Cutthroat Lakes/ Walt Bailey Trail

GRANITE FALLS MOUNTAIN LOOP AREA

Miles: 10 roundtrip

Elevation: 2300 feet gained

Climb through a forest to a perfect meadow with a stream winding through it at about two miles. After that, cross to the north shoulder of Bald Mountain and switchback up to a series of small tarns as the terrain opens up to meadows. Pass a few lakes before reaching the main Cutthroat Lake, five miles from your car. This lake has a few campsites and the trail continues up to the summit of Bald Mountain. It is only a mile from the lake, and you get new views, looking down at the Cutthroat Lakes and on the south side you see Spada Lake Resevoir. Walt Bailey mapped this trail out and used hours of volunteer work to help him complete it after he heard news of the 1/2 mile trail from Spada Lake closing. Department of Natural Resources owns the property on this hike, and it does not require a forest pass. 

  • Drive past Verlot seven miles and turn right on Malardy Road, FS road 4030. Turn right after one mile onto FS road 4032. The trailhead is at the end of this road in eight miles.