The Epic Green River Lakes Area!

The end of June. The Green River Lakes. Aaah.  And a view of the most photographed peak in the Winds--Square Top  Mountain.  The whole adventure was simply eye candy.  :)  Here we go.

Below: The Green River, on the dirt road as we traveled to the trailhead. I assume the fishing is pretty good, judging by the fishermen frequenting it's banks.

Our first view of Square Top, driving towards the trailhead and campground.

At the trail head, mosquitoes swarmed the car before we even got out.  I've never seen such monstrous, blood-thirsty and numerous mosquitoes. We sprayed off in repellent, donned our long sleeves and hats...and away we went. With the goal of not being eaten alive by bugs. Below: the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, eh?  

And, standing on the north shore of the lower Green River Lake.  Just beautiful.

We opted to start around the west side of the lake first, because it looked more shaded. It was an incredible forest of ferns, moss, trees, flowers and springs.  Loved it!

And of course, Phoenix, savoring the water...

Here, we are looking east, at the other side of the lake. The trail we returned upon was on that side...

Looking over at the canyon where Clear Creek comes out, from Clear Lake.

More pics from the lovely forest trail on the west side of the lake...

A break in the trees brougt the view of a small beach area. L made a run for it!

I could've sat right here on this beach for the rest of the day and been happy.

Another view of Clear Creek Canyon...

And more lovely trail. The trail was easy...gentle, rolling hills, and mostly smooth...

As we approached the south end of the lake we came upon these signs, the first we came across. We had no map, and we had already planned on only doing the lake loop, so we stayed with the known (relatively).

The south end of the lake opens up into fields of wildflowers! woohoo!

And a closer view of Square Top...

O, loving her little camera she bought with her own money. :)

The bridge across the Green River was delightful! This is the river that empties out of the Upper Green River Lake, which we didn't know was less than 1 mile up the trail...if we'd known we would have explored! Ah, well. Another trip!

So here, we have crossed the river and head back north on the east side of the lake.  Trail is still lovely.

Frequent looks back at the cliffs to the south of us...

And here, we stopped for lunch...at a foot bridge across Clear Creek. The bridge had some bounce to it--and Ember did NOT care for it!

Aaron, watching the water flow under the bridge...a meditation--if you will. :)

Fun clouds, and do you see the little hoodoo on the cliff? 

Looking back/across at the forest we hiked through, with Square top peaking through.

Again, looking south. Next time, I will start the hike on the east side, so I can watch the peaks all along, instead of tripping as I crane me head around to look at them.

The wildflowers were so lovely!

Seriously.

The funny Old Man's Whiskers flower. I call it the Dr' Seuss flower. :)

And here is another, still unfurling.

The clouds over the lake caused some fun colors in the water.

Ember. She would run back and forth, checking on the Aaron and L ahead of us, then running back to O and me. She probably logged an extra 2 or 3 miles this way.

And! Another Elephant's Head Orchid!  Yay!

Fields of flowers, I tell ya.

Looks fake. But I was there.

Looking across at the the trees we hiked through...

And, O's fun 4-strand french braid!

Yellow painbrush!

Ember running ahead to check on the guys...

And, the bridge back to the trail head. So fun. 

A grassy roof top?!  I love the old cabins dotting the area.

And the last (or first) 100 yards of the trail looks like this.

My ipod said we hiked 7.5 miles total in our loop around the lake. It was spectacular, and totally worth going again and again. I will take my big camera up next time!  Aaahh....