Fly Lake, Rattlesnake Wilderness - Trail No. 336

Length: Approximately 4.5 miles one way

Elevation: 6,374 feet at Fly Lake

Usage: No stock, no bikes or motorized vehicles. Trail not completely cleared.

Services: Parking at trailhead one hour from Hwy 200.

Directions: Turn north off Highway 200 East onto Gold Creek Road near Potomac. Stay on main road heading toward the Gold Creek trailhead. Near mile marker 12, turn right heading five miles to the trailhead parking.

Total time to trailhead parking is about a one hour drive from Highway 200. About a two-hour and 25-minute hike in for a family of four including two adults, a 13 year old, a seven year old and a dog.

Overview: Leaving the trailhead, hike down to the first of three creek crossings. Then the trail flattens out and crosses Gold Creek again. Cross the creek one more time and then traverse the trail up a fairly steep ridge where it flattens out into lodgepole. A gradual turn brings the trail down to the oblong lake nestled under cliffs and timber where a trail climbs and twists around the lake.

There is a good campsite 2/3 of the way in at the junction. Stock is not allowed past the junction to Fly Lake.

The trail is not entirely cut out and there is significant new and old blowdown that can be climbed over and through with the trail beyond.

Wildlife seen include a bear, a variety of birds a Columbia Spotted frog and other small animals including squirrels and chipmunks. Not many berries were seen; Thimbleberry and Huckleberry bushes had previously frosted but Mountain Ash were plentiful in the bottoms.

At the lake, animals included Cutthroat Trout and diving ducks. The water was too cold to swim in but the fish were jumping at 11 a.m. and continued until late afternoon on Labor Day weekend. Flies and lures were effective for the cutthroat with size ranging from eight to more than 12 inches.

Associated Trails:

Boulder Lake Trail 333, Gold Creek Trailhead 518. Stock is not allowed at Boulder Lake.