Pansy Creek Trail #551

This trail is very easy to follow along a nice gentle grade. You'll enter the wilderness and a great area of old-growth almost right after leaving the trailhead. There are a few easy-to-cross streams in the first mile and a clear, marked intersection with Dickey Lake Trail #549 after about 0.8 miles. In 1.25 miles you'll come to a clear, but unmarked, intersection with a well-used trail that leads down to the lake. This trail is well worth taking as the lake is close by and beautiful. There are multiple campsites along the lake and many points to access it for swimming, fishing, and so on. After the lake the trail begins to climb at a steeper but still moderate grade, and crosses multiple talus fields. The rocks on these fields can be loose, but you'll get some nice views of Pansy Mountain and its ridge line. Finally the trail ends at Mother Lode Trail #558. You can continue on for many backpacking options or take Mother Lode Trail #558 to Bull of the Woods Trail #550, and return down Dickey Lake Trail #549 create an excellent ~7.5 mile, 2000ft of EG loop to the fire tower for awesome views.