Trip Report
Backpack – Kroenke Lake Trail
Crowded parking lot at the trailhead - but wonderful trail, views, and alpine lake experience.
Glenn Barr
- Sat, Aug 27, 2022 — Sun, Aug 28, 2022
- Backpack – Kroenke Lake Trail
- North Cottonwood Trailhead
- Backpacking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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Trail is well maintained, traveled, and easy to follow. Intersection sign at the 2 mile mark (where Kroenke Lake and Bear Lake trails diverge) is right at the intersection next to a tree, and we met several groups who had missed the sign and stayed on the wrong trail (not paying attention)
We had a fun group of 10 that enjoyed the weather, trail, multiple creek crossings and bridges as we made our way up the trail to Kroenke Lake. We met many day hikers and backpackers going both up and down the trail. Mosquito reports let us know to be ready at dusk for the biting hoards. They were not terrible - but there were there.
We camped east of the lake and south of the trail away from the many other groups camping along the shoreline. Great views all around. One in our group had a short and uneventful bear encounter at dusk while moving along the trail in a brushy area to filter water. LOTS of other campers in the area - but all others at the lake itself. No rain -- cool night (40s).
This is a POPULAR area and the trailhead parking can be a challenge. Besides the trailhead parking, there are pullouts along the approach as well as parallel parking on wider sides, and more parking at the Silver Creek TH. Carpooling highly recommended.