Goat Rocks from the East side - 2024
I have wanted to visit Goat Rocks Wilderness from the east side for many years, it's been on my list. I finally made it for this two night trip at the beginning of September, 2024. The trail is initially flat for miles and the final section up into the alpine zone is very steep and not really a maintained trail, so I basecamped two nights below at Surprise Lake and dayhiked into the alpine to figure it all out. Now that I know, I will probably be back next year.
The first 1.7 miles pass through privately owned land, including the large Conrad Meadows.
Then you get to the actual trailhead.
Maybe a half mile later is the decrepit bridge over Conrad Creek.
Although I haven't gained any altitude at all yet, the meadows turn green.
Another decrepit but usable bridge over the Tieton River, just a creek this close to it's headwaters.
Then the trail forks into a lollypop loop. I took the left route, like most people do. The unsigned post was down when I hiked up, but somebody stood it up when I headed down, but not likely for long.
After 4+ miles of flat, then you have 2.3 miles of moderate uphill to get to Surprise Lake, mostly in the forest, but there was this view.
Nice to get to Surprise Lake on this warm day.
And at dusk.
The next morning I continued on the same trail for 1.2 miles to this unsigned turnoff.
What followed was an extremely steep and sometimes rocky uphill, but only for a short distance. Then the trail contoured under rock cliffs and passed this nice meadow. There was a campsite on a knoll just before and a few tiny streams were still running.
Then another even steeper rocky uphill. It is much stepper than it looks in the photo, but only gains a couple hundred feet in altitude.
The final climb to the pass.
Over the pass this unofficial trail is still quite good and drops a bit to Conrad Creek.
But if you look left at that very spot, there is the trail to Warm Lake. A good trail lasted a quarter mile, then became intermittant. There were a few rock cairns and you have to look for the trail a few times.
But then you really start to get the grand alpine views. At one point the trail heads left into some impassable trees, but you can see an obvious trail down below to drop down to.
A closeup of one mountain.
I think this might be my choice campsite next year. From this point to Warm Lake, probably less than a half mile away, the trail is well defined and easy to follow.
Warm Lake situated on top of a ridge. The other ridge behind is the Klickton Divide, with Yakama lands beyond and the headwaters of the Klickitat River.
Another view from Warm Lake. There are small campsites in the trees above the lake.
I returned back to the previous trail and turned left for the 0.3 mile walk to Conrad Creek.
I contined on this trail for about 3/4 of a mile past the creek to this point. It didn't look like anything interesting would show up soon, so this was my farthest point on this trip. I returned to Conrad Creek for a lunch break.
Back down at Surprise Lake, wildfire haze had moved in.
The Conrad Meadows area ranch is privately owned and we owe some thanks to the owners for allowing this access trail through their meadows. Earlier in the summer I read you will find grazing cows.
