Spencer Basin - Highland Mary Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers

This loop starts at Cunningham Gulch but largely traverses terrain not frequently used (other than the end at Highland Mary).

It's an alpine loop (you won't be in the trees at all) with big views.

This can be started at the Highland Mary Lakes Trail #606 TH, but I started at the end of the Cunningham Gulch road. If you follow the road all the way to the end (after a good climb) it will end at a TH for Spencer Basin.

The trail is easy to follow through much of the basin but gets more challenging as it climbs over a pass. After going over a couple of ridge lines, you'll get some big views of spectacular mountains. You'll also have the place to yourself. I did this Fourth of July weekend and saw nobody until I started to get close to the lakes. I did, however, see about 20 mountain goats.

Follow the trail (make sure to bring the TRP map and the Strava heatmap helped me navigate this) until it hits Whitehead Trail #674. This will take you over another ridge and drop you toward some lakes. This is where I had some significant trouble navigating as the willows really blocked the infrequently used trail. However, once you get to the far side of the bigger lake, the trail becomes easy to follow for the rest of the way, as this is as far as most people make it.

You'll go over one more ridge to drop toward the Highland Mary Lakes. This is where you are likely to start running into people.

Follow the trail as it drops down toward the TH.

So many wildflowers!!! And those mountain goats, and some squawking marmots.