Autumn Backpacking in Goat Rocks Wilderness

I started this hike out at the Berry Patch trailhead after camping out the night before at the abandoned campground at Chambers Lake, that was not far down the road from where the Berry Patch parking area was.

Following trail 96 you quickly pass by the trail from the Snowgrass Flats trailhead parking area, then the next trail marker I used along my route was the Bypass trail number 97 to the right, but keep following trail 96 a little while longer towards Snowgrass Flats. At about 1300 feet in elevation gain and about 4.2 miles you'll come to the intersection where the Snowgrass Flats trail 96 goes right, here you'll want to stay left to continue on the Lily Basin Trail number 86. At this point the hardest part of the hike is basically over and the area starts to really open up to some gorgeous views.Follow the Lily Basin trail 86 another 2.3 miles or so and about 440 feet elevation gain until you reach to spectacular Goat Lake.

Coming up to Goat Lake we saw plenty of hoary marmots running around the rocks and up on the hill above us was what else but, mountain goats! At one point I counted 26 mountain goats all in one view, more then I've ever seen before! Goat lake was pristine and perfectly blue green in color! Let me also mention this was the first time we came in contact with any other people out in the wilderness. Unfortunately the weather was cloudy and a tad bit rainy so I missed out on the breathtaking views I was dreaming about of the surrounding cascade mountains, but the area was amazing none the less.

By this point we had been hiking for several hours and setting up camp was on my mind. There are no fires permitted a quarter mile before or after goat lake so we continued on to where trail 86 intersects with the Goat Ridge trail number 95 and after hiking down just a bit from the highest elevation in this hike we found a nice flat spot that had a strange sand bar, a fire ring and enough small trees to protect us somewhat from the expected rain that followed.

The next morning woke up to the sound of rocks falling in the near by rock quarry, gusty winds, and a pretty wet camp. It even started snowing lightly, which was basically the sign for us to pack up and get going.

Getting back on trail 95 it was a somewhat quick and steep decent from the ridge back into the forest and all the way down to the area where we had parked the day before.

It ends up being about 12.8 miles all together so without the weight of on over night pack could definitely be done as a long day hike, although it was enjoyable as a one night trip. A perfect little two day get away!Because of the time of year we decided to hike this trail we saw very few hikers and campers out in the wilderness making it seem very secluded although I've read that this is a frequented hiking spot in summer months.

I look forward to exploring other areas of the Goat Rock Wilderness!