Frog Mountain
5 days ago
Fall color is arriving and peaking
12 this month · 93 reports
Thunder Mountain Lakes
Central Cascades
updated 2 days ago
The fall colors are beginning to appear around Thunder Mountain Lakes, with many reports highlighting their beauty as of September 19 and September 18. Bug activity has decreased, with several recent reports noting no bugs or only minor annoyances, September 20, September 19, September 18, and September 17. The road to the Tunnel Creek Trailhead is generally described as rough but passable for most vehicles, though some recommend higher clearance, September 20, September 19, September 18, and September 17. The trail itself is in good condition, though some sections can be steep and involve boulder hopping, September 19, September 18. Snow is no longer a significant issue for the lakes themselves. Parking at the Tunnel Creek Trailhead is limited.
Generated from 28 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Thunder Mountain Lakes
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 2 days ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
The road to the Tunnel Creek Trailhead is generally described as rough but passable for most vehicles. While some reports suggest it's doable in any car, others recommend a higher clearance vehicle due to deep ruts and rough patches, September 10.
The trail can be steep and involves sections of boulder hopping, which may require some hands-on navigation, September 18. While most blowdowns have been cleared, some older reports mentioned downed trees requiring maneuvering.
Parking at the Tunnel Creek Trailhead is limited, with reports indicating it can accommodate around 5-15 cars, and overflow parking may be available along the road, September 19.
Recent reports indicate that bugs are not a significant issue, with several mentioning no bugs, September 20, September 19, September 18. Some earlier reports noted bugs as an annoyance or terrible, July 31, July 13, July 7, July 2.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Fresh2 days ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
The road leading to the trailhead is bad. A lot of trip reports state that a low clearance vehicle will struggle. Not true. The road in is doable in any car. We drove a Kia Niro without any issues. W...
Fresh5 days ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
I went out to Nimbus Mountain today. The road in is doable in any car, I made it in my low-clearance sedan without issue as did multiple other people at the trailhead. You can safely ignore reports cl...
Fresh6 days ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
We camped two nights at Trap Lake and did a day trip to Thunder Mountain lake and Surprise Mountain.Arrived at Tunnel Creek TH about 4pm on a Friday. Lots of cars but we easily found a spot. Passed so...
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Upon reading other reviews, I also decided to start my trip to thunder mountain lakes via Surprise Creek TH. I Arrived at 3pm on Friday Sept 18. Parking was not too crowded, maybe 10-12 cars already p...
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
3 day/ 2 night backpacking trip to Thunder Mountain Lakes with a summit of Nimbus Mountain.Total Gaia stats were 16 miles and 4500' vert of combined uphill.Started at the Tunnel Creek Trailhead. The r...
Recent2 weeks ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Route : Surprise Lake TH --> Surprise Lake --> Glacier Lake --> short backtrack to PCT North Junction --> ascend Trap Pass --> Thunder Mountain Lake --> back to Trap Pass --> descend at junction back ...
Older1 month ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Route- Surprise Lake -> Trap pass -> Thunder mountain Lakes -> NimbusStarted from Surprise Creek trail. Forest road is short and suitable for all vehicles. I myself drove a regular sedan and it was ok...
Older1 month ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Hikers planning to approach Thunder Mountain Lakes from Tunnel Creek Trailhead are advised to use high-clearance vehicles to access the trail, as the road up Tunnel Creek is in rough shape, having sus...
Older1 month ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Went up to Thunder Mountain Lakes via the Tunnel Creek trailhead. The road in was rough and has one particularly rough spot. I scraped the bottom of my Civic and almost got stuck but with a bit of det...
Older1 month ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
The road to the trailhead had some fairly large ruts, I would be hesitant to bring a lower clearance car to the the trailhead, my Subaru Forester did great. No problem finding parking on Friday at 1pm...