Mosquito Flats to the Boundary Trail

Because I have wanted to hike in this area of the Boundary Trail for years now. The whole 53 miles of the Boundary Trail cover a lot of interesting country. Now, I like to cherry pick trails with a light daypack, so I picked what looked to be the most interesting section between Badger Peak and Craggy Peak, the gems of the Boundary. A long drive up the Lewis River highway from I-5 at Woodland and around the east side of Mt St Helens started things off (doesn’t Forest Highway 25 seem to be getting worse every year?). I was on the trail a little after 9am.

I had read about motorcycles on this section of the Boundary Trail. Now, after only a mile up from Mosquito Meadows got to experience some of those ruts and ‘improvements’ along the way.

Boundary Trail – launch pad to true gems

Actually, I did not find the ruts to be so bad on most of the Boundary Trail. But the side trails were another matter, especially the Badger Ridge Trail #257 allowing bikes all the way up to the old lookout site on the peak. Dismount and walk the half mile like the rest of us instead of gouging – 8-minute mark!

A couple more miles is the first of the Boundary gems, Badger Lake, a little pool of water at the base of Badger Peak. The Badger Peak Trail branches off up slope to the north a few yards to the west. More on that on the way back. The area around the lake gets a lot of attention from the motorcyclists who have ripped up quite a bit of landscape along the trail. Signs are posted warning them of the potential consequences.

Magic of Kirk Rock – heart of the Boundary Gems

Pushing onwards, the Boundary stays up on the ridge moving over to the next big peak, another true Boundary gem, Kirk Rock. The official name was bestowed in the 1960’s, naming it after a local ranger of repute. There is a little meadow on the northeastern side of the Rock which was magic as I walked through it. After four plus miles by now, I have seen no one – until now. Up on the cliffs about a third of the way are three goats looking down at me.

A 360 view from the meadow on the side of the Rock.

Lunch on the Shark Fin

Leaving the magic behind, ascend a couple switchbacks – switchbacks a more bit difficult because bikers have carved them out on a bit larger scale. Finally, at the base of Shark Rock you have a wonderful view to the east of the Dark Divide and Mt Adams.

There is a nice flat area atop some cliffs. Here you can take lunch and peer up at Shark Rock and Craggy Peak beyond.

Craggy Peak is next lying in the heart of the Boundary gems. I walked to the north base, but decided time would not allow a summit (you have to go around to the south side and up) as well as go up Badger Peak on the way back, so time to return.

Return through the Boundary Gems

The trail around the base of Shark Rock gets beaten up by the bikers. You can see that here – especially around 4-5 minute mark and 26 minute mark where the group rides the switchbacks at Shark Rock.

Back all the way to the Badger Peak Trail. Maps show a ‘trail’ going straight up from the lake, but there was not much evidence to be seen. Retreat a few yards west of the lake to the gouged option. Here, because of the steepness and dampness of terrain, motorcycles really dig the ground up. As walking is so much more tedious, trekking poles definitely help.

Badger Peak

The last half mile is the worst because motorcycles go all the way to the top – watch the minute mark. However, the view from the top of Badger Peak is great with the other Boundary gems close at hand.

St Helens is to the west with the peaks of the Mt Margaret Backcountry arrayed to the north. Mt Margaret is where the Boundary Trail leads you next to the west. Mt Hood is off to the south, with Rainier and the Goat Rocks to the north and northeast.

The way out seems longer than the way in, but that seems to be the case a lot of the time. I met only one fellow with his dog at Badger Lake when I passed. That was it for the whole day. So, come to the Boundary mid-week is the moral of that story.

Homeward bound

The return drive was as long as the drive out. Because it was 5 pm, I drove back via the Wind River, Carson and the Bridge of the Gods so to avoid traffic on the Lewis River Road. The time is about equal for those of us living on the east side of Portland, plus it seems prettier