Butte Lake to Snag Lake Trail (West)

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Features Commonly Backpacked · Geological Significance · Lake · Spring · Views · Wildlife

To hike Butte Lake to Snag Lake Trail (West), start at Butte Lake Campground, at its south trailhead that goes to Cinder Cone, a very popular hike. Follow this trail south through the fir forest for 0.4 miles to a trail junction pointing the way to East Propect Peak. Continue straight here to begin hiking Butte Lake to Snag Lake Trail (West).

Very soon, Butte Lake to Snag Lake Trail (West) leaves the forest for a long, barren, volcanic, dark gray, ashy stretch. Cinder Cone comes into view to the left/east. Over the next mile there are several trail junctions - Cinder Cone Trail N. Access (0.9 mile mark), Cinder Cone Trail (1.25 mile mark), Nobles Emigrant Trail (East) (1.45 mile mark), and Cinder Cone Trail S. Connector (1.65 mile mark). At all these trail junctions, follow the arrows to Snag Lake to stay on Butte Lake to Snag Lake Trail (West).

Leaving Cinder Cone behind, the Painted Dunes and then black, rocky Fantastic Lava Beds are next to the trail on the left/east. The trail soon comes to a very small, green, grassy, oasis-like area. After crossing it, the trail continues on over the volcanic ash next to the Fantastic Lava Beds.

At about the 2.2 mile mark the trail veers left/southeast to go through an almost canyon-like stretch for the next 1.1 miles. Here the rocky Fantastic Lava Beds rise straight up on the left, and tall trees are next to the trail on the right. Ahead one only sees forest and Fantastic Lava Beds closing in. At the 3.7 mile mark, the trail bends right, revealing Snag Lake ahead. Still hiking next to Fantastic Lava Beds, the north end of Snag Lake is reached at the 3.6 mile mark. There's a nice beach here. It's a good place to take a break, admire the lake and surrounding mountains, and snack.

From the north end of Snag Lake, the trail climbs above the lake and runs along its west side. This stretch from here to the trail end, is thinly treed with small bushes and grass. Thus, the views are great. There is an especially good view of nearby Mt. Hoffman, 7,833 ft., to the east on the other side of the lake.

Butte Lake to Snag Lake Trail (West) ends at the south end of Snag Lake at a trail junction with Rainbow Lake Trail and Grassy Creek to Snag Lake Trail.

Barren volcanic ash with an occasional lone fire tree and a small green grass covered spring fed "oasis" in the middle of it. Also stretches of fir forest and grassy areas thinly covered with firs. Deer. Ducks in Snag Lake.