Haiseldean and Noakes Lakes

 I visited these lakes on July 19 2020. It was a very wet and cool summer; other years at that time would be a very different experience.

Google Maps

Turn left at the Firehall on Beggs road, and drive up the mountain. It is more than 10km, the road is reasonable to rough. 

The trail to Haiseldean takes about an hour or less. When you get close to the lake you traverse rock outcroppings; someone has helpfully placed cairns to mark the trail. 

It is very unfortunate what has happened to the trail. It goes through a few mountain meadows that are very wet. Some careless people have driven quads right to the lake, and damaged these meadows to an extent that you will get angry. There are dozens of trees fallen across the trail, so the quad traffic is likely a couple years old, but the damage remains. Frankly this would make me suggest going elsewhere except for the second stage of this trail to Noakes Lake.

Here is Haiseldean. I spent little time there due to the evidence of motorized traffic.

There is no trail to Noakes lake from Haiseldean lake. It is to the NE, and the easiest route is to follow the trail on the east side of Haiseldean lake then NE up the slope. It is not hard going; this is subalpine and there is lots of open ground. I went towards the east, following the rock bluffs then up a creek draw. There were a few beautiful alpine meadows full of flowers and meandering brooks. I came out at the lower lake, which still had ice. A bit of a climb and there was the upper Noakes lake. Probably an hour to hour and a half one way.

The hike up to Noakes was magnificent. The Glacier lilies and anemones were abundant. I expected wildlife markings at least, I only saw old elk droppings and a fat Hoary Marmot. 

Arriving at the upper lake took my breath away. The lake is above 2000m. Most mountain lakes are nestled in a valley; this one felt on top of the mountain with some hills to contain it. 

Prepare for bears as usual, and mosquitos who are more abundant and vicious.

Here is evidence of the damage irresponsible quad drivers do. This is a sub alpine meadow. The damage is permanent.