It sure was a nice sunny day, perfect for an exploratory trip in the North Cascades. This was a choice due to time and travel and a little peace and quiet.
Recent trail work was evident by the number of recently cut deadfalls and refreshed water bars (thanks!). The first part of the trail is steep and a couple other areas further up but there's plenty of easy grade along the way to balance it out. The forest floor is covered with moss as you get higher and there were still some fairy slippers here and there. The two creek crossings were easy rock hops. Only hazards were lots of roots in certain sections.
Okay, it's not exactly a destination lake but it wasn't a pond either despite other trail reports. It was deep enough to jump into from the large boulder that makes a nice spot to sit and have a snack. The top is large and flat enough for a tent and still have room to move around.
The climbers trail continues from the other side of the boulder. We budgeted ourselves another half hour and climbed to a small outcrop at 3100 feet. I'd have had a hard time climbing with a full pack. Veggie belays were required in spots, and some steep crumbly rock was also present. Filtered views of Davis and Sourdough mountains across the valley. We heard two large avalanches along the way. 6.5 miles and 1950 of gain to the outcrop.
Comments
I like this nice quiet hike, but I took 2 different hiking partners up there and they were not impressed. There is supposed to be some of the carnivorous sundew plants up there on the old logs, but I couldn't zoom in close enough to find out for sure
Posted by:
Muledeer on May 04, 2026 11:32 AM
The sundew plants are there on the logs however they are difficult to photograph without a long lens camera. False asphodel are often growing in the same spot.
Posted by:
Lucy on May 04, 2026 07:24 PM
My friends weren't impressed either. There were logs close to the shore at the edge of the "lake". I wish I'd read the description before we hiked the trail so I could have attempted a few shots. Never a regret taking a hike though!
Posted by:
Ups n Downs on May 04, 2026 09:45 PM