Goat Rock Wilderness Backpack Day 3: Snowgrass Flats to Goat Lake and back to the trailhead

On our last day of our backpacking trip we left the PCT and hiked down to Snowgrass Flats and over to Goat Lake and Goat Ridge on the Lily Basin Trail; then down to Berry Patch Trailhead on the Goat Ridge Trail and the horse connector trail to the Snowgrass Trailhead. About 9.7 miles with 1,200 ft of overall gain

Beautiful wildflower meadows on the Snowgrass Trail, and looking back up towards Old Snowy Mountain.

The Lily Basin Trail from Snowgrass Flats to Goat Lake changes from forest lined meadows to open slopes. 

The wildflower filled meadows were gorgeous. 

The stream crossings were lined with wildflowers.

We were happy to take our time, we had all day to get back to the car.

Goat Lake is up in the cirque above on the right.

Pano as we approach Goat Lake in the bottom of the cirque:

Pano near the shore of Goat Lake: Hawkeye Point reflecting in the lake.

After taking a long lunch break at the lake and soaking our feet in the frigid water, we headed back along the Lily Basin Trail.

wildflowers in bloom near the lake shore

As we hiked up from the shore of Goat Lake, we were back in the wildflowers.

View looking back down on Goat Lake, much more ice on the lake than what it seemed sitting on the shore.

I love the section of the Lily Basin Trail between Goat Lake and Goat Ridge, wildflowers everywhere you look.

 

Up on Goat Ridge looking across to Old Snowy Mountain where we hiked yesterday.

From Goat Ridge we hiked down the Goat Ridge Trail.

We had wildflowers in bloom as we headed back down to the forest.

There were a few wildflower meadows in the forest as well.

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: