[PGilson]

The plan was for a 1 night backpack to the Thunder Mtn area. We parked at the Tunnel Creek trail head and hiked up to the junction with the PCT. And got a look at Hope Lake.

Trail Junction

Hope Lk from PCT

The bugs were minimal for the entire trip and the weather was great! Looking down the valley from the PCT, I zoomed in for this look at Grass Lk.

Grass Lk from PCT

Trap Lake is easy to spot from the PCT.

Trap Lk from the PCT

Here is one more look at it from the side trail that heads to the ridge from the pass.

view down on Trap Lk

The trail from the pass is fairly straight forward to follow winding up the ridge through trees at first and then it breaks out above treeline and becomes a little more challenging to follow.

trail on Thunder ridge

cairns mark the way

getting up higher

We made camp near a snow melt creek not far from the upper Thunder Mtn Lake.

camp on Thunder ridge

camp on Thunder ridge

The upper ridge and upper Thunder Mtn Lk are very scenic.

upper Thunder Mtn Lk

Laura

upper Thunder Mtn Lk

Paul

Paul

trail on Thunder ridge

Thunder ridge spires

We did a little roaming on the ridge to various overlooks. Here are 2 lakes below the ridge and to the North that I couldn't find names for.

2 lakes below Thunder ridge. Names?

We could also look down at Surprise Lk.

Surprise Lk

And we could see across to Fisher Lk.

Fisher Lk

Here is a look at the Lower Thunder Mtn Lake.

lower Thunder Mtn Lk

Plenty of these around.

marmot

And good views of Daniel.

Tarn and Mt Daniel in background

A good look at Square Lake and Lake Wolverine.

Lk Wolverine and Square Lk

[contour5]

Nice trip report on one of my favorite places. I really like the rock up there. I'm probably somewhere in your Fisher Lake shot, flailing in the bushes, trying to get back from Ptarmigan. The tarns above Murphy Lakes are worth a visit from this section of the PCT... I've never seen names for those 2 tarns below the trail. Some years they just about dry out, but they're holding out pretty well this year.

[tigermn]

[iron]

cool. grassy lake is aptly named.

[Foist]

Nice report. Love that area. I recall the Thunder Mtn Lakes themselves triggering a squabble about "sekrit" lakes once. Those lakes in that photo must be the ones here. Not named on the USGS map. Looks like they would be annoying and not-worth-it to get to.

[Gil]

Wow, fabulous weather in a fabulous place! And you are so lucky on the bugs! The only time I've been there, I was eaten alive.

[Get Out and Go]

Great Destination. In 2005, we went up a gully on the far side of Trap Lake to the tarn and lakelet. Total solitude and nice spot for lunch, but not as scenic as the lakes above.

"No Name" Lake

[puzzlr]

I have such good memories of trips to that area.

[furthur]

Time to explore up there! About how many miles to Upper Thunder Lake from the Tunnel Creek TH? And, is there any benefit to starting at the Surprise Lake TH and taking the Trap Pass junction up?

[forest gnome]

hey it's tooo bad oregon is so far away... oh and thanks for the report, I was just there also, now I get to pick up some trash from the 8,500+ people you just told about this sensitive area.... edit...oh I'll pm that....

[Yana]

Hey forest gnome - perhaps you should check out the nwhikers trip report policy before posting.

[yukon222]

Very nice pics! I haven't been here yet, but it has been on my list for awhile. Thanks for the reminder to visit the area!!

[MLHSN]

Thanks for the report! I love that area.

[PGilson]

I thought about that, it looks to be about the same from either direction.

[contour5]

Tunnel Creek is a nice entry- it's a little higher, and the climb is short, followed by a nice open trail out to Trap. I've always thought Surprise makes a better exit trail than an entrance.