Details
- Date: Sat 8/30 - Mon 9/1, 2025
- Trailhead: Smith Ridge Trailhead
- Time: 9:00am
- Fees: Free
- Contact:Todd Holcomb
- Phone: 208-704-9739
- Email: todd@clearwatertrekking.com
Map
The Trekkers did an overnight trip to Heart Lake in August of '24, which you can read about through the link below. The original plan was to spend two nights at Heart Lake, but road construction limited our access to the weekend. Still, that one night reminded me of why I love this area so much. At 6,800 feet elevation, the terrain isn't terrifyingly difficult. The 8 miles to Heart Lake is challenging but doable. When you reach camp, you really feel like you earned it, and all along the way, the panoramic views make the effort worth it.
You can read all about our 2024 trip below, and why you should bring a rain jacket into the mountains even on a sunny day!
Smith Ridge Trailhead is a little over 2 hours north of Orofino, so I highly recommend that you camp out at or near Aquarius Campground the night before. Even from there, it's another 13 miles up to Smith Ridge. Carpooling from major towns, group camping at Aquarius, and carpooling to the trailhead are all ideal. Reach out via email or on Facebook to make arrangements.
The plan will be to hit the trail at 9:00am on Saturday, August 30th. If all goes well, we should be in camp by 3:00 or 4:00pm for a warm dinner and a cool dip in the lake. Sunday, we'll day hike up to Mallard Peak, 4 miles from Heart Lake, followed by another dip in the lake upon our return. Monday, September 1st, we'll pack out.
This is going to be epic!
We will be hiking about 24 miles over the course of the weekend, so be sure you're up for the challenge. This is Labor Day weekend, so come prepared for rain. Based on our 2024 adventure, I highly recommend having a change of clothes waiting for you in a car at the trailhead, along with some comfortable footwear. I'll link a suggested packing list below, but don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
See you on the trail!
