Hart Lake Way Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Lake · Views

The entire length of this short trail has wide, open views of Mt. Duckabush and some of the lakes in the LaCrosse Basin.

The trail leaves the LaCrosse Basin Way Trail and descends to Hart Lake. Hart Lake, although possibly the most spectacular of the lakes in the LaCrosse Basin, is also the most popular one to camp at. One of the best campsites is on the highest point of a peninsula that juts out into the middle of the lake.

From Hart Lake, the trail climbs up to the ridge. If the trail becomes hard to follow, keep on heading towards the subalpine fir at the top of the ridge that resembles a shrub or bush. The end of this trail has some of the best views of the LaCrosse Basin, with Hart Lake and Mount Duckabush in one direction and Lake LaCrosse in another.

Although some maps show a trail on the other side of the ridge descending to the O'Neil Pass Trail, be warned that no clear trail exists. If you would like to continue, carefully make your way along some rough trails through some initial stands of trees until you come to a rocky avalanche chute. From here, you can just slowly scramble down the avalanche chute to connect with the O'Neil Pass Trail.