As of 10/3 the Cascade Pass trail is inaccessible. The road is gated at the NP boundary due to the federal shutdown.

As has been reported, the road to the trailhead is relatively rough, starting at about 30 minutes out, where the pavement turns to dirt. It's certainly not the worst dirt road to a trail I've ever had to traverse, but it is riddled mostly with ridges that are like rumble strips across the whole road. There are two switchbacks that do have mini hills at the turns, so be watchful of those and take it carefully. We made it just fine in an SUV, and set out on the trail at 8:22.

We arrived at the same time as maybe three other hiking groups, and about half the spots were already full, so the lot was filling up despite the dreary weather. There was a good handful of other hikers that we encountered on the trail, and at times, we walked with several in sight. The viewpoint had the greatest concentration of hikers when we reached it, maybe five groups or so.

It was cloudy and wet when we started out but eventually cleared up a bit and made out for a beautiful hike. The colors were stunning, and it wasn't too much work to get to the mountain viewpoint, which we reached at around 10am. The real work began as we continued further up toward the Sahale Arm, which involved a steep incline over rocks.

Our goal was Doubtful Lake, and we had a bit of trouble finding the trail down as several social paths have been forged at the top. We had to retrace our steps and really scrutinize the map to find our way. If you keep left at the Sahale-Doubtful fork, you'll come across a view of the lake, and while the trail there is overrun by trees and bushes and might look like it ends, I promise that's the correct way down. This part is not nearly as well maintained as the Cascade Pass Trail. Several sections are crowded with roots/stems of bushes that inhibit good traction and foot placement, so be careful there. But it is worth it to tackle because the views and vibrancy of fall are more beautiful than words can describe or pictures can do justice.

It took us about an hour to get from the mountain viewpoint to the lake and about 2½ hours to get back to the parking lot. At around 1:10pm, we rounded a switchback and were faced with a black bear not 100 feet in front of us on the trail. I waved my arms and hollered a few "hey bear"s at him as my sister clapped, and he hesitantly turned and climbed up the hill away from trail. We waited a bit to give him space before walking on.

We reached the parking lot at 2:15pm, and only a couple of spaces were vacant. All in all, it was a wonderful day and an unforgettable hike!

Smoky conditions couldn't take the fun out of a decidedly autumnal day in the North Cascades. While the haze obscured some of this hike's signature views, it couldn't hide the sheer scale of the landscape, a riot of fall colors, and the charm of Doubtful Lake. I bailed on continuing along the Sahale Arm and went down to the lake instead -- an addition that AllTrails says brings the total trip to 9.6 miles with 3,100 feet of elevation gain. 

The drive in was a doozy. As others have noted, it's technically fine -- lots of washboards and potholes, but only one true break in the road that requires finesse or clearance. My hatchback made it through. But the ungraded portion of the drive is long and narrow and, as a result, rather taxing in its own right. It took me 30 minutes, and I was going relatively quickly. The parking lot, with Johannesburg Mountain looming overhead, quickly makes up for it with a view -- just maybe not an actual parking space. I arrived at 8:30am to a completely full lot but found a nearby roadside spot without issue.

The beginning of the trail is a series of well-engineered switchbacks: brisk enough to get you up the mountain efficiently, but not so grueling as to burn you out right at the start. After about 2.5 miles, the trail levels out into a more level (but also more exposed) section and then brings you suddenly to Cascade Pass. The views here are incredible, and the wide open spaces (with benches!) and a toilet make it the perfect spot for lingering.

But if you plan to press on, don't let your guard down. Between the incline, rocks, and open sky, the first stretch of the Sahale Arm trail is tougher than anything on the Cascade Pass trail. I was relieved to hit the saddle and, while Sahale Glacier looked enticing in the distance, Doubtful Lake seemed like a better destination for this smoky, sunny day.

The trail to the lake is clearly marked at the junction, but the path quickly dissolves into a mess of social trails. Most seem to be good -- just keep an eye on where the ridge is -- with at least one notable exception. If you, like me, are prone to confusing streambeds with trails, don't be fooled like I was into basically skydiving off of a viewpoint into a steep, eroded hillside. The path down started as a plausible, even well-marked, "trail," but I was quickly on all fours and then, after the rocks disappeared, sliding. This route, if it ever was a trail, is now damaging to both the environment and the body. Thankfully, my detour ended in the best blueberry patch I've encountered this year. After a few handfuls, I found the energy to haul myself back up.

The actual trail is off to the north/left of the junction and, while rocky and rooty, it's a well-maintained series of switchbacks that doesn't require any scrambling, climbing, or sliding (though one corner does wedge you tightly between a tree and a muddy slope). Despite a relative crowd headed for the glacier, I saw only three people at the lake -- which was probably for the best, as there isn't much in the way of lake access or space to spread out.

After taking a few minutes to revel in the reflections of fall foliage, I half-heartedly attempted to filter some water and headed back up. I got a little turned around when I neared the ridge, but a social trail spit me out further up the Sahale Arm trail, and I went on my merry way. I returned around 2:15pm to the parking lot, where at least fifty cars were parked along the road. The whole hike was about 5.5 hours, unless you count the drive, in which case it felt like 5.5 years. All in all, a gorgeous hike and a great way to welcome fall!

Worth every bump on the rough road and every step on the switchbacks. The trek down Cascade River road is quite long and bumpy so take it slow, even in a truck. The view from the trailhead alone is awesome, but parking can be a challenge on the narrow road if the main parking area is full. We arrived shortly before 9 am on a Saturday and had to double back to park a ways down along the service road, where allowed.

Once the hike started, the 30+ switchbacks were relatively moderate as the trail is very well maintained and graded. At the top, the views along the ridge are mind-blowing. I felt like I was on the edge of an unexplored landscape.

We saw Marmots, Pika, deer - no mountain goats, though there were plenty of rocky cliffs for them to frolic along. Sunscreen came in handy for the last quarter of the hike to the lunch spot, even in September. If you have the opportunity, this hike is a can’t-miss!

What more is there to say about this iconic hike? One thing first about the road. It's washboardy for miles, some potholes but not a lot, after you cross into the National Park, the road gets better for a bit then worse. There are 2 or 3 really bad spots that, if you are not paying attention (because the scenery is distracting you), you will be jarred awake. I have a Durango (high clearance) and I bottomed out at one of those points. I arrived at the circular parking lot at 6:15 am on a Thursday morning and had no trouble finding a parking spot. The trail is in great shape, all 30 switchbacks are gradual in elevation gain. This is not a difficult trail. My photos are a little muted due in part to the wildfires, I believe, but the views are gorgeous. There's no water on the trail so take whatever you need and have fun!