Goat Rocks: Snowgrass Flat and Goat Lake Loop

Goat Rocks Wilderness, Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Snowgrass Trailhead, south of Packwood)

The Goat Rocks Wilderness lies in the South Cascades of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Forest Service says it covers 108,023 acres, with the Pacific Crest Trail running 31.1 miles through its middle.

The loop from the Snowgrass Trailhead reaches the wildflower meadows of Snowgrass Flat and Goat Lake, which Washington Trails Association describes as a turquoise lake in a north-facing cirque that often holds snow into summer. WTA puts the loop at about 13 miles.

The hike

From the Snowgrass Trailhead, Trail 96 passes a connector to the Berry Patch Trailhead and, per Oregon Hikers, crosses Goat Creek on a footbridge at 1.9 miles. WTA warns of a cedar swamp just past the bridge where mosquitoes are common after snowmelt, then a climb of about 1,100 feet over the next two miles. Oregon Hikers puts the Bypass Trail 97 junction at 3.9 miles and the Lily Basin Trail 86 junction at 4.7 miles, at the lower edge of Snowgrass Flat. WTA gives 4.1 miles for that junction.

For the loop, turn left onto the Lily Basin Trail toward Goat Lake, which Oregon Hikers puts 2.3 miles away. From the lake, WTA describes a return via the Goat Ridge Trail, with views of Mount Adams and Jordan Basin, then a connector back to Trail 96.

Many hikers add the climb from Snowgrass Flat to the PCT, less than a mile and more than 400 feet above the meadow, per WTA. Oregon Hikers says springs at the head of Snowgrass Creek lie about 0.3 mile south along the PCT. Old Snowy is an optional side trip north on the PCT: about 1.8 miles to a rocky saddle and another half mile to the summit, with brief Class 2 scrambling near the top.

Oregon Hikers notes that “snowgrass” was a misnomer: early stockmen may have mistaken beargrass or western pasque flower seed heads for tussock, which doesn’t grow here. It also recommends going midweek, because the area is heavily used on weekends.

A Mountaineers group that did a four-day version in August 2015 day-hiked to the PCT and Old Snowy from a camp in the timber east of Snowgrass Flat, moving lower when thunderstorms threatened. It then traveled the Lily Basin Trail to Goat Lake and on to a bench below Hawkeye Point at 6,800 feet, and returned through Jordan Basin to the Berry Patch Trailhead.

For another South Cascades overnight with easier terrain, see Indian Heaven’s lakes.

Tips

Fill out a wilderness permit. It’s free and self-issued at the trailhead. Parking needs a Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass.
Use Berry Patch as overflow. WTA says it’s less than a quarter mile past the Snowgrass lot.
Don’t camp in the flat. Snowgrass Flat and Shoe Lake Basin are closed to camping.
Bring bug protection. Oregon Hikers says mosquitoes are heavy once snow melts.
Watch for storms. The 2015 Mountaineers group moved camp into the timber when thunderstorms threatened.

Camping

The Forest Service bans camping at Snowgrass Flat and in Shoe Lake Basin, and within 100 feet of any lakeshore and of the PCT. Campfires are banned in Shoe Lake Basin and within 1/4 mile of Goat Lake. Groups are limited to 12 people and stock combined. Camp only on established sites, never on meadow plants. CleverHiker says Lily Basin works as a base for a next-day hike to Old Snowy or Goat Lake, and the Forest Service points to Hidden Springs, about a mile west of Shoe Lake, as an alternative to the closed areas. CleverHiker says backcountry water in Goat Rocks must be treated.

Inside Intel: The 2015 Mountaineers group found easy running water at a camp in the timber below the bypass trail east of Snowgrass Flat and at an “alpine camp” along the Lily Basin Trail, both chosen to get lower during storms. Oregon Hikers also mentions campsites in the trees past the Lily Basin junction and near the Goat Creek crossing.

Trail facts

Distance: About 13 miles (WTA)
Route type: Loop (Snowgrass, Lily Basin, Goat Ridge trails)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Campsites: Established sites near Goat Creek (about 1.9 miles), in the timber below Snowgrass Flat, along the Lily Basin Trail, and near Goat Lake (100-foot lake setback)
Water: Goat Creek, Snowgrass Creek springs, Goat Lake; some creeks dry by late summer; treat it
Permits: Free self-issued wilderness permit; Northwest Forest Pass to park
Fires: Banned at Snowgrass Flat, Shoe Lake Basin, and within 1/4 mile of Goat Lake
Dogs: Allowed on leash (WTA)
Trailhead: Snowgrass Trailhead, Forest Road 2150 off FR 21
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Timber camps below Snowgrass Flat:

Camping is banned on Snowgrass Flat, so most nights are on established sites in the trees or along the Lily Basin Trail. Our side-sleeper tips cover pads, pillows, and level ground.

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Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.