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The trail to Lake Serene in Washington is basically a highway now
I first hiked it eight years ago and it was a quiet, rocky path with maybe ten people total. Went back this past weekend and there were over a hundred cars at the trailhead by 9 AM. The forest service paved the first mile and put in a huge parking lot, which I guess just funneled everyone there. It feels more like a city park than a backcountry route. Anyone else have a favorite quiet spot that got totally overrun after they 'improved' it?
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the_willow5mo ago
I get what you're saying about it being a shame, but I see the gravel work differently. That first mile was a total mud pit and erosion mess for most of the year. Making it solid means people aren't walking around it and wrecking the plants on the sides. The old parking situation was dangerous with cars spilling out onto the main road. It feels crowded now, but maybe it's better that the impact is focused on a tough trail instead of spreading out and hurting more places.
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alexj995mo ago
Actually the forest service didn't pave that first section, it was a volunteer trail group that did the gravel work. They got a grant for it. The huge parking lot was already there, they just expanded it. It's a real shame though, that place used to be a secret.
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evaperez3mo ago
That's a solid point @the_willow made about the mud pit and erosion, that first mile was a total disaster every spring honestly. I guess it's a trade off where you lose the quiet secret vibe but the trail itself stays healthier in the long run. Sucks that the secret's out but maybe having one crowded path beats having ten trashed ones scattered around.
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