Heading north from Union Pass, you’ll leave a landscape of wet meadows and marshy ponds. After around 1.8 miles, walk along the shore of Lake of the Woods, a beautiful alpine lake known for its fishing, swimming, and picnic opportunities. The trail jumps off and on dirt roads in the woods a couple of times, and you will reach a high point at a road junction before dropping down to Salt Creek 3.6 miles into your hike. The trail continues rolling up and down as it heads north through sparse forest, marshland, and shrubland.
Photo by Johnny Carr