So many lakes! We rode to four lakes our first day in the area, and to another lake the other day so figured we would keep the theme going. This last ride to Barker Lake was a beast. There are a couple different options for how to ride this but we opted for an out and back from Stumptown. Our ride was 17.8 miles with 3259′ of climbing up to 7965′.
We started just before Anaconda off Stumptown Road and began by pedaling, creeping up Garrity Grunt Trail. This is a ridiculously steep doubletrack at the start with pitches of 23.9%! It was a tough start but once you get up the first mile and it turns to singletrack, it’s sweet solitary riding. We passed through mostly aspens on the lower slopes and then deeper into forest. It was a little unnerving because I don’t think this gets much use. Parts of the trail are very narrow and overgrown. The climbing basically continued until we popped out at an access road. After a short descent on this road we turned left on Barker Lakes Trail.
This is a short 3 mile trail that starts fairly easy on a wide path up through old growth. As you get higher the trail because more and more difficult. Rocks litter the steep trail and the technical rating ramps up to advanced quickly. It’s relentless really, but the views are distracting. The last mile of this trail is insanely rocky and steep. Really, there is no good line to climb and I had to hop off and hike several times. It’s remote out here and you’re on your own so getting hurt would be no bueno…though it always is.
Just about when you are ready to quit, the lake pops into view and the last push down to the shore is gratifying. Barker Lake is a pristine alpine lake and it is hard not to gaze out in wonder at how special this place is. After sweating profusely with the hard effort to get here, I grew chilly up here while we relaxed. I had to put my jacket on for the descent back to the start. I was happy that we were able to ride nearly all the technical sections of the trail on the way downhill. That’s what makes riding way easier than hiking…the downhills!
This ride is definitely advanced, though you could make it easier by starting at the actual Barker Lakes Trailhead if you have a high clearance vehicle, or riding from the highway up the Garrity Access Road if you don’t. Both of these options would shorten the ride considerably, but you still have the technical aspect of upper Barker Lakes to deal with.
Another lake in the books!
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