Muskrat Lakes Cutoff

Dogs Off-leash

Features Fall Colors · Views

Lots of horse use.

Good trail with only minor rocks to avoid, slightly washed out in places due to horse use

This short trail allows for a loop run with Marvine Lakes Trail (also referred to as Marvine Trail #1823) and part of the original Muskrat Lakes Trail. At one point the Forest Service stopped managing the original Muskrat Lakes Trail #2245, but it appears to still exist and now fully connects with Marvine Lakes Trail #1823 albeit with a little bit of a reroute. There are lots of horse users on this trail as well as two large horse outfitters that use this trail (as with all trails at the Marvine TH).

The trail reroute may be purposeful or just caused by the horse users avoiding downed trees or slowly migrating the trail because of the trail being washed out. The Forest Service has placed new trail signs at the intersections at both ends with the Marvine Lake Trail, however, there is not a sign to follow the original Muskrat Lakes Trail to the actual Muskrat Lakes.

There is a good chance that there is a trail that fully connects to Muskrat Lakes but it is just different coordinates than what is listed (and according to the Meeker Forest Service Field Office, they believe there should be a trail that goes to the actual Muskrat lakes)

Regardless, this trail gives at least one good look up-valley from its high point making it worthwhile as part of a loop.