Trail: Cub Lake loop
Distance: Approximately 6 Miles
Hiker fitness level: Moderate
Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 540
Conditions: Winter, 40’s
Starting at the Cub Lake trail head is a relatively easy 2.5 mile hike to Cub Lake ranging from open fields to rocky switch backs. While winter may not offer the best views of Cub Lake the loop does allow you to follow the recent aftermath from the Fern Lake Wildfire that followed this same path in opposite direction. The burned and charred landscape offers a unique view that will not soon be forgotten and hopefully not repeated in the near future. Just passed Cub Lake is a .7 mile section of trail that connects to the Fern Lake Trail at the Pool. This section is almost completely downhill, winding down the mountain side with moderate drop offs, multiple sections contained deep snow and ice. After reaching the Pool and the Fern Lake Trail there is roughly 1.7 miles of trail following a small stream back to the Fern Lake Trail head. This section was not affected by the fire and offers a much different landscape. From here is an easy mile hike on a dirt road to get back to your original parking location. Traveling this loop in reverse by starting at the Fern Lake Trail head would increase difficulty as the connecting trail would consist of a steep uphill hike.
Please view the image gallery for more highlights from the hike.
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