Cooper River
Info
The Cooper River trail (1311) is a moderately technical, rolling river trail comparable to Skookum Flats and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie trail. Unlike the latter two, Cooper River is located in the drier forest on the east slope of the Cascades. You'll find lots of short ups & downs, with peekaboo views of Cooper River and Cooper Lake. This is an out-and-back ride.
The Pete Lake Trail is a short out-and-back route of about 5 miles of single track through gorgeous central Washington forest. Almost entirely under canopy, the Pete Lake trail abounds with curvy turns, stream crossings to splash through, and green forest scenery. A popular hike and horseback ride, the Pete Lake trail is generally well-populated, so take care around corners and be prepared to yield right of way to folks making their way to the lake. You won't actually make it to the lake on your bike, however, as the Wilderness Boundary stops wheeled access about three miles in.
For trail status info, contact the Cle Elum Ranger Station of the Wenatchee National Forest.
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Ride Reports
Biked Cooper River and Pete Lake to the wilderness boundary & hiked to Pete Lake. The Cooper River trail had some crunchy snow in places but it's not bad. When you reach the Owhi Campground, the trail does not have a Cooper River trail sign, it just says "Owhi Campground, #1327." It's the right t...
Instead of starting the ride from the Salmon La Sac campground, we parked on the far end of Cooper lake, and first rode out to the Pete Lake trail. Pete lake trail was a lot of fun, although we passed many hikers on a Saturday. Next time I would reccomend a midweek ride, but all hikers were...
First of all, the 500' of advertised elevation gain is simply the elevation change from the trail low point to it's high point. Actual riding elevation total gain from Salmon la Sac, out the Pete Lake Trail, and return is 1500'. The Cooper River trail is in great shape, has wonderful rivers views...