Kinzel Lake Trail #665

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Kinzel Lake Trail is a bit isolated and is usually used as part of a longer loop with Salmon River Trail #742 or Hunchback Trail #793. The easiest access to Kinzel Lake Trail is at the end of Sherar Burn Road (Forest Road 2613). There is a connector trail at Kinzel Lake itself that climbs up above the lake to the trail.

The trail is a steady grade downhill with multuiple switchbacks. Just over the half mile mark, the trail climbs away from Kinzel Creek, and passes through an old fire scarred area that burned some trees. About halfway down the trail, it hits the ridgeline. From that point, Kinzel LakeTtrail makes numerous switchbacks down towards the Salmon River Trail, at a point where you are more than 700 feet from the river itself.

From there, you can head east on the Salmon River Trail towards the Mud Creek basin south of Trillium Lake, or head west towards the Salmon River Trailhead south of Welches.

Second growth douglas fir, mountain hemlock, silver fir and noble fir as well as plenty of vine maple and rhododendrons are found around Kinzel Lake. As you drop in elevation, mountain hemlock transitions to western hemlock and fewer true firs. Bear grass and rhododendrons are usually blooming in late June and early July.