Heart of the Trinities Loop:Caribou to Ward Lake Basin

In the morning, take the way trail on the east side of the lake as it traverses over Lower Caribou to the shores of Snowslide and the intersection with the old and new Caribou Lakes trail. Take the new trail as it switchbacks up through a burned swatch of forest and travels left along the flanks of Caribou Mountain. The views of the basin and Thompson Peak are really a sight as the green Trinities roll to the west. The trail now gracefully winds down to a intersection with the Tri-Forest trail on your right, your route to Ward Lake. This trail appears to be less traveled as it follows the S. Fork Salmon River slowly up as you now cross it. Just after you cross Kidd Creek you will see a trail split to Ward Lake, take that split as the trail leaves the valley and starts its steady accent to the upper Kidd Basin. When the trail opens up to views Black Mountain and lovely meadows the trail becomes slightly harder to fallow, swallowed up by the swampy grasses. Don’t get flustered though, the trail climbs straight up to the last flat meadow with a marshy tarn and the shoulder of Black Mountain that is on your right. After the sturdy climb find camp along welcoming Ward Lake, hidden from sight in the corner of a ridge and enjoy a lovely dinner as the sun sets in the Kidd Valley below.

Snowslide Lake in the morning light

Bright grasses brighten the trail

Thompson Peak

Mt. Shasta!

Rock slabs and flowers

Upper Kidd Creek Valley

The Green Trinities roll to the sea