skylarcasey’s Trip Reports

This is a cool loop. I'm grateful to the first write-up as it was the only link up of these trails that I could find across all of the interwebs. This trail has a little bit of everything: great vistas, forests, burn areas, lakes, ridgelines, a few streams, etc. I found the trail relatively easier to follow then the original write-up suggests as I think the forest service has had the chance to clear some of the trees blocking the trail. There was still several blocking, but easy to navigate around or over. We went clockwise, camped near the top of marion mountain (w a great view of mt jeff) after 4+ miles the first night, then split the next part of the loop into 7ish mile days over two days. We camped around Duffy lake the second night. Only trouble was there was not a water source between Turpentine Creek and Jack Creek. Luckily Jack Creek was there for us to refill before we went over the ridge in direct sunlight. Once you descend into the lake regions you are obviously good for water. We went in late June and there were heavy mosquitoes on almost the entire trip, but that is just par for the course this time of year. Also I think the mileage is 20 only if you include up and down Marion Mountain.