Distance: 4.4 miles
Elevation gain: 1270 feet
High Point: 4780 feet
Free, sign in at trailhead, no pass required "self issued wilderness permit"
We took the west trail in to Soda Peaks Lake, it is the shorter option, and you most likely won't have to worry about the bridge being out, or trail damage/blockage.
This hike is best in the summer and early fall, otherwise you will be in and around snow. Our vehicle was swarmed by a murder of horse flies as we pulled up to the trailhead, at first we thought we had driven over a hornets next, as they were literally attacking the car. Don't let them scare you away, just grab your gear and run 20 feet! They didn't follow us, they were just pissed at the car. I would empty your car of everything before you head up the trail, and leave the doors unlocked, when you park on those forest roads, you never know who will want to look through your car, and its better to avoid having broken glass. We saw a lot of scat on the trail, some cougar, some possibly cayote.
The hike is listed as "moderate" difficulty on the Portland Hiker's Field Guide website, but in my personal opinion, it's more like moderately difficult, especially with a 30-40 pound pack, you climb straight up and straight down to the gorgeous lake, with 360 views of the moraine and thick forest towering over you. The first campsite you will come to is the largest with the best access to the lake, nice fire pit as well, however there is a "no camping" sign posted specifically in this spot, so chose your own adventure on that. There are a number of good campsites at the lake, which lies nestled in a glacial cirque below the summit of an old volcano that erupted about 360,000 years ago.
Tim was a little bummed he did not have a fishing pole with him, and made use of my emergency fishing lure and an unfortunate beatle. He got several bites, but no dinner. The weather was perfect and sunny with spots of shade, followed by the largest wind/rain storm I have ever witnessed in a tent. Very very large branches were falling throughout the night all around our tent, so maybe it would be best to keep the tent in a clearing if you feel a storm coming in. All in all, a short distance challenging hike, with one or two breathtaking views, and a gorgeous, relaxing destination. (As well as a possible visit from Sasquatch, I've never smelled anything like that in my entire life, enough to make me closer to a believer) We will be back.
After the first climb, a viewpoint of Gifford Pinchot forests
Maggles the super dog
The best 2 dollar camp purchase ever, floatee and outdoor bed, weighs next to nothing
Dang trees get out the way!
Here fishy fishy
We decided to take our chances and camp at the first main camp site, since it has such a nice access to the lake, not sure why it has the "no camping" marker. We figured the chances of a ranger coming down and booting us out to a different spot were small, but all the other sites were empty as well, so that wouldn't have been a problem.
Yukon and Chloe at the crest
Trailhead, safe distance from the flies.
