Trail Description
NOTE ON DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD: Make sure you take the Melrose exit to Trapper Creek Rd then to Canyon Creek Rd. We took the Moose Creek Exit which took us on a road truly not meant for vehicles on the way there!
The Crescent Lake, Lake Abundance, and Canyon Lake Loop in the Pioneer Mountains is an outstanding hike! None of this trail is too steep, making it a fairly gradual incline to the lakes. You have views most of the way and hike through open fields filled with wildflowers. The trail starts out crossing a bridge and follows the meandering Canyon Creek for two miles. After the two miles, you cross the creek which leads to an open field with great views of the valley leading to Grayling and Lion Lakes. Once you reach this point, you start to gain some elevation. The trail takes you up the northside valley wall for 2.5 miles. We hiked up to the ridgeline to get a better view before continuing to the Lake Abundance. Surprisingly the last half mile to Lake Abundance decreases in elevation coming down from the valley wall. A nice relaxing arrival to the first lake. This lake has an abundance of rocks surrounding the shoreline – which had us wondering about the name origin. The trail continues onto Crescent Lake, which is one of the most breathtaking lakes we’ve hiked to date! Rocks and a tiny island are scattered around the shoreline. After fishing for a bit at Crescent, we continued onto Canyon. This is a somewhat steep descent down to Canyon that lies right next to the Southeast valley wall. After Canyon, you will ascend a fair amount to hike back up to the trail. From here on out, you can enjoy the trail back down!