WTA Pro Tip: This is a popular area for camping. On a sunny weekend, start early to allow plenty of time to find a site. Note that Gothic Basin is an extremely fragile area, so be sure that you're camping on an established site or sturdy surface, like rock or dirt, and avoid camping in meadows or grasses, as this can damage the landscape. You’ll also want a bear can, as there are no trees in Gothic Basin suitable for a bear line.

Gothic Basin

If you're intrigued by the name, you'll be amazed by the view. Gothic Basin was the most incredible hike I have ever done, and made better by spending the night below the milky way.

Pros: nice one backpacks there, so you have all the room in the world, and privacy too. Incredible view. Ready access to glacial melt streams for filtering (and swimming 😉).

Cons: it is fairly hilly and it can be hard to find a flat place. It also gets very cold at night. Little protection from wind (though we had no issues).

Incredible

Very crowded hike up, well marked until you get to the summit. From there it was hard to figure out which lake was which. By talking to other hikers we figured out how to get to Foggy Lake, where we camped. Absolutely gorgeous views.

Great swimming and starwatching

My sister and I hiked to the basin and then another mile over rock faces to Foggy Lake to camp for the night. The hike is difficult if you aren't in good shape and you have to be able to climb/ hoist yourself over and down large boulders on a steep incline. It's about 7miles from the road to the lake. There was plenty of space to set up camp at the lake and also down in the basin. Not that many bugs!!

Sunday summer night at Foggy Lake

Pretty strenuous hike with gear but worth every step. Lots of waterfalls on the ascent and the basin has epic views. Enjoy if you go