Sky Lakes via Cold Springs 8-8-25

Photos by Kay

Ashland Hiking Home

A happy dozen hikers set out for the Sky Lakes hike via the Cold Springs TH. The 11-mile drive on Road 3651 off Highway 140 to the TH was as dusty as always, but thankfully free of potholes. The temperature at the trailhead was 55F. 

The hike begins in the burn area (2017 forest fire) for the first miles. The undergrowth has become fuller and higher since our time there last year, covered in many species of bright green bushes, tiny trees, and plenty of lavender-colored fireweed.  Other wildflowers included pearly everlasting, prince’s pine, and the bright-red berries of the red elderberry.            

At 0.6 miles, we took the left fork onto Cold Springs trail (only 2 downed trees to navigate), past the turnoff to Deer Lake and the PCT, on to the turnoff toward Isherwood Lake. We stopped for lunch at Lake Notasha for a long break to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, some feet soaking, and as always enjoyable conversations. There were some huckleberries, but few were ripe.

A VERY special episode must be reported here: Debra found a buried pair of glasses nestled down by a rock by the water and had to break a tie to get them out. Upon asking what she should do with them so an owner might spot them, Mabrie exclaimed “OMG, those are mine. I lost them last year when we were here.” She had joined Nancy to swim in the lake, so left her glasses behind and then forgot them. The fragile wire rim glasses survived the winter at the shoreline of Notasha Lake.

Rather than heading up to Isherwood Lake as in past years, we decided to return 0.3 miles on the Cold Springs trail to the isthmus between the Heavenly Twin Lakes. The smaller twin lake on the south side of the trail presented on the edge of the burn area, so the view southward showed mountains covered with burned evergreens. The larger twin lake on the north side was set amidst healthy green evergreens and underbrush. We enjoyed the beautiful view across this large lake toward mountain ranges with Luther Mountain and the most distant Devil’s Peak on the horizon. Some of us spotted an Eagle circling above the lake.

On our return, our kind hike leader Kay gave us three welcome stops at those places where we could perch on accessible logs for water and rest. Trees are a highlight of this trail and Bonnie J. identified red and silver fir, mountain hemlock, lodgepole and western white pine, and aspen.  The western white pines had a thick cover of pinecones on their tips.

Our hike amounted to 6.5 miles RT with approximately 400’ elevation gain. There were few mosquitos, and the temperature and sun were absolutely perfect.

Elisabeth Zinser and Kay Simmons