PCT: Hyatt Lake to Howard Prairie Lake

The PCT between Hyatt Lake and Howard Prairie Lake is either 5 miles or 8 miles depending upon where you start and stop.  Hiking from lakeside campground to lakeside campground would be fun if… this pesky drought would back off a bit!

Driving

– It’s a 45 minute drive from Ashland Plaza.  Head south toward SOU and take Ashland street across interstate 5 toward Emigrant Lake.  That sweeps to the right and turns into Green Springs Highway.  Take that past Emigrant Lake  and continue on the winding road uphill past the Soda Mountain/ Little Hyatt Lake Road intersection.  Past Keene Reservoir. Then turn left at the Green Springs Inn on E Hyatt Lake Road.
4 miles on this paved road and you will hit the intersection for the Hyatt Lake Campground.  The PCT crosses right there, and there is a decent parking area to the left.  This would be your 16 mile out and back starting point. For the 10 mile out and back turn right and pass the ranger kiosk and skip the entire Hyatt Lake camping area by continuing straight. In about 3 miles you will arrive at the Wildcat campground. Drive past that and in 200 yards there is a fire road to your right.  No signs but… you have arrived.

Parking

– This is classic just-pull-off-the-side-of-the-road-where-you-can parking.

The Adventure

– Hike up the fire road and past the locked yellow pipe gate and within 20 yards you will see the PCT intersection. Take that to your left and away you go. Along the first mile you cross 3 gravel roads and if you can figure out how to drive to them, you could start at any of them I suppose.  However, we stated where we started so quit second guessing me already!

The first 3 miles of the route is a steady, gentle uphill.  You’ll pass through many clearings and open canopy pine.  Keep your eyes open to the left and you’ll see a small sign for Wildcat Overlook.  Take that for 200 yards to the top of a rocky peak.  It’s kinda cool and the best view you’ll get on the trail but there is a reason nobody has put up an @WildcatOverlook Instagram page… it’s fine.

From here it’s 2 miles steadily downhill to Howard Prairie Road.  Actually, you’ll cross Eve Springs Road 50 yards above Howard Prairie Road and that takes you down to Howard Prarie Road.  If you stay on the PCT you will begin to climb away from the lake and off towards Brown Mountain  We are not doing that!  However, there is no clear destination at Howard Prairie from here. Turn left down the paved highway and in 1/4 mile there’s the Asperkaha Group Campground. No real beach access and the days are drought restricted.  The other option is to turn right down the paved roadway more than a mile to the Klum Landing Campground.  Again, could be fine but drought not only lowers the lake level, but it also closes the campground and shuts off the water.

All in all it’s a fine section of the PCT just remember, without any water, it’s more than a little sad going from empty lake to empty lake.