This afternoon, I made my first trip of the season up to Lake Marion, located just a quarter mile past Lake Clara via the same trail for a roundtrip journey of around 3.5 miles. Starting from the Mission Ridge Base Area, this route climbs through forest and intermittent meadows and rocky openings toward the 2 lakes located over 5000 feet in elevation.
Trail conditions are looking good right now. The route is dry throughout, the tread is in solid shape, and the creek is still flowing. I headed up in the mid-afternoon, and it was just starting to feel a little toasty on the climb. Summer is beginning to make itself known, though this is still a great time of year to find cooler hiking conditions if you head out in the morning or evening.
The lower trail is deep in its purple phase at the moment, with penstemon and lupine lining the route in sunny openings amidst the greenery. The understory has continued to fill in quickly over the past few weeks, and the whole lower stretch has that early-summer fragrance of fresh shrub growth and conifers.
Intermittent views toward our mountain’s Upper Basin show just how far the season has come. There are still a few small patches of snow hanging on in protected spots up high, but most of the mountain is bare now, with spring green and stark basalt contrasting sharply. The larches are fully back in their bright green shades, and the forest feels awake from the base of the trail all the way up toward the lakes.
Lakes Clara and Marion are located close together and provide a welcome reward after the climb. Despite being so close by, they are an exercise in contrast; Clara’s greenery and shrub-lined shores enjoy a serene backdrop of beautiful larches, while Marion abuts directly against the slopes of Mission Peak, ringed by rocky talus and the higher buttresses looming impressively behind.
Wildlife and small signs of summer were around as well: birds moving through the trees, insects and pollinators working through the flowers, and the steady background feeling of the mountain settling into the warmer season.
After enjoying both lakes, I headed back down toward the Base Area and wrapped up a relaxed Sunday on the mountain. We’re now finishing up our second week of summer operations at the Chair 5 Pub, and it has been great to have the lodge feeling lively once again. A mountain breakfast, a stroll up to the lakes, and a relaxed stop back at the base makes for a pretty good way to spend the day.
Base Area Forecast
Monday 6/15: Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Breezy, with a west wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.
Tuesday 6/16: Sunny, with a high near 56. Windy, with a west wind 29 to 32 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph.
Chair 5 Pub Schedule
The Chair 5 Pub at Mission Ridge is open for the summer! Standard hours are Fridays from 4pm–9pm, Saturdays from 11am–9pm, and Sundays from 9am–2pm. Visit the Operating Calendar to view a full schedule.
No chairlifts will run during the summer season.
Summer Access Policy
During the summer season (May-October), public access within the Mission Ridge Special Use Permit area is permitted except where restricted due to maintenance and construction. We love seeing the Mission Ridge community in the mountains and on the trails year-round, but please make sure to check out the full access policy by clicking the link below.
