Libby Lake — Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026

Libby Lake was in my list for a long time. Finally, took a couple of sick days at work to check it out. I read most of the previous trip reports and was aware of small parking lot and barely 5-6 campsites available at the Lake.

The drive from Seattle was too long. Left at 6am yesterday, reached the TH at 10:30 am. The forest road 43 and 4340 is in good shape. There are two forest roads do not show up on google map but be careful while driving.
The parking lot is small, can fit 10 cars If everyone park their cars efficiently.
No bathroom, not even mention of the trail name.
The board just says Okanogan National forest. There is a register at the TH, make sure to sign it. It helps the FS to understand the traffic on this trail and in rescue operations (if required).

There were 4 cars at the TH when I showed up yesterday morning, and another Subaru followed me immediately.
However, nobody else registered before me.
The trail is in good condition, well maintained. The first section of the trail goes through a burnt section, almost no shade at all. Yesterday afternoon was warm. After like 2.5 mile, the trail enters in the shaded area.
A few creek crossings in this section, all are dried up at this time of the year.
The trail gradually goes up.
At mile 5, the trail reaches the shelter (not sure what was that for in the past) and the turnoff to Hoodoo peak.
The last 0.5 mile to the Lake gains 400 feet and steep.
First and the last part of this trial gains significant elevation, the middle part is gradual.

While going up to the Lake, I passed 3 day hikers and a runner.
It took me 3.5 hours to reach the lake. Soon after that, 3 other day hikers left too. After that I had the lake to myself for the entire time until a runner showed up at 7 am in the morning today.

There is a campsite on the left side of the Lake, and 1 on the right close to the Lake; 3-4 others on the right side a bit up on the rocky surfaces.
I took the left one so that if a big group arrive later, they can take the right side. Plus I can easily dig a cat hole on the left side of the Lake.

Last night there was no wind at all, it was surprisingly warm.
I brought my 15 degrees sleeping bag, clearly I could've be okay with my 30 degrees quilt. The wind picked up a little bit in the morning though, still a fleece and marino wool base layer was warm enough.
Sunrise was beautiful; The larches are quickly dropping their needles in the wind. The larches near the lake are past their prime, I was late by 4-7 days.

While the larches next to the trail at 6100/6200 feet are peaking now.

I heard a screaming yesterday afternoon from the Raven's Ridge, freaked me out. Turned out 2 climbers were up there, were shouting. Not sure which path they took to come down.
The entire night, I kept hearing sound of rock falls around that area.


So quite and beautiful backpack it was, not too long and strenuous!
5.5 miles with 3400 feet of gain acc to my Garmin watch.
Only saw 9 day hikers today on my back to the TH.



Opinion Piece:
While driving back to Seattle, I took the scenic route through HWY 20. Was a bit curious to see how many cars are there at some specific Trailheads.
I wasn't disappointed to see many cars at the Blue Lake TH and a mile long cars parked at Rainy Pass.
I think on average the footfall in the Maple Pass area could be close too 1000.
now if I am running the US department of Interior, then I'm definitely setting up an independent commission to survey the damage causing to these areas.
And then I'd propose a bill to the Congress to alter the boundaries of North Cascades NP to absorb most of the areas under Okanogan Wenatchee NF.
After that I'd implement a reservation quota based system to hike in these mountains in the Fall/ early winter time. (Sept - Nov)

Backpacking to Wing Lake should definitely be limited by now. That area is very fragile and sitting on 7000 feet of elevation. I saw a picture on Instagram a few days ago - Someone took it at the sunset time. The Wing Lake area looked like a fucking settlement.

I know many people will argue and be pissed at this. But If I need to be the bad person in order to save and protect nature, then I'd happy to be one.