backpack: Goat Rocks – Snowgrass Flat & Goat Lake

With high temps, biting black flies, and wildfire smoke, we cut this trip short after two nights but still had a great time in this scenic location.

ITINERARY

  • day 1 – Snowgrass trailhead to campsite: 5.3 miles, 1,580 ft. gain, 130 ft. loss
  • day 2 – day hike to Goat Lake: 4.2 miles roundtrip, 740 ft. gain/loss
  • day 3 – hike out to Snowgrass trailhead: 5.3 miles, 130 ft. gain, 1,580 ft. loss

TRIP PLANNING

Day 1 – hike in to campsite

This was one of the hottest hikes in I’ve ever done… it was 85 degrees when we started at the trailhead. It was also the worst biting black flies I’ve ever experienced on a backpacking trip, biting me at least 20 times on my legs while hiking in.

Goat Rocks backpacking tripGoat Rocks backpacking trip

When we reached the junction with the Lily Basin trail, we started looking for a campsite.

Goat Rocks backpacking tripGoat Rocks backpacking trip

We continued for about half a mile and found an excellent site with plenty of space to spread out, plus it had great views in three directions.

Goat Rocks backpacking trip

At night, we watched the colors change on Goat Rocks at sunset. I setup my camera on a rock with a mini tripod so I could capture the night sky.

Goat Rocks backpacking trip Goat Rocks backpacking trip

Day 2 – hike to Goat Lake

We woke up with the smell of smoke in the air and there was a thick haze obliterating views. We decided to do a short hike to Goat Lake, taking our time to make the most of the day.

Goat Rocks backpacking trip Goat Rocks backpacking trip Goat Rocks backpacking trip

We saw more people at Goat Lake than we did anywhere else on this trip. I didn’t get any good photos of the lake since it was so hazy. The wildflowers, however, stole the day at the creek outlet. There were so many… mainly pink and yellow monkey flowers mixed with lupines and red paintbrush.

Goat Rocks backpacking trip Goat Rocks backpacking trip

Goat Rocks backpacking trip Goat Rocks backpacking trip

Back at camp, the smoke was getting thicker so we decided to pack up in the morning and cut our trip short by two nights.

Goat Rocks backpacking trip Goat Rocks backpacking trip Goat Rocks backpacking trip

Day 3 – hike out to trailhead

I didn’t take pics on the hike out… the smoke was thick and we were anxious to get back to our cars. I was hoping to make it to Cispus Basin on this trip, so I’ll have to go back another time and hopefully will finally get to make it there.