Paddy Flat/Lake Fork Creek Trail #103

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views

A couple years ago there are stories of a goshawk swooping at trail runners in the Anderson Lake area; it happened during the 2013 running of the McCall Trail Classic 40-mile race. The race director changed the course the next year.

The Paddy Flat/Lake Fork Creek Trail (#103) makes a great connection between the Boulder Lake area and the East Fork Lake Fork area. If you start on the north end, it's a good steady climb to the pass below Boulder Mountain, then a nice downhill to Boulder Lake. Early in the summer, your feet will get wet crossing a couple of small creeks. There are lots of huckleberry bushes in this section.

Once you cross the South Fork Lake Fork, the trail starts to climb a few switchbacks for half a mile. After you gain the ridge, you're still climbing but the grade is less steep. The trail is mostly in the shade of the forest but when you get to a large meadow, step off the trail to the east and check out the view of the ridgeline.

This trail doesn't actually go to Anderson Lake, but there is a short trail off to the west that will take you down to the lake, if you'd like to explore this rather scenic destination.

The pass below Boulder Mountain is at 7,777' and provides a great view of Boulder Lake, the Rapid Creek drainage, and Buckhorn Mountain. After the pass it is about a mile (all downhill) to the Boulder Lake Trail #105. This part of the trail has some loose spots, so watch your footing. Sometimes motorbikes ride this section, but you'll hear them coming.

At the Boulder Lake Trail #105 junction, turn east for the Buckhorn Trail, keep going south for the Rapid Creek Trail, or turn west to get to Boulder Lake.

Huckleberries near the East Fork Lake Fork area.