Frog Mountain
5 days ago
Fall color is arriving and peaking
12 this month · 93 reports
Lake Dorothy - Lake Bear - Lake Deer
Central Cascades
updated 6 days ago
The road to Lake Dorothy has an impassable bridge and significant washouts, requiring a 4-mile road walk or biking to the trailhead as of September 19. However, the trail itself is generally in good condition, with minor obstacles that pose few problems and most large blowdowns cleared. Blueberries were still ripe as of July 23, and fall colors were noted by September 19. Bugs were not a significant issue for most visitors, with September 1 and August 28 reporting no bugs, though they were an annoyance on July 23. Lake Dorothy, Bear Lake, and Deer Lake can be marshy, and the trail between Dorothy and Bear Lake is described as rocky and somewhat brushy in places.
Generated from 24 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Lake Dorothy - Lake Bear - Lake Deer
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 6 days ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
The road to Lake Dorothy has an impassable bridge and significant washouts, requiring a 4-mile road walk or biking to reach the actual trailhead as of September 19. There was active road work noted in late September.
The trail between Dorothy and Bear Lake is described as rocky and somewhat brushy in places. While most large blowdowns have been cleared, minor obstacles are still present and can slow travel.
Blueberries were still hanging on and ripe as of July 23, and fall colors were observed by September 19.
Bug reports vary, with September 1 and August 28 noting no bugs, while July 23 described them as an annoyance. Nobody has reported on bugs more recently than September 1.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
There has been active road work on Miller River road for the past month or so, including this week (9/22/2026). It's in great shape until the still-closed bridge. The bridge itself has also been partl...
Recent3 weeks ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Beautiful lake! Shame about the wash out. The road hike is not ideal, completely different hike once it starts for real.We started around 8:30, no one else parked and there were three cars when I retu...
Recent4 weeks ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
I've never hiked this trail before. I decided to give it a try after reading a trip report from earlier in the spring from a group that used their bikes to ride the 4 miles of road that are closed to ...
Older2 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
We hiked in on a Thursday morning and had the lake to ourselves. Didn’t see anyone until Friday evening. I think the extra 4 miles up to the original trailhead is a deterrent for many folks.Lots of ri...
Older3 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
The bridge is out about four miles from the trailhead. It's not a big deal as it's an easy road to walk, however, it is a mild uphill grade the whole way so be sure you take the road elevation gain i...
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
The Alpine Washington Lake Baggers did a three-day trip to Lake Dorothy with pack rafts and had a grand time. Perfect weather and solitude, the only downside was the bugs.We saw only five people on ou...
Older3 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Got to the "new" Lake Dorothy trailhead at around 2:30 and there was only one other car. Made it to the "old" trailhead around 4pm. Very easy walk on gravel, mild incline. There is one spot around ...
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Finally got to do this thru-hike from Dorothy out to Middle Fork, thanks for an obliging family member willing to hike the opposite direction and exchange keys!Our route was south, the road to the 'ne...
Older4 months ago
Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area
Beautiful lakes on a long but clearly marked trail (started/ended on the Middle Fork side at Snoqualmie Lake Trailhead). Blowdowns on the trail but fully passable with some ducking. There’s a couple s...
Older4 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
This was only a trip to Lake Dorothy: see end of report for more details.What a journey! As the trail alert says, the road is permanently washed out 4 miles from the trailhead in the form of a heavily...