Note: the Mt. Constitution road is closed Mon-Thurs until about June 10, 2022 for road repairs. The visitors' center, however is open - and I might add that during the week, since few people elect to hike up rather than drive there's pretty much no one there. The volunteer at the center said they had been getting about 1000 people a day on the weekend, but only a dozen a day during the week.
We parked at Mountain Lake just before the campground, and took the Little Summit trail up to the top, a little more than 3 miles, returning via Mountain Lake. Going this route gets all the hard work at the beginning of the loop. This would be our preferred choice - since starting for the top via Mountain Lake puts all the hard work at the very end of the hike.
The trail is rocky, narrow and steep up the first 600' or so elevation gain from the lake, then you are more or less following the ridge top up just E of the false summit, and continuing to the visitor's center and tower at the top. That bit from near the false summit to the top is all glorious views, Mt. Baker standing pretty proud, and all of the north cascades and Canadian coast range in full view. There are several exceptional viewpoints/rest spots along the way - we found the entire route, even up the steep bit at the beginning, pretty exhilerating. Didn't see a single person on the way up, and only after we'd reached the top about 11:30, did we see one other party.
Lunch at the top, then came down via Mountain Lake. Absolute stillness, and looong downhill switchbacks. I have to say, that unless you've never seen big trees, ferns and moss, the Little Summit trail is more interesting. Plus, that last 2-3 miles along the lake became somewhat of a slog returning to the car.
We'd not want to do the loop in reverse (counter clockwise), since after walking along the lake, past twin lakes and the intermediate forest, it will be a long steep climb up to the top. Would rather get the steepest part over at the beginning of the hike.
Nice weather, not too hot, not too breezy. 5 hours RT, including leisurely lunch and stops for the great views enroute on Little Summit trail.
Low mountain lupine, great camas, bicolor lupine, etc.
Coming up along the ridge the views were so compelling that we forgot to take pictures. Tsk tsk.
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