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Hike Trail

Piper Lake Trail #119

5.0 (1 Rating)
A beautiful late-season hike to one of the Mission Mountain Wilderness' finest backcountry lakes
6.2
mi
Distance
2,561
ft
Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
BirdingCommonly BackpackedFall ColorsFishingLakeRiver/CreekViewsWildflowersWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
6.19mi
Distance
2,561ft
Elevation Gain
201ft
Elevation Loss
35%
Max Grade
6,547ft
High Point
4,187ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
This trail steadily climbs from the trailhead through primarily dense pine forest while loosely following the course of of Piper Creek. The majority of elevation gain is in the last 1 mile prior to Piper Lake. Continue onto Cedar Lake Trail #738 at the end of this trail, drop down to Lower Ducharme Lake (split is not marked, but fairly obvious), or turn back to make it and out-and-back. There are wildflowers that abound in late summer closer to the lake. If planning on camping, keep in mind that there is only one campsite along the lakeshore with easy water access and a fire ring (but this site is stupendous). A self-sustaining population of Westslope Cutthroat Trout is present in the lake for interested anglers, but don't expect to land any huge fish!

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
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Contributors
McCaide Wooten