Winter is building its snowy blanket on the upper elevations of our mountain. Inch by inch, snow is covering the subalpine meadows, groves of subalpine fir, and the higher ridges and peaks.
But for those looking for a snow-free hike, now is the time to look at the still green, lower elevations of the park. One such place is the northwest corner in the Carbon River area. With a beautiful rainforest, this low corner of the park stays snow-free and green most of the year.
And what greener trail could there be to hike than the trail to Green Lake?
Starting out from the town of Buckley on State Route 165, you follow that road into the woods, over a tall, skinny bridge to where it splits at a Y. SR 165 goes to the right but for Green Lake trail, you stay left. In a little over 5 miles, the Carbon River Ranger Station is on your left. Stop there to pay your park entrance fee and get information from the park ranger. From there, you drive a short distance to where the road is closed at the park boundary. Parking is limited so please be considerate. Once parked, you can continue on the closed road on foot or bicycle.
Just over 3 miles up the Carbon River Road, you’ll see a sign for the Green Lake Trail. If using a bicycle, park your bike here. (Please be advised that travel on the Carbon River Road beyond this point may face challenges such as wash-outs and downed trees.) The trail leads up through the forest. About a mile in, you can detour slightly to see Ranger Falls. A beautiful cascade, some folks make this their destination and turn around after enjoying the falls. Continuing on through the gorgeous forest almost another mile, you’ll suddenly come to Green Lake. The trees go right up to, and sometimes into the lake. It can have an amazing emerald green hue. By now you’ve climbed enough elevation that there can sometimes be snow too. After enjoying Green Lake, it’s time to turn around and head back down the hill to your car.
Round-trip, getting to Green Lake and back is about 10 miles and 1300 feet of elevation gain. Some folks says the most beautiful thing about the trail is what you see along the way. What is the most beautiful thing that you’ve seen on Green Lake Trail? ~ams
For more information about the Carbon River area and the Green Lake trail, you can start with this webpage https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/carbon-river-and-mowich.htm and https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/green-lake.htm . For hours and contact information for the Carbon River Ranger Station https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/hours.htm . Check the weather before hiking https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/weather.htm.
These photos are from years past. NPS/Roundtree Photo. Brown and white sign says, “Green Lake Trailhead”. Smaller brown metal sign reads, “Green Lake Trail Ranger Falls 1.0 mile Green Lake 1.8 miles”. May, 2012. NPS/Roundtree Photo. White cascade of water falling down over rocks in 2 tiers. Wooden railing in foreground. May, 2012. NPS/Roundtree Photo. Hiker visible on trail leading up through a deep forest of tall trees and undergrowth. May, 2012. NPS/Roundtree Photo. Tree trunks both floating and submerged in green-colored water of Green Lake. May, 2012. NPS/Roundtree Photo. Large tree trunk that has fallen over the trail with many young saplings growing on the topside of the log, called a nurse log. May, 2012.
