Babyfoot Lake

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

On our way to stay at Bolan Mountain lookout for a long 4th of July weekend we made a detour up Road 4201 to the Babyfoot Lake Trailhead.

Babyfoot Lake Hike

The views from the trailhead were pretty great. We could see north to Pearsoll Peak, with its old fire lookout:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Looking west into the Kalmiopsis Wilderness from the trailhead:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

We set off down the trail, passing through an area that was logged after the 2002 Biscuit Fire, even though it lies within the protected Babyfoot Lake Botanical Area. The Forest Service had mis-marked the boundary of a salvage operation known as the Fiddler Timber Sale and mistakenly included trees that were inside the botanical area, which the logger subsequently cut down:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Looking back at the trailhead:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

We left the clearcut behind and entered a forest of snags still standing 18 years after the fire:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

After 0.2 miles we reached a junction where we went right, and continued descending to the lake:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

This rocky area to the right of the trail had good views:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

We saw signs of recent trail work:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Then we reached Babyfoot Lake, where some trees survived the fire:

Babyfoot Lake

Babyfoot Lake

Babyfoot Lake

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake

Azaleas were blooming:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

We rested in the shade of the unburned trees for awhile, enjoying the peaceful lake. Then we hiking back out:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

At the junction we took the other fork and headed steeply uphill to the rim:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

We reached a rocky outcropping with a good view, which we made our turnaround point:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Looking north to Pearsoll Peak:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Looking back towards the trailhead:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

Looking south:

Babyfoot Lake Hike

We still had a 90 minute drive to the lookout, so we didn’t linger long and headed back to the car. We only saw two other hikes here on this Wednesday.

Gaia stats: 4 miles, 650′ elevation gain