Goat Lake to Snowgrass Flats Loop Hike

We drove to the Berry Patch Trailhead in the Goat Rocks Wilderness to do a loop hike up to Goat Lake and Snowgrass Flats, about 13 miles with 2,300' overall gain. Beautiful day, with lots of wildflowers in bloom and clear air after two days of rain. We only saw 5 other hikers on our way up to Goat Lake. Several people camping near the lake, and we would see many more hikers and backpackers as we hiked down to Snowgrass Flats and back to the trailhead. Everyone was happy with the views and the flowers.

After hiking up through the forest on the Goat Ridge Trail, we would hike through some open meadows,

where there were lots of orange paintbrush and buckwheat in bloom.

Back in the forest, we had some peekaboo views of Mt Rainier.

As we came out of the forest, we could see Mt St Helens to the southwest.

zoom of Mt St Helens

As we hiked along the side of Goat Ridge above Jordan Basin we saw lots of wildflowers in the meadows!

We took a lunch break before heading up the long switchback to the ridge. Lots of pasqueflower seedbeds.

Looking back down the way we had come up, nice tarn by the campsite in the middle of the photo.

View of Old Snowy Mountain from the ridge top

I love the Lily Basin Trail, from the ridge top to Goat Lake to Snowgrass Flats, great views and lots of wildflowers!

Mt Adams to the south beyond Goat Ridge

zoom of Mt Adams 

so happy!

Goat Lake was mostly frozen over.

The water in the outlet was deep enough, that we removed our boots and socks to cross barefoot, very cold.

Several streams along this next section of the Lily Basin Trail.

There were a few beargrass in bloom, mixed in with the Sitka valerian.

This meadow was covered in blooming heather with some bright red paintbrush scattered in.

After Snowgrass Flats, we had the long hike though the forest back to the trailhead. There were some woodland wildflowers in bloom, we were grateful for the shade. We found some ripe huckleberries to enjoy in the woods.

One of many butterflies seen among the flowers.

some of the wildflowers we saw today: