Desolation Peak — Tuesday, Jun. 19, 2001

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

On a last minute whim, two of us took the water taxi up Ross Lake and got dropped off at Lightening Creek Campground, the nearest camping to the Desolation Peak trailhead. We camped there (very impressive new bear boxes, and nobody else there) and in the morning got started hiking by 7:45. From Lightening Creek, it’s 2.1 miles north up the East Bank Trail before hitting the Desolation Peak trail. Then, it’s 4.7 miles and 4300 feet up to the lookout, elevation just over 6,000 feet. The lookout was locked but we could look in through the door. Fantastic views, down to the lake, across to the Picket Range and Mt. Redoubt, north to Hozameen Mtn. and Canada, and south to Jack Mtn. The trail was well graded, shadier than we expected (sunny at the top) and virtually snow free already. Nobody else in sight. Not much water on this trail and we went though more than 2 quarts each, I recommend carrying a filter so you can re-fill at the one or two little springs on the way. We got back to camp around 6:00, after 13.6 miles and 4400 feet up and down, and the next day by pre-arrangement the boat came and picked us up mid-day. A great early season option for a long day hike to high elevation, and scenic low elevation camping.