Me and my hiking partners are looking for a way to hike in. We heard there is a trail but we are not able to find it. We are 66 y/o  60 y/o and 40 y/o I do not want to go cross country as we are not fit that way but I can not find the trail we were told was there. We met a man named Eric who volunteered who told us it was there but we can not find it. Do you know of any way or can someone show us

We met a man named Eric who wore a shirt with westside FS patch on it. He said he volunteers and he knew of a trail but we could not find it so we were trying to find him again. But my friend John is going in alone cross country from the leftside of Skookum lake road over to the old 54 road across from it. He is so determined to get in there. I could not make it. We were hoping there was some trail along the ridge that might connect to the road if we do find a way we will mark it VERY WELL.

Interesting - I did find one trail on the 1937 Metsker map that goes from Bracket Mountain and hits the NW corner of Surprise Lake.  Those maps have very little detail, but it looks like the old 5440 -025 spur might have replaced at least part of the trail. I can guarantee you that even if you were able to find the trail, it would be difficult to follow - if it only showed up on one map from 76 years ago, it probably wasn't built very well, and it has had no maintenance so it will be very vague.  If you or your friends do find it, please post your findings here. I did go to Surprise Lake about a month ago, however it was a very difficult trip, mostly cross country.  We planned on about 5 miles, but it ended up to be more like 7, with dense undergrowth making the trip difficult.  As I said, many people would like to find a relatively easy way to Surprise Lake.  Thus far, I know of none.

The '38 shows a partial 'way trail' to the mountain to the west of Surprise Lake. Never been there. Rob and Kirk were out there just recently, but didn't have good results from what I heard. Don Not sure of any other maps, but here is the '38:    

Walking the old roads appears to be the only way to get to Surprise Lake. I've been to the lake once. Nice lake. I am intrigued by how much interest this lake has with folks, its so obscure and never had a main trail near it. The top of the Camelsback is a cool area, lots of ponds tucked in along the ridge top.

I believe it is well remebered by many because they could drive to it and it was likely stocked frequently. So it was fun and easy to get too.   The drainage was popular with many before it was shut down.   D.

I just returned from Skookum lake this afternoon, I did take a jont up to the north to the first 4 way, the thought of trying for Surprise lake crossed my mind. but I was sort of under a time constraint and I was soaked. I wonder if it would be easier to try from the wash creek side .       

We will be doing more explorations from the Wash Creek side this weekend - looking for remnants of the old Cold Springs trail.  I still don't believe there is an "easy" way to get there, but hopefully if we can find this trail out to Wash Creek, it will be easier. If that "other" trail could be found, that would be even better, but thus far, no one seems to know much about it.

Around 25 years back we bushwacked upwards on the west side of Baty Butte and onto the peaks west of Surprise Lake. The route we took would have intersected the old trail on the '38 map Don sent in. We started on the Baty Butte trailhead after driving up. We did not attempt to find Surprise. I don't remember anything looking like a trail.I do not remember anything that looked like a trail but the route was not difficult to follow. They strung the telephone wire along this route and right over the top of Baty Butte. The maps show a lookout on Baty but on my rock scrambles to the top I saw no sign of it. If our inquirers haven't found it already, Skookum Lake may be a better option starting from the unmarked trailhead on the Molalla side. The abandoned Fish Creek Ridge trail is a bit tricky to find due to blowdown but it makes for a better trip than the former road. A loop can be made with the road. Thunder Mountain could be added in and still make it a day trip. Send me a PM if you would like details. Bryon

Hey Rob how are you going to do it from the Wash Creek side?  Straight down the canyon?  I'd imagine there's an abandoned road at the bottom.

The way Rob & Kirk went from 4540 along the ridge is the most direct/shortest distance. Didn't said it was easy. Getting there from Skookum is a very long endeavor, especially if one stayed on the roads. Getting to Surprise Lake from Wash Creek is futile. There's just no easy way to get there. 

Robert Koscik said Hey Rob how are you going to do it from the Wash Creek side?  Straight down the canyon?  I'd imagine there's an abandoned road at the bottom.

Well, I was thinking (not thinking, really) - if we could find Cold Springs down to Wash Creek, we could head up Wash Creek, but that looks almost as tough/long as any other route.....  But if we could find the Cold Springs route, we could get down to the confluence pretty easily - that would be cool. Surprise Lake just doesn't want to be explored easily.  It makes you work for it.

It's tough once you get to clearcuts...some are too thick to even get through.   You can always take a compass or gps heading and run with it.  One hell of 1/2 mile...

We found a way to surprise lake via Skookum Lake.  Drop Down to the road go to the right find a tree with an upside down exclamation point and look for orange flags marking the way.  It is rough going someone needs to clear the path but it can be done. A man named Paul and a couple people doing geocache have set up trails and hike it often

Tammi73 said We found a way to surprise lake via Skookum Lake.  Drop Down to the road go to the right find a tree with an upside down exclamation point and look for orange flags marking the way.  It is rough going someone needs to clear the path but it can be done. A man named Paul and a couple people doing geocache have set up trails and hike it often

Interesting.  I would love to see this route laid out on a map.  Since Surprise Lake is NNE of Skookum, I'm having a hard time visualizing it.  Is this mostly cross country travel?  On a flagged route?  I did a rough track following a creek that looks like it wouldn't be too extreme (except for underbrush) and it was about 2 miles from Skookum.

Those guys at the Skookum Lake trek & camp event are some adventurous folks! Climbing all over the upper Fish Creek drainage on foot in search of Caches is a heck of a workout.  If one is willing to bushwack, one can get from Skookum to Surprise Lake, or anywhere else they have time for

Rob Williams said

Tammi73 said We found a way to surprise lake via Skookum Lake.  Drop Down to the road go to the right find a tree with an upside down exclamation point and look for orange flags marking the way.  It is rough going someone needs to clear the path but it can be done. A man named Paul and a couple people doing geocache have set up trails and hike it often

Interesting.  I would love to see this route laid out on a map.  Since Surprise Lake is NNE of Skookum, I'm having a hard time visualizing it.  Is this mostly cross country travel?  On a flagged route?  I did a rough track following a creek that looks like it wouldn't be too extreme (except for underbrush) and it was about 2 miles from Skookum.

I think it is the old 350  I am not sure but there's a group going in around October and this Paul said he was going back in August.  He left Friday morning hiked into Skookum over to surprise up wash and back out by Sunday afternoon.  What a feat but it is being done monthly at a minimum.  Maybe leave a note in the cache on Skookum trail to get more information sooner. 

Tammi73 said

Rob Williams said

Tammi73 said We found a way to surprise lake via Skookum Lake.  Drop Down to the road go to the right find a tree with an upside down exclamation point and look for orange flags marking the way.  It is rough going someone needs to clear the path but it can be done. A man named Paul and a couple people doing geocache have set up trails and hike it often

Interesting.  I would love to see this route laid out on a map.  Since Surprise Lake is NNE of Skookum, I'm having a hard time visualizing it.  Is this mostly cross country travel?  On a flagged route?  I did a rough track following a creek that looks like it wouldn't be too extreme (except for underbrush) and it was about 2 miles from Skookum.

I think it is the old 350  I am not sure but there's a group going in around October and this Paul said he was going back in August.  He left Friday morning hiked into Skookum over to surprise up wash and back out by Sunday afternoon.  What a feat but it is being done monthly at a minimum.  Maybe leave a note in the cache on Skookum trail to get more information sooner. 

Here is the numbers from Paul's geocache called "Dotted I" (GC4MC7N). Top of flagging trail starts @ N 45*00.420/ W 122*09.831 Bottom of trail meets old road @ N45*00.428/ W 122*10.196

BrianEdwards said Those guys at the Skookum Lake trek & camp event are some adventurous folks! Climbing all over the upper Fish Creek drainage on foot in search of Caches is a heck of a workout.  If one is willing to bushwack, one can get from Skookum to Surprise Lake, or anywhere else they have time for

I'm planning to attend the Skookum event again this year. Good times for sure.