On a Saturday morning in Stehekin, we set out for a short family hike before our afternoon guided fly fishing trip. Choosing Agnes Gorge over the Stehekin River Trail, we drove past High Bridge to a small pullout right by the trailhead after breakfast at the Stehekin Pastry Company. Starting late, we planned for about 50 minutes of hiking before turning back. The shaded forest trail offered occasional views of McGregor Mountain and was in good condition, with only minor overgrowth and one easy stream crossing. Surprisingly, there were no mosquitoes despite packing bug spray. Less than a mile in, we crossed from North Cascades National Park into Glacier Peak Wilderness without much fanfare.
As we hiked, we spotted a mountain grouse, glimpsed snowy Agnes Mountain and Chikamin Glacier through the trees, and caught partial views of the gorge’s blue waters. A highlight was encountering a fawn and an unusually unbothered doe who kept eating as we passed. We turned around just past this point, still hoping for a bear sighting for my son, but had no luck. On the return, we enjoyed more views of McGregor before stopping at High Bridge for a final look at the Stehekin River. While we didn’t reach the trail’s end or get sweeping gorge views, it was a pleasant, easy outing that fit perfectly into our limited schedule.
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