We would never do this as a destination hike - too short and too easy for the drive from Bellevue. But as the last hike on the way back from a long weekend of day hikes on the eastern slope, it worked. A cool, cloudy day - thunder off in the distance, no rain in the immediate area. The trail is in excellent condition - hikers only, that's why! Less than 1 hour to the lake with a few creek crossings - all easy. Lake is shallow & swampy at the trail access, tough for Scout to swim - and the mosquitos found us quickly! We met up with 6 sr's on the way and passed 2 duos on their way in as we trekked out. This was a two hour easy hike, A beautiful trail and quiet setting. Some sporadic wildflowers (columbine, heather), but mostly a regrowth forest that seems in its infancy,

To stretch our legs after driving from Seattle to the upper Methow, we hiked the quick four mile round trip to Cutthroat Lake. The trail is in great shape, the bugs at the lake actually weren't too bad, there's a good swimming area around the left side of the lake (the rest of the lake is rather shallow), and the water temperature is quite bracing.

The road from US 20 (North Cascades Highway) to the trailhead is snowfree and clear. The first mile of the trail is in good condition with a few snow patches and a few small blowdowns. (A good pruning saw will provide you with some trail maintenance credit.) From there on the trail is mostly snow covered but easy to follow and melting fast. From the trail turnoff to Cutthroat Pass the 0.2 miles to Cutthroat lake is completely under about 2 feet of snow but route finding is easy. The lake is melted out and beautiful. No bugs but get here soon for beautiful scenery without the bugs.

Decided on an easy hike for my first outing of the season in the North Cascades. Cutthroat Lake is an easy 4 mile round trip on the longer trail to Cutthroat Pass. Elevation gain is mild, gently climbing through open woods, and the trail is in fantastic shape (no blowdowns, hardly any roots or rocks in the trail). A fair number of cars in the parking lot, but most of those folks must have been up on the PCT because there was only one set of campers at the lake. This trail is popular on summer weekends, but a trip on a weekday provides lots of solitude. Some snow patches near the lake, but trail is clear the whole way. No bugs yet, but I'm guessing that will change in another week or two. Fido loved all the streams and swam in the lake until he shivered. (Bonus: Both Gorge and Diablo dams were releasing water; it's a beautiful and rare sight to see rushing water in the gorge above New Halem when you're driving on the 20). The trail to Cutthroat Lake and Pass is a 2.5-3hr drive to just east of Washington Pass from Mukilteo.