Momentous Adventures-The Northern Marbles Loop (part 2-Salmon Crest to Bear Lake)

Black Marble Mtn. and Rim from Salmon Crest Trail

This section of the Northern Marbles Loop takes you deeper into the core of this remote wilderness along the crest of the Salmon Mountains. The first section of the S. Crest Trail is in fairly good shape, blowdown wise until Spirit Lake and then it gets more brushy. Don’t be alarmed though, the tread is always easy enough to follow and the grade is almost flat with a few up and downs. The amazing views start shortly after Spirit (last easy to get water for a bit) as you gently countour higher to Pigeon Roost along a rocky ledge. Keep your eyes peeled for the intersection for Burney Lake, marked only with a bolt where the sign went “missing”. At this point, you will notice that you are starting to get closer to the head of the Cuddity Valley and the amazing looking basin of the same name perched high above the valley on a shelf over your left shoulder. If your day is coming to a close, I wholeheartedly recommend this basin with it’s open views and rocky outcrops, probably one of the best spots in the Marbles.

Near Pigeon Roost

The amazing Salmon Crest Trail

To continue with the loop, make the next right towards the Granite Lakes and head down into this slightly brushy valley trail.  Stay right past the intersection for Ukonom Lake and Tickner Hole, which was badly burned a few years ago and I am told the trail is under ash. When you get down to the valley, you will pass by an intersection for Green and Gold Granite Lakes, continue on to Blue if you are looking for a camp. Otherwise, stay left and head down Granite Creek to Hummingbird Camp and then left down to a sign marked Norcross. After crossing Elk Creek twice, you notice that you are getting into a burned forest, make a right and cross the Creek one more time to get to the dirt TH that is Norcross. On your right, you will see a sign and a unmarked trail leading northeast into another valley, this is your trail into the Bear Creek Valley. The next few miles are a constant climb higher into this burned valley, but after a couple the trees return and are quite pretty and big along this stretch. Stay straight past the unsigned intersection for the PCT if your camp is at Bear Lake, a nice little pond under the base of Red Rock Mtn. I stayed at this quiet and gorgeous lake for two nights soaking in the solitude and exploring higher in the Valley’s head. Other options for side trips include heading up the PCT to Turk Lake or climbing King’s Castle by following a way trail along the ridge to your right.

Burned forests give way to delightful meadows in upper Bear Valley

Big trees in Bear Valley

This picture does not do it justice, smoky Bear Lake

Red Rock Mtn. at last light