Name: Mountain Lakes Trail #3721
Rating: 3.0

“A way to reach the Mountain Lakes Wilderness from the west.”

— Bruce Hope

Features Commonly Backpacked · Lake · Views

The usual federal wilderness area regulations and restrictions apply here. There may also be additional wilderness-specific restrictions in force; check with the district office if in doubt. Practice Leave No Trace (LNT) backcountry skills and ethics. Camp 100 feet from fragile areas; bury human waste at least 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites. This trail is usually closed by snow from November to June.

Description

The Mountain Lakes Trail (USFS #3721) suffers from going nowhere other than to the Mountain Lakes Loop Trail #3727 in the Mountain Lakes Wilderness. However, it is an uncrowded alternative to the Clover Creek Trail #3722. And, with a little off-trail travel, it provides access to very uncrowded Weston and Avalanche Lakes.

This trail does extend down to Lake of the Woods, but its usual (and less congested) trailhead is reached by turning off Dead Indian Memorial Road on to FR 3610 (not 3660) and going straight past where FR 3610 becomes FR 3662 until you reach the trailhead on the left. From there, the trail traverses east into an intermittent drainage, then starts climbing steadily, past Lake Waban - good stop on a hot day - to its end at the Mountain Lakes Loop Trail #3727 below Whiteface Peak. From here it's a short run to the views from atop Whiteface or you can descend the #3727 down into the lakes basin.