Johnson Lake

Snake Creek Road ends at the trailhead. The other route starts at Baker Creek Trailhead and is longer: 9.8 miles round trip, 2,740 feet of gain, and about 5–8 hours. The Baker Creek road is gravel and can close intermittently in winter and spring. Park only in marked spaces at either trailhead.

Pine, fir and aspen shade parts of the Snake Creek approach before the trail climbs into the high basin. Spring wildflowers can last into summer; snow can linger near the lake into early summer or longer after a heavy winter, and the lake partly freezes in winter. The pale cirque and open basin carry the view; a wide panorama shows more of the setting. There is no marked photo viewpoint.

Alfred Johnson established a tungsten mine here in 1912. Miners crushed ore onsite and sent it elsewhere to be refined into alloy steel used during World War I. Four log cabins housed the crew; one larger cabin had several rooms, with evidence of a wood stove and a pantry. Mining faded after the war, and a 1930s snowslide ended production. Look at the remaining buildings and equipment, but don’t enter or disturb them.

There is no potable water along Snake Creek Road, and the trailhead toilets are basic pit toilets without running water. Bring enough water for the hike; the park recommends about a gallon per person per day. Pets aren’t allowed on park trails except trained service animals.