East Boulder Lake Trail #5575

Overview

From the parking lot, head south from the trailhead. The East Boulder Lake Trail #5575 begins gently by following East Boulder Creek through a wide, shallow canyon. The trail remains on the left (east) side of the creek as it passes through intermittent meadows. You cross into the Trinity Alps Wilderness about 0.5 miles from the trailhead. At about 0.75 miles from the wilderness boundary, the trail begins to climb more abruptly as it passes close to a small waterfall just before reaching the outlet of East Boulder Lake. At 32 acres, this lake one of the largest lakes in the Trinity Alps. It is excellent for both fishing and swimming. The meadows along the way to the lake, and those around the lake, are filled with wildflowers in the summer months.<br><br>To continue on the #5575 to its junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) up along the crest of the Scott Mountains, continue south, along the west side of the lake. It then crosses some marshy meadows at the south end of the lake. When these meadows are in full bloom, the trail may be hard to find in all the vegetation. Continue southeast, up a knoll and into a grove of trees. Once through the trees, the route becomes vastly more obvious as it switchbacks up the basin headwall. After passing through a notch in the headwall, you arrive at the PCT and a view into the northern Trinity Alps Wilderness.

Trail Stats

Photos

One of the meadows along the East Boulder Lake Trail

One of the meadows along the East Boulder Lake Trail

Going around the west side of the lake

Going around the west side of the lake

Passing the waterfall just below the lake's outlet

Passing the waterfall just below the lake's outlet

Meadows on the south end of East Boulder Lake

Meadows on the south end of East Boulder Lake

Upper Boulder Lakes

Upper Boulder Lakes

Mount Shasta in view just before the junction with the PCT

Mount Shasta in view just before the junction with the PCT

East Boulder Lake

East Boulder Lake

Hiking back down after hiking up to the top of the pass to see the Trinity Alps, Mount Shasta, and the PCT trail view.

Hiking back down after hiking up to the top of the pass to see the Trinity Alps, Mount Shasta, and the PCT trail view.

Tags