If you only have part of day to visit the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, this hike to Little Strawberry Lake is a veritable highlight reel for this amazing area. Starting at Strawberry Campground, the short there-and-back hike quickly arrives at Strawberry Lake. The trail wanders through pine, fir, and larch before opening up to a dramatic view of the lake and surrounding mountains.

From Strawberry Lake, it’s only another mile of hiking to Strawberry Falls, where Strawberry Creek drops over nearly 100 feet of moss-covered basalt boulders. Continue heading up the trail, and the cutoff to Little Strawberry Lake is around a few bends.

Little Strawberry Lake sits at the base of a rock-strewn cliff. The tree-lined sides of the lake give way to boulders and colorful bands of basalt. Brook trout are plentiful here, and if you’re lucky, you’ll have the high alpine lake to yourself for some fishing or just to take in the incredible views. Mountain goats are regular visitors of these steep escarpments, along with elk, deer and other wildlife.