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Lake Isabel is one of those hikes that you tell people about and then tell them not to try it. I’ll say the same thing. It’s not that it’s particularly dangerous but there is no maintained trail and if you don’t know where you’re going then you could wander around all day and not find it. Of course, that’s what makes it a fun hike!
The “trailhead” is more of a wide spot on the road. Take Highway just past Gold Bar and turn left on Reiter Road and then after a mile or so continue straight on Reiter Road. Don’t go to the left, Reiter Road becomes May Creek Road if you follow it to the left. After May Creek Road continue on Reiter Road another mile or so. Google Maps lists the destination as the “Gold Bar Bouldering Parking Area”, so google that to get to the trailhead.
From there you reach Lake Isabel by another road walk, this one about 2 1/2 miles. Eventually you’ll find yourself at a logging landing, or if you go the wrong way you’ll still end up at a logging landing, just one far away from where you want to be. Taking the wrong turn is still interesting, the area has many large boulders and I’ve seen more people going up the road to climb the boulders than I’ve seen hikers going to the lake. The boulder guys are easy to spot because they’re carrying large pads with them.
Don’t get sidetracked though. We’re going to the lake! Once you get to the logging landing there’s a sort of trail that goes across the clear cut to the older forest. The new forest in the clear cut is growing quickly and the little trail is disappearing. If you can find it, it certainly helps get you through the brush but going up to the lake I just bushwhacked my way across the clear cut. Once you get into the forest you’ll find an actual trail and you take this up through the forest but eventually the trail peters out and from there the trail just kind of comes and goes the rest of the way to the lake. Even in places where there is a distinguishable “trail” it’s still basically an exercise in route finding. The trail is a kind of suggestion and at times it’s not clear that just because others have gone a certain way, you should go that way as well. I’ve been to the lake quite a few times and doubt I’ve ever taken the same exact route twice. I’ll also say that the WTA.org instructions for the route are completely wrong and make no sense. WTA says you’ll cross May Creek twice but I have no idea why anyone would ever try to do that. The main thing is to stay on the south side of May Creek and as long as you can hear the creek you’ll eventually get to the lake. That said, the easiest way to find the lake is to get a gpx file from someone who’s done it and load that in your gps. Contact me if you want to try it. I might even hike it with you.
The area around the lake itself is interesting. I’m not sure whether it was mining or logging but there were definitely camps at one point in time and there is quite a bit of metal laying around to prove it. The lake itself is long and narrow and the trail ends at the far west end of the lake. There is no trail around the lake but there are at least three canoes and a kayak there. How did they get there? Well, the lake is perfect for seaplane pilots looking to get experience taking off and landing on the water and the story I’ve heard is that people brought the boats up on their planes and left them there. If you take a canoe to the far east side of the lake there is a nice beach. I’ve never been but I’ve met several parties over the years who were planning to use the canoes to go to the beach and camp out. I did take one of the canoes out on the lake a few years back and it was quite pleasant. Going the full length of the lake would be quite a workout though so give yourself a few extra hours if you plan to do that. There was one life preserver laying around but I wouldn’t wear it. If I really wanted to get out on the lake I’d bring my own, and I’d make that a priority. The canoes look safe but you never know…
A couple of last things. The final little bit getting to the lake is very steep and could potentially be dangerous. Again, there’s a kind of trail and if you find and stay on it, it’s not too bad, but if you can’t find it then it would be a tough climb. Also, if it’s rained anytime recently or there’s a heavy dew, wear full rain gear. You will get soaking wet from head to toe working your way through the brush.
Hopefully you have the idea. This is a fun adventure but it really is more of an adventure than it is a hike. Don’t expect a nicely groomed route but if you go into it with the right frame of mind, it’s totally worth it. My stats for the day ended up being just shy of nine miles with over 2,500 feet elevation gain.
