West Fork Mountain Trail #347

West Fork Lake is one of the highest mountain lakes in the Boundary County area. In years past the West Fork Mountain was home to a fire lookout and residence cabin built in 1934. Though the residence is no longer there, the fire tower remains. 

West Fork Mountain Trail #347 starts at the junction of Smith Creek-Red Top Trail #21 (elevation 4,740 feet) and immediately crosses a 20-foot-wide creek. After the spring runoff subsides, the stream is shallow enough to cross across the rocks. The trail descends slightly through a giant old-growth cedar stand with ferns and needle ground cover. For a short distance, the trail dips onto private land, which was heavily logged, but a few large cedars were left standing. 

At about the 1/3rd mile mark, the trail opens with fewer trees, typically spruce, alpine fir and brush. The slope here is a gentle 10-15%. Along the way there are several seasonal drainages and small creeks with some of them passable using wooden walkways. At the 2.5 mile mark the timber thins out into small stands of alpine fir and the trail curves up through granite boulders and talus slopes. Around the 3-mile mark, you will enter heavy timber again. A junction here will take you to the left, a spur that accesses West Fork Lake less than 100 yards away. Taking the right-hand path will continue up the ridge where it becomes narrow and rocky with steep switchbacks (up to 35% grade). At the 3.25-mile mark, the trail reaches the ridge and winds along the top and towards the east to reach the old West Fork Mountain lookout site (6,337 feet).