18.39 miles of hiking • 2750' elevation gain •
I wanted to visit Golden Lake, but, I was not close to the trailhead where the hike would be the shortest. I would rather hike than drive, so I decided I would take the popular Green Lakes TH to Green Lakes and over the ridge to Golden Lake. The parking lot was full at 9:00 am and I prepared for lots of people, but, it was surprisingly quiet. I didn't see many people on the way up to the Green Lakes area and, then hardly any past that. There were some people setting up camp at Golden Lake. I went up to the ponds above Golden Lake and they were just beautiful. The creek and meadow area through there were wonderful with the view of the Sisters, and a marmot scurrying around. After getting back to the main trail after visiting Golden Lake, I thought about going to Park Meadow, but, feeling tired from a few days of hiking, I turned back toward the trailhead. The way back to the Green Lakes area was really something for me. I didn't see anyone and I had quiet moments at all of those lakes. I really love the northernmost lake, even though it does not have the backdrop of South Sister or Broken Top. There are so many colors of green in that lake - emerald, turquoise, yellow green, and it seems, everything in between. I could not believe the solitude I got - it was the best time I have ever had in that area. Once back on the trail down from the Green Lakes area, I crossed paths with a number of hikers and backpackers. At the trailhead, I noticed that the Forest Service is putting in some effort to control parking in the parking lot. There were a number of signs saying that you could only park in designated parking spots. I also saw some cars with warning notices of $125 fines for having backed in to park against the curb for the RV/trailer spaces.
