Rainy Lake
Note: My Garmin Fenix 5 messed up during the hike and recorded the return leg as a straight line, so the distance and elevation gain are estimates based on the CalTopo information.
The drive to the trailhead is gorgeous in the river valley when you get off I-90. The roads were in good condition and there was ample parking on this cold autumn morning. I imagine this place fills up quick in the summer months.
Rainy Lake Trail made for a relatively quiet and secluded hike—only running into two other hikers the whole day. The trail itself is muddy, eroded, and obscured by some serious deadfall in several sections. A GPS may be necessary in one or two spots depending on your pathfinding skills. A few segments require scrambling over exposed roots and small boulder fields. It’s not overly technical, but I had to carry Echo down these spots on our return—and she does not like being carried!
A happy, muddy dog
Rainy Lake
The lake doesn’t offer many places to relax, but it was a little too chilly for relaxing anyway. After eating a quick lunch, we made our way back down.
Overall the trail is tough and doesn’t offer many good views. I was a little bummed that I spent one of the rare sunny days in a shaded valley with only a few glimpses of the surrounding area, but it was still great to get out and explore.
This might make for an okay rainy day hike if you enjoy steep muddy trails with a bit of deadfall circumnavigation. Summiting Preacher Mountain probably makes the effort more rewarding, but I couldn’t find a straightforward route that didn’t require a lot of bushwhacking.
Stegosaurus Butte through the trees