Bear Lakes Trail

Overview

Bear Lakes Trail starts from Echo Lake/Twin Lakes Trail about 1.3 miles from the Summit Lake Trailhead parking area. This trail junction is well marked.<br><br>Leaving Echo Lake/Twin Lakes Trail behind, Bear Lakes Trail heads off through stands of firs on the green low growing manzanita ground cover. Relatively flat at first, the trail passes a small unnamed jewel-like lake set in a rocky bowl among the firs, at about the 1.1 mile mark.<br><br>Bear Lakes Trail then descends, as it enters a burn zone. In 2012, the Reading Wildfire swept through here from the north. As of 2018, the forest has not yet recovered from this fire, although it is trying to. Green grasses and other low vegetation have made a come back in many places. However, the firs are only starting to make a comeback, very small still, a few feet high, where they can be found, along with a few mature firs that somehow escaped the flames. On the positive side of this, without trees to block views, snowy Mt. Shasta can be seen far in the distance to the northwest. And there are many lakes along this trail to enhance the beauty.<br><br>Little Bear Lake is passed at the 2.3 mile mark. Continuing to descend through the burn area, at the 2.6 mile mark Big Bear Lake is reached. After Big Bear Lake, the trail levels off for the rest of its way. At the 3.3 mile mark is a trail junction with Cluster Lakes Trail to the left (north). Shortly after this trail junction, continuing through the burn area, is Silver Lake at the 3.5 mile mark. From here, the trail follows the Silver Lake shoreline for 0.3 miles before moving on to Feather Lake at the 4.1 mile mark and following its shoreline for 0.2 miles. Almost immediately after leaving Feather Lake is another unnamed small lake, and then another.<br><br>Bear Lakes Trail ends after 5.4 miles, at the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Just before reaching the PCT, Bear Lakes Trail leaves the burn zone and is once again in healthy, vibrant green fir forest.

Trail Stats

Photos

Little Bear Lake along Bear Lakes Trail.

Little Bear Lake along Bear Lakes Trail.

Feather Lake is a jewel in the fire blackened forest. The Reading Wildfire swept through here in 2012.

Feather Lake is a jewel in the fire blackened forest. The Reading Wildfire swept through here in 2012.

Big Bear Lake with green grass and some firs returning life to this fire ravaged landscape. The Reading Wildfire swept through here in 2012.

Big Bear Lake with green grass and some firs returning life to this fire ravaged landscape. The Reading Wildfire swept through here in 2012.

Mount Shasta can be seen in the far distance (center) to the northwest, through the trees - some burnt and some green with life, as the land along Bear Lakes Trail, recovers from the 2012 Reading Wildfire

Mount Shasta can be seen in the far distance (center) to the northwest, through the trees - some burnt and some green with life, as the land along Bear Lakes Trail, recovers from the 2012 Reading Wildfire

The blue-green waters of a small unnamed lake along Bear Lakes Trail.

The blue-green waters of a small unnamed lake along Bear Lakes Trail.

Big Bear Lake is seen through the silver trunks of trees burnt in the 2012 Reading Wildfire.

Big Bear Lake is seen through the silver trunks of trees burnt in the 2012 Reading Wildfire.

Silver Lake is surrounded by the green grasses of spring and the bare silver trunks of trees burnt in 2012 Reading Wildfire.

Silver Lake is surrounded by the green grasses of spring and the bare silver trunks of trees burnt in 2012 Reading Wildfire.

Manzanita ground cover is dotted with firs in the backcountry along Bear Lakes Trail near the Echo Lake/Twin Lakes Trail junction.

Manzanita ground cover is dotted with firs in the backcountry along Bear Lakes Trail near the Echo Lake/Twin Lakes Trail junction.

Little Bear Lake in a low water year

Little Bear Lake in a low water year

Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake

Silver Lake with Mount Lassen behind fire-ravaged forest

Silver Lake with Mount Lassen behind fire-ravaged forest

Feather Lake

Feather Lake

Mount Lassen from the trail junction

Mount Lassen from the trail junction

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