring toilet paper. The trailhead is located approximately 54 miles southeast of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. There were still lots of huckleberries, ripe, and still ripening. better suited for an active 8 and up. We drove up, but snow stopped us 8 miles to the trail head. Crystal Lake from Mapcarta, the free map. The well-known Pacific Crest Trail is only a mile away and can be reached right out the back door of the lodge. We did create some great memories that day, well most of us did. The Drive: October - Early Fall shade. - The second way to get to the trailhead is to go south on Hwy 3 from I-90 towards St Marie’s to Reeds Creek Road. Also, the length of the trail is actual 4mi out and back, which I tracked it on my Fitbit. The trail is immediately downhill but eventually levels out into slight inclines and declines. SharonSdG wrote a review Sep 2019. The Hike: This is a 20 mile trek on a dusty, dirt road. Once the owners finally appeared they started throwing rocks in the water just a couple yards from us. Le sentier longe un lac et sa difficulté est évaluée comme modérée. I explored half the lake, from entry to the left, which had a trail wrapping near the waters edge. More Crystal Lake Trail is a 3.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mammoth Lakes, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. However, there’s one lake that you’ll want to make it your own personal mission to see for yourself. If you started at the West Fork trailhead, take Chimney Creek (Birthday Trail) back. Follow the trail to Upper Crystal Lake. Took 1.6 miles to get from trailhead to lake. The Crystal Lake trail does a loop around the lake - do not follow this trail until its end. and down the rocks- stay upwards- The lake is set against the north face of Granite Mountain, an impressive 8,479-foot peak. Eventually the trail forks where a tributary drainage comes in from the west. The trail is rocky and I tripped a few times, and returning to the trailhead was fairly steep. lost at the same spot, too. The trail has arying terrain, most of it being a single track. Cons: - narrow trail When you arrive at the trail above the lake, begin to directly ascend the slope above you to the saddle between Peak 10 and Crystal Peak. There are still remnants of historic mining activity. Turn left at sign, continuing on Crystal Lake Road, and go 12.7 miles to campground. though. Primitive camping developments are located at the trailhead and undeveloped camping is allowed at the lake. Turn left on Rashad Road and travel 10 miles up to the trailhead. very steep terrain. Went there today with my 5 year old daughter and we had a blast. There is some mud/creeks going over the trail. - Duration: 11:14. We got to the trailhead from the Rochatt Rd direction. We went out the Cataldo side. - good mix of steep and flat, sunny and The terrain varies; water, loose shale, giant rocks and the usual forest dirt and pine needles. In this picture you can see the parking area as the beige gash at lower right, and the trail starting off to the left. Others hikers, the same day, got On the South end of the lake is a small peninsula great for camping away from day hikers. Pete Zimowsky About four miles farther on Forest Road 444, keep a keen eye out for a hidden trail on the left that goes to Lower Gospel Lake. Didn’t even make it to the trail. Crystal Lake – Google Map Location Drive east from Coeur d’Alene on I-90 and take the Cataldo Exit. This is a hard trail with lots of loose rock crossings. -big mountaintop views, wildflowers Here is the link to this hike https://youtu.be/ewAGLt7TSK4. The dirt road up isn’t bad until about 6/7 miles away from the trailhead then it becomes a little rough in places, our F50 made it perfectly fine, just really bumpy. The hike itself is short, but strangely challenging. When the water level drops in the fall, the lake looks more like two, hence the name. Primitive camping developments are located at the trailhead and undeveloped camping is allowed at the lake. There is a few steep parts that I would not recommended taking a low clearance vehicle. Now to the hike.... we are 50ish and not very experienced but the description is not accurate. The other thing you should know before going to this trail is that you are on a dirt road for about 10mi with some pretty bad washed out areas and rocks. - creek was running so my dog had a time. There are several very steep areas on the trail and about a third of this trail has rock slides with one in particular that is very long. From here the trail turns west up the tributary drainage, eventually topping out on Crystal Summit road. From Lewistown, take US Highway 87 north 8.7 miles to Forest Access sign (Crystal Lake Road). Coordination: N 42°39'38", W 114°38'51". Not much unique about this one. Fourth of July Lake is a popular spot for folks looking to spend a day with the family. Over all this was a very fun and beautiful experience and highly recommend it. The road at this point has large drop-offs on one side. Long story short, this is a HEAVILY trafficked area so if you are looking for a quiet day you won’t get it here. Too much snow on the road. Although named Twin Lakes, it is actually one large body of water formed in a figure eight shape. The trail is marked by a pile of rocks on the side of the road, but it’s easy to miss. Bear left and go 3.9 miles to Recreation Area sign. Getting to the lake is quite a drive though We came from the north off of the freeway. I did this on a Sunday, solo with a dog (32 female, average athletic shape) and felt comfortable. way that I neglected to see the first - not one mosquito Length 2.8 miElevation gain 656 ftRoute type Out & back Much nicer and the dust is totally worth it. Across the road from the parking area the trail (unmarked) to Crystal Lake starts. The lake was smaller than I imagined and it was crowded, every spot to sit by the water was taken. There are some spots you drive over what appears to be rock slides and the rest of the time it’s ruts and sheer drop offs. The very beginning, you are going down hill, then for the most part you are going up and down. I would not recommend taking small children on this trail. Crystal Springs Lake in Gooding County is 8.2 acres. You have to climb over multiple boulders that are incredibly slick. Helpful. You travel 25 miles east on US-90 and take exit 40 (Cataldo exit) then head south on Latour Cr./Rochat Divide Road for 29 miles. Getting There : From ID 55 on the west side of McCall, turn right onto Warren Wagon Road and continue north for 21.7 miles. Float tubes allow anglers access to trout holding away from shoreline in the vegetation. He did fine, The 3.400-square-foot center will consolidate access to the seven units of Thousand Springs – Malad Gorge, Kelton Trail, Billingsley Creek, Ritter Island, Crystal Springs, Niagara Springs, and the Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve. Crystal Lake is a lake located just 9.4 miles from Saint Maries, in Benewah County, in the state of Idaho, United States, near Saint Joe, ID. but they are sharp and I was worried I veered to the left At the trailhead there are multiple camp sites that are NOT pay to play and a portapotty, with no toilet paper, but didn’t smell. Another hike worth the effort is Crystal Lake on the lesser known Rochat Divide, not far east of 4 th of July Pass and Coeur d’Alene. a few places to drink on the way 3815 N Schreiber Way The trailhead is about 7600 feet and the lake is at about 6300 feet. Well worth it! Kids around 5 or older should be able to hike the trail with little to no assistance. Would highly recommend Thousand Springs State Park has several units to explore: Malad Gorge, Kelton Trail, Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve, Billingsley Creek, Ritter Island, Crystal Springs and Niagara Springs. Bear left up a short steep climb. It can be steep in some areas. I came up Reed’s Creek road but hit deep but patchy snow 0.8 miles from the trail head. It is actually 1.6 miles each way but the distance isnt the challenge, it's the vertical accents and descents. This trip documents a nice little backpacking trip, along a scenic trail to a high mountain lake. So cold, but after our long trek it was refreshing, so worth it once you get there! Overall the trail is fun with beautiful views and interesting terrain. The hike is 2-3 miles, but took about two hours, as a lot of it is up and down … We have a YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuqAytrT-U1vlphR3WWujJw that goes over various of Trails we go on. This high elevation rugged backcountry trail provides foot access to Crystal Lake. The trailhead does have a bathroom. It took me 45 minutes going 15 mph from Reed’s Creek to get up. The trail surface is natural dirt and rock at an elevation ranging from 5320-5440 feet. This is the perfect place to escape reality for a little bit and bask in your own private corner of Idaho. In the Gospel Hump, many trails start off on roads that go along mountain spines and then drop into alpine lakes. The trail was challenging in parts, but overall very doable, there was one area we got a little lost because it totally looked like the trail continues one way but you’re supposed to go up the rocks instead, but we got back on track easy enough. The snow is still 1-4 ft deep in the shade and the lake is still frozen. You could live here your entire life and still never see them all. Crystal Lake Trail #299 in the Gospel Hump Wilderness is 6.8 miles from the Wildhorse Campground Trailhead to its junction with Hump Trail #313 on the south end of Hump Lake. there were some cairns marking the The road to get there was... questionable and at times down right scary. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including smallmouth bass, perch and white perch here. Our mountain lakes … it’s just after the shady forest grove Extremely beautiful views on the way there but we didn't make it to the trail head. The road to the trailhead can be difficult for 2WD vehicles. - I saw a family with a 2 and 5 year old- We started but did not finish. Idaho… There are two hiking trails to the lake but this is the most common and easier of the two. Pros: -huckleberries everywhere Date of experience: September 2019. Interactive Map Change basemap, overlays and print Download KMZ For GPS, Phone or Google Earth. They didn’t have any trouble, and once we got to the lake, it was well worth it! The drive is very narrow, but doable. The lake was fantastic! Ten miles from the trailhead, the road narrows to one lane. There are camp sites at the lake you can backpack into. There is no trail in this section. Posted: August 5, 2014 Hidden away in the mountains just outside St. Maries, Idaho is Crystal Lake. Get Away From It All At This Crystal Clear Lake In Idaho There’s definitely no shortage of beautiful lakes to explore in the Gem State. I do recommend wearing boots with strong ankle support. When it says in the description the road condition may be difficult for 2wd, it should read more like “unless you have a couple feet of clearance under your car, don’t try to get there.” I drove almost 2 hours to get there and had to turn back 7 miles away because of parts of the road being washed out. The only other location on the planet which has a greater variety of gems is Africa. All in all, it’s a nice little trail if you want a place less travelled, but there are plenty of lakes closer by that are a little easier to get too, and are arguably more beautiful. These incredible scenic areas are all within a short driving distance of each other and all have amazing Hiking opportunities. Located in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, a land of dense forests, abundant wildlife and scenic mountains is Crystal Lake (5300 feet). If you want to overnight camp DO NOT set up at the first site you come to, either trek to the south side, or if that is taken, there is a secluded spot to the left of the main area. about my dog’s pads. This Exhilarating Hike Takes You To The Most Crystal Blue Lake In Idaho The beauty of Idaho lakes is one of our state’s best-kept secrets. - the trail was so easy to follow except There are two hiking trails to the lake but this is the most common and easier of the two. Out-and-back distance is 1.8 miles with 550 feet of gain. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, bird watching, and fishing and is best used from June until November. LONE LAKE and first snow. National Forest Trail Crystal Lake Trail (269) is a moderate to difficult hike through white pine forest to a mountain lake. You see, the hiking trail is between 3 and 4 miles to Moore’s lake and mostly downhill. Going towards the lake, This trail can be muddy in places as water flows over the trail in a few spots. You pass 7/8 shale rock slides and a creek. Before arriving to this first lake, there is a fork. I took my son who is 7 because it sounded like this trail was relatively easy and with little elevation gain, but this is not the case. There were about 6 or 7 of us fishing, plenty of space. The well-marked trail summits just as the lake comes into view. Wish we would have brought our fishing gear though! It was about a 45 minute - 1 hour drive in the mountains, and the road was pretty torn up at times. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815. I swam and the water was warm-especially near the cliffs. The lake is beautiful and very cold! There’s a campground, Lost Moose Campground, about 12 or 13 miles from the trailhead on the Cataldo side. To clarify Rochat Road and Reeds Gulch are the same road that starts at St. Maries, south of the trailhead. with a little creek. Kids around 5 or older should be able to hike the trail with little to no assistance. This trail was absolutely beautiful all the way up and plenty of shade and photo opportunities. When we came out about 2:30 there was at least 15 cars parked at the trailhead. Bring gun, bear spray, water, snacks. Still to much snow to get to the trail head so just went as far as we could and got some miles in. Small lake is fed by spring water. Les chiens sont les bienvenus sur ce sentier. Scuba diving at crystal lake in the Niagara springs state park, Idaho. The trail to Crystal Lake is a bit of a challenge, but worth it. This was great until we started hiking back to the pickup. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. Despite this it is still a fairly good entry level hike for an alpine lake. ... North Idaho Bitterroots. Dogs are also able to use this trail. There was still snow on the road about 1 Mile before the trailhead. The road from the freeway is dirt / gravel and the last 15 Miles gets pretty rough and rocky, low clearance vehicles will get beat to snot on this drive. Now that we know what to expect we are considering hiking in super early and securing the spot on the south side so we don’t have to deal with the traffic of the day hikers. Would highly recommend low clearance vehicles DO NOT attempt driving on this road. The trail around the lake is largely overgrown and has severe incline/decline sections and log crossings. Author Scott Marchant provides a wealth of information on 55 hikes in the area that covers everything from the kid-friendly 1.8 mile Meadow Marsh Loop in Ponderosa State Park … Continued It takes about 45 minutes to get to the trailhead from there, or a little over an hour to get up there from I-90. Clear waters, good fish, some little campsites which looked nice for those backpacking in. Crystal Lake Trail is a 2.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Saint Maries, Idaho that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The surrounding topography near the lake is fairly open and offers opportunities to explore off-trail. This trail can be muddy in places as water flows over the trail in a few spots. If you’re afraid of heights- the view might bother you. Share. A 4wd vehicle was required. some tough kiddos- but think it’s I would say it’s moderately challenging. The colors where only beginning to turn while we were there. Turn left and travel east for 14 miles. Idaho Trails Coeur d'Alene, ID: Beehive Lake This 6.6-mile technical out-and-back follows the steep runoff of Beehive Creek 2,000 feet to the rocky shores of two alpine lakes in the proposed Selkirk Mountains Wilderness. However has a large amount of large rocks (size of a water bottle and slightly larger) all over it. Maybe we'll try again in July 2020. 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