Dark Lake to Willow Lakes Loop
	Trip Date:  07/01/2022 Distance: 9.75 Miles Vertical Gain: 1100' Group Size: 3 Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate    Hard    Strenuous	GPX for this trip
	Start Coordinates:   N 38 50.878  W 120 14.375     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates   Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Take Highway 50 to Wrights Road.  Turn north, and drive 8 miles to the entrance of Wrights Lake area.  Continue north at the park entrance toward Dark and Beauty Lake.  Follow the signs to the trailhead parking for Rockbound Pass at the coordinates listed above. If you arrive early enough you may be able to grab one of the three or four spaces to park right at the Barrett Jeep trailhead, for which there is no charge (as of 2022.) Hazards of Note:   Barrett Jeep trail is dusty and very dry.  Little water along the trail. Crowd Factor:   With the jeep trail currently closed to jeep riders, the number of people on the trail is minimal.  The only probable chance of running into others will be on the Rockbound trail until you turn off toward Willow Lakes. General Notes: From the Barrett Jeep Trail start head north for about 1/2 mile until you reach the junction for the trail that goes to the right (east) toward Beauty Lake. Once past this lake you will head left at the junction of the trail that would otherwise take you back to Wrights Lake. Continue for about 3 miles along the Rockbound Trail toward Maud Lake. About 1/4 before you reach the lake you will need to look for a faint trail that leads off to the left (north) from the main trail. This is the start of the connector trail between Rockbound and Red Peak Stock Trail a mile further north. Halfway along this unnamed connnector trail you will find the first of the two Willow Lakes off to the left. This first one is the easier of the two to access from the trail, and the location is wonderful. You should have this lake all to yourself, even on a weekend. Leaving the lake and continuing north you will continue along this lightly used trail, which during the summer was filled with fields of purple camas flowers. The junction with the Red Peak Stock Trail is not signed, but was easily identifiable at the point where the unnamed connector trail stopped and a faint trail can be seen heading east and west. Take the trail to the left (west) and follow it as well as possible for about 1/2 mile until you meet up with the Barrett Jeep Trail. The rest of the trip will be along this trail, which is dusty, rocky and has some fairly steep downhill sections. Since this is a hike into Desolation Wilderness, you will need a day permit (free at the trailhead) and the group size limit is 12.
	Our parking spot at the Barrett Jeep trail. Not a lot of room here for many vehicles but worth it if you don't want to pay the new parking fee at the other areas.
	First junction to head right at to pick up the Rockbound Trail.
	Heading up the Rockbound Trail on a well-paved section of track.
	At the junction for the trail north toward Willow Lakes. It's there but it can be a little difficult to spot at times.
	Typically wonderful Desolation Wilderness views all around
	At the first Willow Lake, a great spot for a stop for lunch.
	Mark and Julia enjoing the location.
	Yours truly also getting a chance to relax and enjoy the location.
	Fields of Camas just past the lake along the rudimentary trail.
	At the junction with the Red Peak Stock Trail. It's not well marked so we just had to make sure we were at the correct location.
	The oldest Desolation Wilderness sign I've come across.
	Mark taking advantage of a natural bench along the way.
	What this section of not always very easy to follow trail looks like.
	Stopping for a quick look around on the Barrett Jeep Trail.
	The much easier way across the river built a few years back on the Barrett Jeep Trail.
	GPS track of the hike starting at the bottom right.