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Skyline Lake is located about 90 minutes east of Seattle in Stevens Pass. Skyline Lake is a place where you can sun or go fishing in the nude and the scenery is fabulous. Nude hiking is possible on the west side of the lake along a slight trail that leads about 1/4 mile up to the ridgetop. The views are breathtaking and the ridge continues for miles in both directions.
DIRECTIONS: Go north from Seattle to Route 2 and head east for about 90 minutes to Stevens Pass. Look for signs to the Stevens Pass ski area. Across the road from the ski area is a small parking lot. Park there and walk up the gravel road past the cabins for about a mile. Pass the lookout tower and turn left at the fork in the road a little further up. The road leads to Skyline Lake, roughly a quarter mile or so farther.
SITE REVIEWS:
Subject: Juniper Forest
Date: Sun, 08 Aug 1999
From: Scott & Gayle-Marie (snoga@excite.com)
Carl,
I suppose I should update my e-mail address on the Juniper Forest writeup. The Delphi address is no longer valid. I can be contacted at snoga@excite.com
You may want to split that writeup out of the Skyline lake section and provide a separate heading, since it's not in the Skyline lake area. It's ok with me to split that message. That was my intent in the first place, though I didn't explicitly state that.
On a different topic, I have found another excellent area for naturist day hiking in the SE, WA area. It's very secluded, scenic, full of wildlife (elk, deer, coyote, rabbit, etc) and plantlife to observe up close, has water, and is big (120 square miles). There are a couple of sensitive issues with this federal area (most of the reason it's so devoid of people) but is legal. Until I take the time to write up the issues in detail, I don't want to provide the access directions. I wouldn't want anyone to be caught unaware. Until then I may be available to guide people around the area and explain. I can be contacted via e-mail.
If you like, the preceeding paragraph can be placed following the Juniper Forest writeup.
Thanks,
Scott
Date:
Sun, 11 Jan 1998
From: MonkeyBoy
Mooncrow:
I think your site is great, and when I had a chance to visit Washington and Oregon, I relied almost exclusively on information from your pages to plan my itinerary. Following is my site report for Skyline Lake along with a picture.
I visited on August 23rd, a Saturday. The trail up, as has been mentioned by previous posters, is *extremely* steep. And mosquitos are a problem, though only at the lower elevations of the trail, it seemed to me, though the flies were all over. The weather was kind of glowering so I was all alone, it seemed, on the entire mountain - I was able to hike almost all the way up completely nude (except for boots), as well as around the perimeter of the lake and lay out for a bit.
Near where I took this picture is a small clearing with evidence of a recently used campfire ring, so there's definitely space available for overnight stays. I only had a week to get through Washington and Oregon, so I only stayed a few hours enjoying the view and the solitude, and then hiked down, nude as well, only pausing to put on my shorts when I came into view of the cabins at the base of the trail.
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 95
From: snoga@beta.tricity.wsu.edu
I visited Skyline lake with my family in early September and can report that it is a beautiful place. It is a steep climb, and the turn to the left after the watchtower is easily missed. We saw a variety of birds, fish, deer, etc. and during our two day stay encountered one single man who was fishing nude, and a textiled couple that passed through. The downside were the aggressive and numerous flies and mosquitoes. Even our dog would not venture out of the sleeping bag at night (he's small and probably would have been sucked dry in minutes). Maybe a different time of year would have been better.
I'm attaching a writup on a local area known as the Juniper Wilderness Area. Perhaps you can include it in your listing. If you have any questions, or if I can be of furthur assistance, I can be reached at NACOD@DELPHI.COM
Looking for a change in environment to widen your nature experience? One of the unique aspects of the Pacific Northwest region is the diversity of climate within a short geographical distance. Tired of the coastal rain? Want to dry your bones? Head inland to the shrub-steppe environment of the Columbia Basin. An impressive unique wilderness exists in Franklin County, known as the Juniper Dunes Wilderness area, declared as such by the Washington State Wilderness Act in July 1984. This area contains some of the largest sand dunes in the state, ranging in size from 200-1200 feet wide to as high as 130 feet. The faces and lower slopes support various grasses and shrubs and an occasional juniper tree. Furthur in, you'll encounter groves of Western Juniper. These groves, six in all, represent the largest stands of Juniper trees in the state of Washington. Many wildlife species have become adapted to the special mix of environmental conditions and habitat unique to this area. Mammals include mule deer, coyote, weasel, skunks and rodents. A large variety of birds and reptiles exist, including many birds of prey. Insects include crickets, bees and flies -- stinging/biting insects, like mosquitoes, are generally not a problem. With the exception of the cricket population, which occasionally explodes for a while, insects are sparse enough to not be a real nuisance. If you encounter some pesky flies, moving a short distance away usually solves the problem. They seem to be attracted more to bright objects (your vehicle perhaps) than your person. Day hikes are my favorite activity here, as one can leave everything at the vehicle and travel unencumbered. Overnight camping is allowed if a permit is obtained first. Be advised, there are NO facilities of any kind. This is primitive camping at it's best. There is no charge for the permit, which is available by mail from the Spokane District Office or any BLM personnel in the area. The permits allow the BLM folks to convey information about the area rules and to collect information about visitor use (along with the sign-in sheets) -- not to mention keeping tabs on those that might enter and not find their way back. Permits are also required for use of any horses or pack animals, or for groups of 10 or more people.
Directions: From the intersection of Highway 12 and Lewis Street in Pasco (near highway mile marker 293), head east on the Kahlotus highway. Travel six miles to Peterson Road. You will see a VERY large yellow mailbox at the intersection (you can't miss it). Take a left onto the gravel road. Keep the speed down, as the few households along this stretch are sensitive to the noise and dust and keep a watch for speeders. Travel straight ahead through the stop sign one mile down the road. One more mile and you'll encounter the Juniper Wilderness area entrance sign. It won't look like much at this point -- you're not there yet. Watch your odometer closely after this entrance sign, as you don't want to miss the next turn, which has no sign or significant landmark (this is where most people get lost). The road becomes dirt only (no gravel). At two miles you'll reach what is currently the second intersection past the entrance sign -- turn right. Less than a quarter mile on the left is a parking area, with a sign-in board. The road continues on to the actual entrance of the wilderness area (still another four miles), but it gets alot rougher. I would not recommend a car beyond this point -- a minimum of a 2WD truck is needed. This parking area is popular with ORV enthusiasts -- mostly dirt-bikes and quad-runners; 4WD vehicles being seen as too destructive. Some of the world-class sand dunes are a short distance furthur, but still out of view. Continue down the dirt road for another three miles. A road to the right will have a small sign pointing the way to the wilderness area one mile away. This road is very sandy and requires a 4WD or off-road-capable motorcycle to ensure that you don't get stuck. Follow this road until you reach a fence with a walk-through-only gate and a sign-in board.
Impressions: Inside the fenced region (around fifty to a hundred square miles), the chance of encountering another person is extremely remote. I have never had it happen. The sign-in sheet gives an indication of the presence of any others. Usually, you will find that you are the only person(s) there. The dune area outside the fence often contains a handful of dirt-bike riders, which can be heard at a distance. This means that carrying a cover-up is not necessary. On nice days one can simply tank up on food and water, then head in with nothing more than a pair of sunglasses for the day and maybe some sandals if your feet are soft. Some care is prudent when entering the fenced area, however. Remember, you are on your own! There is no water available and there are no developed trails. Campfires are not permitted; only portable campstoves. Think WILDERNESS. If you're the sort with no sense of direction, it would not be at all difficult to get lost. The terrain consists generally of rolling hills for as far as the eye can see, with no towering landmarks to act as reference. Attention to detail is important, though you technophiles could instead tote a GPS receiver or a trusty compass. The best time to visit is in the spring, ideally soon after a rainshower. You'll find many plant varieties in bloom, giving the terrain a splash of color. Moisture makes the ground more firm for easier travel, especially on the roads. Second best visiting time is in autumn. The temperatures are moderate and there are a few plant varieties that bloom then. As in the spring, the air is filled with distinct scents. Summer temperatures can easily climb well over one hundred degrees F. The humidity is quite low, so it's not that uncomfortable as long as you have plenty of water. As in most desert climates, the temperatures can get significantly cooler at night -- dropping from a hundred-plus down to mid-seventies. One summer nuisance to be aware of are the invader species of plantlife. The cheatgrass is growing in areas, particularly widespread around the perimeter. This grass dies in early summer, leaving pointed seeds that work their way into everything. If you wear socks or closed shoes, you won't penetrate very far before being turned back. It's best to wear open sandals or thongs -- spring is about the only time one can travel barefoot, while the grass is still green. Just watch for the occasional patch of prickly pear cactus. Fortunately, the tumbleweeds and tackweed haven't established themselves too well yet in this area. I've encountered a BLM "ranger" only once. They periodically drive the dirt/sand road around the fenced perimeter, checking it's condition. He seemed pretty easy-going and friendly. I didn't bring up the topic of naturism, however, as I happened to be one of the dune-hopping dirt-bikers on that particular visit.
For more information or a permit, contact:
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Spokane District
East 4217 Main Avenue
Spokane, WA 99202
Phone (509) 353-2570
Review written by: NACOD@DELPHI.COM on 11/25/95
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