John Guilford's Hikes

Date: 2025-07-08

Location: Surprise Lake

People: (including myself): Happy Hikers

			  	Alt.	Miles
Trailhead:		9:00	2200	0
Cross Surprise Creek:   9:45	2750	1
Top of switchbacks:	11:30	4500	4.75
Surprise Lake: 		12:15	4500	5.5
Leave Lake:		1:00		
Trailhead:		3:30		11

This hike had considerably fewer mosquitoes than last week's hike had. I used some insect repellent but probably didn't need any. 

The trail pretty much consistently climbs the valley alongside Surprise Creek will near the top when it switchbacks up the end of the valley and the trail is steeper.  You then have about a half mile to the lake.  Coming up the valley was really pretty with a fair number of little waterfalls alongside the trail. 

About a mile up the trail, you cross Surprise Creek on a large log spanning the creek that has a wide flat cut into the top. 

There was some trail confusion near the lake.  It seems a couple huge trees had fallen across the trail blocking things.  So we had to do some route finding trying out some boot tracks left by others before us before we regained the trail further on.  Then it was a short bit to the lake were we found a point that jutted out into the lake with some really nice rocks to sit on for lunch.  There was a bit of a breeze which may have kept the bugs at bay. 

Surprise Lake

Lunch stop at Surprise Lake. 

Log crossing Surprise Creek. 

Monkshood flower (toxic). 

One of the little cascades on Surprise Creek.