Diamond Lake - John Dellenback Trail

As the official date for summer approaches, we decided it was time for one more "spring" hike.  On Friday we packed up and drove north to Diamond Lake.  We visited Diamond Lake once a few years back in the off season and had terrible service at the resort restaurant.  We also made cabin reservations at the resort once for an anniversary trip, but we both got food poisoning and couldn't make the trip.  So we were hoping that the "third times a charm" rule would apply to this trip.  It did!

Mount Bailey from the beginning  portion of the trail

After arriving at Diamond Lake and parking, we found the trailhead and started hiking the John Dellenback Trail. This loop around Diamond Lake is a paved trail that best serves as a bike path but can also be hiked.  In winter it is used for cross country skiing. The trail is pretty much level the entire loop, but is hard on the feet when hiking.

We hiked the loop counter clockwise and at the start we encountered numerous logs across the trail. We were trying to figure out if these were a warning to not use the trail or just some leftover winter/spring cleanup.  Regardless, we hiked on.  We both enjoyed the first 3 miles of the hike the most, as the trail followed along the lake shoreline and gave us awesome views of snow covered Mount Bailey and partially snow covered Mount Thielsen.  We saw patches of blue Forget-Me-Nots and Mountain Bluebells and at times were escorted along the trail by flights of dragonflies.

Mount Thielsen with Diamond Lake in foreground

After 3 miles the trail moves away from the lake shoreline as it goes behind the Thielsen View campground and some private cabins. We tried to take breaks along this portion of the trail but found that every time we stopped, the mosquitoes started. So we opted for the eat-and-drink-while-in-motion routine.

This sign is a trap set up by mosquitoes!!!!

Finally after almost 4 miles of relatively view-less trail, we came to Silent Creek.  This spring fed creek flows into Diamond Lake and the water is so clear. We stopped to view the creek from the bridge and took a few pictures.  We would have loved to jump in, but then we remembered the mosquitoes. Soon after Silent Creek we took a short side trail to Teal Lake.  This small hidden lake is beautiful and had lily pads at one end with yellow flowers.  Katie decided to take a swim in Teal Lake followed by rolling in dirt and pine needles. Maybe it helps against the mosquitoes!?!  We decided to not follow her lead.

Upstream view of Silent Creek from the bridge

Teal Lake

We also hiked along a large meadow area with views again of Mount Bailey and Mount Thielsen.  They were both so beautiful today with the backdrop of a beautiful clear blue sky.

A view of the paved 11.5 mile John Dellenback loop trail

The last 4 miles of this 11.5 mile loop took us through more campgrounds and offered occasional views of Diamond Lake.  We did not realized that there are over 400 campsites at Diamond Lake in addition to the Trailer Park, Lodge, Motel and cabins.

We made it back to the Lodge and completed our longest hike ever in 4 hours.  We were definitely tired and our feet were sore from the paved trail, but we were excited to have completed this long hike and to enjoyed some awesome views.

So long Spring. Bring on Summer!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

P.S.  If  you are interested in  hiking at Diamond Lake but 11.5 miles is a bit too much, consider hiking the first 1.7 miles along the lake shore till the trail reaches a road.  Make that your turnaround point for a 3.4 mile hike.  You can also take road 4795 to the Silent Creek bridge, park, and hike a 2.3 mile loop to the Silent Creek spring.

Everyone enjoys Diamond Lake, even caterpillars!