John Guilford's Hikes

Trout, Copper, and Malachite Lakes on 2026-06-16

Date: 2026-06-16

Location: Trout, Copper, and Malachite Lakes

People: (including myself): Happy Hikers

			  	Alt.	Miles
Trailhead:		8:30	1640	0
Trout Lake:		9:30	2050	2
Middle Copper Falls:	9:50	2400	2.6
Copper Lake:		12:00	3961	5.8
Leave Copper Lake:	12:25
Lake Malachite:		12:45	4089	6.7
Leave Malachite:	1:00
Trout Lake		3:10		9.7
Trailhead:		4:00	1640	11.6

I'd been on this trail as far as Copper Falls before, but this was the first time to Trout Lake and Malachite Falls.

The trail is not very steep up to Trout Lake. Shortly afterwards, you start climbing more steeply up a ravine to the higher lakes. You initially pass Middle Copper Falls before continuing to switchback up the hill.

The trail had quite a few downed trees to navigate, sometimes going over, sometimes under, and sometimes around.

You get good but distant views of Malachite Falls.

Eventually you get to the top of the ravine and the trail splits. We chose to head left (south) towards Copper Lake first. Near the lake the trail crosses the outflow stream from the lake. Initially this looked a bit daunting, but then we found a series of flat rocks that made passage across the stream easy. We had lunch at Copper Lake.

We then returned to the trail junction and took the trail to Malachite Lake. This trail is steep and not in as good of condition as the one to Copper Lake.

At Malachite Lake some of our party decided to take a dip.