Forlorn Lakes

A group of lakes near Indian Heaven Wilderness with many camping opportunities.

Forlorn Lakes is a serene, group of lakes near Trout Lake, WA. There are campsites along certain lakes and most lakes are accessible via the campsites. A few require bushwhacking to access. There are warnings posted in the campgrounds to secure your food properly due to black bears in the area.

Permits/Fees: Most of the access to the lakes is through campsites which there is a fee for camping in. Haven't been able to determine if there is a "day use" area or fees.

Location: Near the southeast side Indian Heaven Wilderness in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington, U.S.A.

Administration: Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Ranger District: Mount Adams Ranger District

Note: The lake grouping is named Forlorn Lakes, each lake doesn't have an individual name. I denote them by their coordinates and listing them 1-8 based off of the order I bagged them in.

All the pictures from 8-20-23 are hazy due to wildfire smoke.

Lake	Coordinates	Elevation	Access
Forlorn 1	45.95950, -121.75624	3712'	​Drive up
Forlorn 2	45.96350, -121.75813	3709'	​Drive up
Forlorn 3	45.95545, -121.75529	3718'	​Drive up
Forlorn 4	45.95542, -121.75899	3686'	​Drive up
Forlorn 5	45.96338, -121.74839	3699'	​Drive up
Forlorn 6	45.96314, -121.75418	3707'	​Bushwhack
Forlorn 7	45.95628, -121.75156	3707'	​Bushwhack
Forlorn 8	45.95422, -121.75233	3710'	​Bushwhack

Forlorn 1

Lake Name: Forlorn Lakes (45.95950, -121.75624)

Lake Coordinates: 45.95950, -121.75624

Lake Elevation: 3712'

Lake Access: Drive up

Notes: Easy access through campsites

Date Accessed: June 8, 2021

My cousin and I were out exploring some lakes in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. After we'd gone to Goose Lake we decided to try going to Forlorn Lakes. We tried taking FS 6040 from the FS 60 end. The road was labeled as "not maintained." It was narrow, bumpy, but passable until we came up to a large, full on creek washout across the road. (As of 2023 that end of FS 6040 is closed due to that washout). So we turned around, went back to FS 60 and took FS 6035 to reach the other end of FS 6040 to access the lakes.

We drove down the road and stopped at a campsite next to one of the Forlorn Lakes. We got out and walked to the lake's edge. There were unripe huckleberry's on the bushes surrounding the lakes edge. It was cold out and there were small snow patches along the edge of the road. We only stopped at this lake and didn't explore any of the others.

Forlorn 2

Lake Name: Forlorn Lakes (45.96350, -121.75813)

Lake Coordinates: 45.96350, -121.75813

Lake Elevation: 3709'

Lake Access: Drive up

Notes: Easy access through campsites

Date Accessed: August 20, 2023

This lake had a nice campground we drove into. We stopped at the end of the loop and I jumped out to follow an unmarked trail down to the lakes edge. All the campsites were full so I wasn't able to just walk through one to reach the edge. The easiest access to the lake is through the campsites along the shore. The lake was very pretty. It was still and reflective. It is one of the large Forlorn Lakes. It was pretty hazy due to wildfire smoke.

Coordinates

• Campground entrance: 45.96155, -121.75752

• End of campground loop: 45.96236, -121.75703

• Lake edge: 45.96271, -121.75670

Forlorn 3

Lake Name: Forlorn Lakes (45.95545, -121.75529)

Lake Coordinates: 45.95545, -121.75529

Lake Elevation: 3718'

Lake Access: Drive up

Notes: Easy access through campsites. Lake is visible from road.

Date Accessed: August 20, 2023

This lake is right along side the road. It was easy to pull off and just walk through a campsite to the lake's edge. This lake is shaped like a tear drop. It's more narrow than some of the other lakes nearby. I'd classify this lake as medium sized compared to the other Forlorn Lakes.

Coordinates

• Lake Edge: 45.95542, -121.75899

Forlorn 4

Lake Name: Forlorn Lakes (45.95542, -121.75899)

Lake Coordinates: 45.95542, -121.75899

Lake Elevation: 3686'

Lake Access: Drive up

Notes: Can be easily accessed through campsites.

Date Accessed: August 20, 2023

Bushwhacking Classification: BW1

Route: Bushwhack from road edge to lake edge and back

Distance: 0.13 miles (rt)

This lake was the furthest down the road. The few campsites along this lake were full, so we just bushwhacked down from the road. Bushwhacking isn't required to access this lake. But it was a very short, and easy trek. This lake is more circular and leans more towards a medium sized lake compared to the other Forlorn Lakes.

Coordinates

• Road edge starting point: 45.95477, -121.75676

• Lake edge: 45.95486, -121.75803

Forlorn 5

Lake Name: Forlorn Lakes (45.96338, -121.74839)

Lake Coordinates: 45.96338, -121.74839

Lake Elevation: 3699'

Lake Access: Drive up

Notes: Easy access through campsites.

Date Accessed: August 20, 2023

We drove into the campground alongside this lake. All the sites were full again. At the far end of the campground I got out of the truck and followed a foot trail down to the edge of the lake. It was a very short walk down to the edge. It was between two campsites. This lake was on the larger side compared to the other Forlorn Lakes. It was very beautiful. It's water was so still. It was pretty hazy out due to the wildfire smoke. This lake is the closest to FS 6030 and the first one you come across on FS 6040. I think this contributes to it being one of the more popular campgrounds.

Coordinates

• Lake edge: 45.96385, -121.74715

Forlorn 6

Haven't gone to yet

Forlorn 7

Haven't gone to yet

Forlorn 8

Haven't gone to yet

Resources

• Forest Service - Campground

• Campground Map

How to get there (from Trout Lake, WA)

Forlorn 1

• Take Hwy 141 out of Trout Lake, WA for 5.5 miles. At the Forest Service Boundary the road turns into FS 24, continue for 2.4 miles. Continue straight on FS 60 and proceed for 3.5 miles. Turn right on FS 6035 and continue for 2 miles. Turn left on FS 6040 and proceed for 0.9 miles. Lake is on the left side of the road.

Forlorn 2

• (From FS 6035) Turn left on FS 6040 and proceed for 0.9 miles. Turn right into campground.

Forlorn 3

• (From FS 6035) Turn left on FS 6040 and proceed for 1.5 miles. The lake and campground are on the left sdie of the road.

Forlorn 4

• (From FS 6035) Turn left on FS 6040 and proceed for 1.7 miles. Lake and campground are on the right side of the road.

Forlorn Lakes 5

• (From FS 6035) Turn left on FS 6040 and proceed for 0.3 miles. Turn right into campground.

Map

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