Clover Lake – Mountain Lakes Wilderness (Klamath)

A chorus. A symphony. A masterpiece. Maybe, at times, even a cacophony. Those might be  descriptions of the chattering frogs you’ll hear at Clover Lake, the first big lake you’ll come to along the south trail entrance to the Mountain Lakes Wilderness, located within the Winema National Forest. Those frogs—maybe a Western Toad?—the size of my thumb, grumbled and barked and croaked all evening, through the night and into the morning. But after the 2-mile hike from the trailhead on a continuous elevation gain with a 40-plus pound pack on my back (did I mention it was my foray into the world of days-long backpacking?) it was, as is often said, music to my ears.

Clover Lake is a great place to use as a base camp. From there, another 1 ½ miles of hiking awaits before a hiker hits the trail that circles the caldera created thousands of years ago when, like Crater Lake, the top of the volcano blew off. Unlike Crater Lake, the caldera at Mountain Lakes Wilderness did not ultimately fill with water. Instead, small lakes on the rim were formed, perfect rest stops along the 7 ½ mile loop around the caldera. To find the Clover Lake trailhead, take Hwy 66 west out of K Falls to Clover Creek Rd, then turn north on Forest Rd 3852 to the end of the road.

Vince Tweddell
www.vincesoutdoors.wordpress.com