Gorgeous sunny Sunday June 1 day. Per GAIA, 7.8 miles for the loop hike (including the .4 miles to see the Little Summit): Mountain Lake to Little Summit to Mt. Constitution to Twin Lakes to Mountain Lake. I saw only several people on the way up, and nobody on segment Constitution to Mountain Lake on the return. (Perhaps the Orcasfest music festival reduced the hiking crowd?) Started at 1pm, returned 5:45, dallied an hour at the view points. At the top, there are restrooms and a visitor center. Not food.
The trail quality is marvelous, mudless on this lovely day. Great signage for trails. There's some respectable steepness in the first mile, before you hit the spur option to Little Summit, after which I didn't notice the up. I found the spur trip to Little Summit well worth the effort. The best part (views from Little Summit and the Mt. Constitution tower) you can drive to if you like. But, it was pleasant and peaceful in the forest, with looks to Cold Spring, Twin Lakes and Mountain Lake. And those views -- wow! even with distant clouds obscuring Baker and Vancouver. So many islands. At the top of the Mt. Constitution tower, there are several signs on which the artist renderings of islands are stunningly good for accurate identification of the many islands.
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