Washington Trails & Taps Weekly Recap: September 15–21, 2025

Autumn settles in: berries fading, foliage popping, and smoky horizons reminding us that fire season still lingers. Trails saw everything from alpine lake loops to long, talus-heavy traverses. Here’s the latest from boots on the ground.

🌿 WTA Trip Report Highlights

• Tank Lakes, Big Snow, Gold & Chetwoot — Sept. 21
  Multi-night Necklace Valley odyssey: talus fields, smoky summits, fish in alpine lakes, and mining relics near Williams. Wild, rugged, and a 9/10 difficulty according to “No Trip Report Tim.”
• Mount Roosevelt, Snow & Gem Lakes, Wright Mountain — Sept. 21
  Classic Snoqualmie Pass circuit. Gem Lake basin up to Roosevelt’s southern summit and Wright. Bugs lit up until Roosevelt’s summit, where they swarmed, but the 360° views made it worthwhile.
• Granite Creek to Granite Lakes — Sept. 21
  Rain-soaked hike with gleaming new trailhead bathrooms. Standing water past Thompson junction, but the lakes still shone through fog. Foliage just starting to turn.
• Sauk Lake — Sept. 20
  From Sauk Mountain’s open switchbacks to the narrow lake trail, fish were jumping, and hunters were out. Road rutted but Prius-passable; lake quiet and clear.
• Tinkham Peak — Sept. 20
  Forest Service road craters tested vehicles, but the loop rewarded with airy views and solitude rare for a fall Saturday.
• Camp Muir — Sept. 20
  Snowfield full of open crevasses; parties turned at 9,000 feet. Alternate scree route doable. Views stretched to Hood through smoky haze.
• Goat Ridge, Snowgrass, Old Snowy & Ives — Sept. 20
  South Cascades stunner. 15.4 miles, 4,600 feet gain, three volcano views, fall colors in the meadows, and an airy traverse to Ives with choss and arches. Bucket-list worthy.
• Mount Catherine — Sept. 15
  Snow-free, steady, bugs low, berries high. Road is rough but manageable. Great shoulder-season payoff near Snoqualmie Pass.
• Heybrook Ridge — Sept. 15
  Trail in good condition with views of Mount Index. Fall colors are coming on strong.
• Copper Ridge Loop — Sept. 15
  Baker backcountry classic. Trail brushy near Copper Lake, but big skies and solitude beyond.
• Circle Peak — Sept. 15
  Rough road, quiet trail, blueberries by the handful.
• Wildwood Park (Tacoma) — Sept. 15
  Short, sweet, and smoke-free urban escape. Trail tidy, zero bugs.

🛡️ Park & Ranger Updates

• Tunnel Creek Fire continues to close sections of Olympic NF. Expect dynamic trailhead and road restrictions.
• Mount Baker–Snoqualmie NF: crews monitoring and suppressing small lightning-start fires.

🌳 Burn Bans & Facilities

• Many state parks remain under propane-only fire restrictions.
• Some water fill stations and restrooms closed—check alerts before driving long distances.

🔥 Wildfire & Smoke Watch

• Bear Gulch Fire still influencing air across Puget Sound.
• Tunnel Creek Fire remains active with trail closures.

🚓 Trail & Road Notes

• Rough backroads reported at Circle Peak, Tinkham Peak, and Sauk Lake—high clearance recommended.
• Smoke exposure varies daily; sensitive hikers should watch AQI before committing.

🍻 Peaks & Pints Crowler Pairing of the Week

Great Notion Fresh Hop Dune
A hop-soaked mirage of citrus and pine, glowing with raw harvest energy. Juicy up front, resinous at the edges, and fleeting as a smoke-streaked September sunset.

Sources: WTA Trip Reports; USFS & NPS fire updates; Washington State Parks alerts; regional AQI and wildfire mapping.