STONE PONDS WAV TRAIL

Not maintained 
Length 2.8 mi/4.5 km 
Access Scout Lake Way Trail 
USGS Map Mount Skokomish 
Agency Olympic National Park

This route coincides with Scout Lake Way Trail from Scout 
Lake as far south as the point (0.4 mi/0.6 km; 4500 ft/1372 
m) where the Scout Lake Way Trail reaches the base of its 
steep descent from Deerheart Lake. The Stone Ponds Way 
Trail then continues south toward Mount Stone, climbing 
through meadow dotted with tree-covered knolls, outcrops of 
rock, and little ponds. One can see St. Peters Gate 
straight ahead.

The trail comes out into a big meadow and vanishes, but it 
can be found again on the far side, where it leads up to 
Stone Ponds Pass (1.0 mi/1.6 km; 4900fill 1494 m), then 
descends to Stone Ponds, two small lakes (1.2 mi/1.9 km; 
ca. 4600 ft/ 1402 m) at the head of a branch of Boulder 
Creek. The trail ends at this point. 

Meadows, subalpine forest, scree, and large boulders border 
the Stone Ponds, aquamarine in color. The scene is 
tranquil, quiet except for the sound made by a waterfall in 
the creek above. The sheer, smooth cliffs of Mount Stone 
tower above the lakes.

The route to St. Peters Gate (2.0 mi/3.2 km; 5900 ft/1798 
m) climbs over heather, scree, and snow. The "gate" is a U-
shaped notch in the southeast ridge of Mount Stone. This 
ridge forms the divide between Boulder Creek and Whitehorse 
Creek, tributaries of the Hamma Hamma River.

Beyond St. Peters Gate the route descends to Lake of the 
Angels (2.8 mi/4.5 km; 4900 ft/1494 m), the source of 
Whitehorse Creek, located just below the saddle between 
Mount Stone and Mount Skokomish. The Putvin Trail can then 
be followed from the lake to the Boulder Creek Road.