Cougar Lakes, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section I - White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass — Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023

Overnight to Cougar Lakes via the PCT south from Chinook Pass.

The route passes Dewey Lakes, Anderson Lakes, American Lake, and finally Cougar Lakes. Each lake is better than the last until the real
gem of Lower Cougar Lake.

Trail conditions: the PCT is on good condition. Thanks to the PCTA crew at work near Dewey Lakes.

The turnoff to the Cougar Lake trail from the American Ridge trail is unsigned and easy to miss. Look for a small cairn.

Camp conditions: I was a little worried about the condition of Cougar Lakes based on a previous report by a ranger who packed out tons of waste a couple of years ago. Thankfully, the camping area was pretty clean apart, oddly, from a single shoe. We were all alone on a beautiful fall weekend!

After setting up camp, we took the rough trail south that goes along the isthmus and leads out of the lake basin onto the ridge. While we didn't find it as bad as described in a previous TR, I would say it's not mandatory. The view is good but not spectacular and there is no Rainier view from the ridge. It does, however, feel very quiet and remote. Lots of elk sign.

Wildlife: a couple of goats on the scree across the lake, and a coyote (?) heard a couple of times.

Berries: none. What a stinker of a year for berries.

Fall foliage: popping. This being my first hike in the area immediately south of Chinook Pass, I can't say for sure, but I think the fall colors really made the place spectacular.