Below Boulder: Wright Lakes

Klamath National Forest

DAY 1  |  DAY 2

Green and blue lines for day 2. Click for interactive map

As nice as it would have been to bag Boulder Peak again, it turns out I tired myself out the prior day, and the timing expected for finishing the hike would be cutting it close. I didn't want to miss at least climbing up to the second lake, and ended up waiting to the last minute to start up the trail for it. By the time I did get up, it was quite a lovely day.

Not quite so late in the morning yet.

Lower Wright Lake in the light.

With a minimum of gear, I headed for Upper Wright Lake. The old trail into the camp area is a failed thing with trees over it right at the top and a gully of erosion at the bottom. It's the trees that make getting on the main trail a bit of a fight. Climbing was easier once there. The flowers were at a different stage than those in the valley to Deep Lake and I was glad to have done the spur just to see the gentian blooming.

The rain took a bit of the smoke out of the air for better views.

Waxy checkerblooms beaten down by the rain.

Climbing high above Lower Wright Lake.

Arriving at Upper Wright Lake.

Once at Upper Wright Lake, I continued around to the scree field on the far side.

Upper Wright Lake as it gets washed in some sunlight between the cloud shadows, Boulder Peak poking over the outflow.

Banana slugs always surprise me when this high up.

The view from the scree field along the long axis of Upper Wright Lake. Clouds are showing a little energy.

I had time enough for a snack before heading back. This time the thought that I might have sun on the lake while taking its picture helped spur me along. I got some chance at it, but it was still a view into the sun as well.

The scree field at the far end of the lake and trees on the north slope coming down to it.

Back over the lip to head back to Lower Wright Lake.

Lower Wright Lake.

Daniil was back at camp, the other two had already started down. He had been up on the ridge, and was giddy about how nice it was, but hadn't passed me because he took a sometimes used peak bagger shortcut down. He heartily did not recommend the shortcut. I could only concur that, yes, it's a nice ridge, and no, I wouldn't go down that shortcut if it's the one I looked down before. He headed off as I packed the last of my gear.

The valleys seem to be filling with view obscuring stuff once more.

A yellow pine chipmunk munches on the seed heads of some flowers.

Deciding I still wanted to check on the waterfall below Lower Wright Lake, I made my way off trail to see it. There's something like a faint trail, but I'm not sure it's for viewing the fall.

The much easier view of the waterfall below the trail.

And the much better viewpoint of the waterfall.

Once the waterfall was spotted, and myself climbed back up onto the trail, I got moving. There was still a threat of a reprise of the previous day's weather with the looming thought of a greater chance.

The clouds seem to put a deadline on pleasant hiking.

I found Daniil meandering along the slopes with westerly view. The other two would get to the car a couple minutes before us.

Marble Mountain today.

Rubber rabbitbush was blooming in the drier spots.

Back among the view obscuring trees.

As we came around to where chainsaws could be heard the prior day, there was no sound of them now. The crew had either finished their time or found something better to do after the afternoon lightning strikes.

A Pacific dogwood brings on some color for the coming autumn.

Interesting towers of clouds still suggesting more rain and storm coming soon.

With all the clearing of downed logs, I almost missed the turn as the trail turned off one bit of old road it uses. Daniil pointed it out and I was a little regretful that I hadn't just gone the longer way instead of the steep trail way. He says he only pointed it out the turn, he didn't encourage taking it. That last bit of trail is really steep and one part very soggy. There was still no rain actually threatening as we finished.




*photo album*


©2026 Valerie Norton
Published 7 Jan 2026