Great 4 mile (one-way), half-day hike from Suiattle Rv trailhead up to Milk Creek (although a longer drive than I anticipated). Fairly steep in just a few places, very moderate to easy everywhere else. Roads and trails in very good shape. One difficult creek crossing about a quarter mile after the Suiattle River bridge. I managed to do it without getting wet at all. No snow (max elevation reached = 2400 feet). Stopped at clearing at 4 miles and shot up almost a full roll of film (okay, it was a disposable camera). Amazing Glacier Peak directly ahead to the south; high waterfall to the west; Milk Creek and impressive cliff face to the east; and behind you, to the north, beautiful snow-capped jagged peaks and Sulphur Mtn. Milk Creek crossing and campsites only five minutes past clearing. On the way back through the clearing, I coughed a couple times and about 40 feet up ahead just off the trail, a startled brown bear ran off into the woods. Stay alert in this area and make noise. Directions to trailhead: I-5 to Arlington, then Hwy 530 to Darrington. Stay north on 530 about 7 or 8 miles to Suiattle River Road. Trailhead is 23-24 miles at end of road.

We hiked up this fine forest-and-river hike about five miles. Trail condition excellent for hikers. A sign at the trailhead warns horesback riders about a blowdown 4 miles in. There is a downed tree about 4 miles in, but it is easy for hikers to get under. It would probably be difficult-to-impossible for a horse, however, and there is no good bypass (the trail is cut into a steep slope at that point). Scads of calypso orchids, trillium, bleeding heart, yellow violets, etc., a most impressive river full of glacial flour, lots of big trees, moss - most everything you could want in a valley hike. We did a quick reconnoiter on the Milk Creek trail. The creek about 1/4 miles past the Suiattle River bridge is running quite wide. Crossing it is not challenging, but you will likely get your feet wet.

Took this weather-friendly day off work and headed up the Suiattle River road. The road is in great shape all the way to the end. Many stretches work great at 40mph or more. Hiked up the Suiattle River trail 0.8 miles and crossed the Suiattle River on the long bridge. Took the Milk Creek trail as a loop trip using the old trail (horribly overgrown, lots of huge blowdowns, devils club, etc.) and the new trail. When did they build the new trail' Must have been at least 30 years ago. There is some snow at the flat area at 2300'. A couple bridges are extremely icy. But until then the trail is completely snowfree. This trail has some gorgeous large old growth timber. It's a good time of year for this relatively easy trip. One log across trail just beyond the Rivord Lake outlet creek. It's not difficult to get around. That creek crossing might get your toes wet. 10,000 logs across the old trail. Three times, a pair of jets screamed down the Suiattle River only a couple hundred feet above ground level. Extremely loud, and quite suddenly. Very sharp banked turns. I felt like I was in Star Wars, and Luke Logwalker would appear with a bunch of furry critters and Princess Liedown.

March 10 2001 Decided to take a trip up the Suiattle on Sunday. Left the trailhead at about 9:30 or so. Trail is all in very good shape. The smell from the canyon Creek Bridge doesn’t ever seem like it will wear off. Also I have never seen the water this low. It looks like it would be an easy ford. Normally canyon creek is raging. But than I don’t know if I have ever been here this early. I continued on past the Miners Ridge Jct. This is the first time I seen the new Miners Creek foot log. Again this would also have been an easy ford. Which usually isn’t the case. I used the log of course. After this in some areas the snow started to get deep. Mainly just in one chute. But it was a lot more consistent all the way to the PCT. With lots of bare places though. I stopped at the bridge at about 4:30. I have heard this called the “Skyline Bridge” numerous times before. It was snowing very heavy here with lots of wind. I planned on spending the night but I listened to the weatherman {sunshine} and brought my bivy sack instead of the tent. I sat at the river for a half-hour and took a few pictures. By this time I was covered in snow. At 5:00 I decided to head back. Arrived at trailhead a couple minutes before 9:00. I have traveled on this trail quite a few times in the dark and you don’t realize how long it is until then.

The view of Image Lake with the northeast face of Glacier Peak in the background is probably the most photographed scene in the Cascades more than three miles from a trailhead. Still, even the incredible beauty the namesake image portrays does not substitute for the experience. The smell of flowers, wind through your hair causing ripples on the lake, the shrill call of dozens of marmots echoing three or four times around the basin, and the bugs; oh god the bugs. To be honest, the image of Mt. Shuksan from Picture Lake near Heather Meadows is probably slightly more aesthetic than this. What you do not see in that picture though, is that a road winds its way all the way around the lake. The beauty of Image Lake is that it is wild; as wild, wilder than the picture can portray. If you go, particularly on a weekday, you will know what I mean. I started this trip the same stupid way as many before; spur of the moment. ""Sure, I can hike 40 miles by myself in three days. What's the problem'"" Hey, I only have three days off from work. I'm already taking an extra two days off next week to go to the Enchantments. I just HAD to spend at least one night (which in this case means two) at the lake itself for its namesake photography. So, I'd hike the 12, 15, 16, or 17 miles to the lake the first day (depending on your source) which gains at least 5000 feet (including the many ups and downs along the Suiattle River). Then, the second day, I'd hike to Cloudy Pass and maybe Cloudy Peak (another 12 or 13 miles) and catch the sunset at the lake again. I knew the hike out the third day would be painful on already sore feet, but I did not know what I was in for. Lots of cars at the Suiattle trailhead (on a Tuesday'). Maybe I wouldn't have the perfect weekday solitude at the lake that I was hoping for (I was right). The path starts out innocently enough (take the trail not the road to the right of the trail). Wide immaculately maintained level tread in a huge wilderness area next to the rushing waters of the Suiattle. It stays this way to the junction with the Milk Creek Trail about a mile up. From here on are the ever present ups and downs that will gain you only 1000 feet in the 10 miles to the Image Lake junction. It feels like much more. Fortunately the trail quality stays nearly immaculate allowing for a steady mindless pace. I am all for the theory that valleys should be given the same wilderness status as their adjoining ridges, but even I have to admit, this valley is BORING! The forest is not particularly inspiring, and as soon as you're tired of the river, you'll have to find something else to keep yourself entertained. There are only a couple interesting things about this walk: the nifty suspension bridge over Canyon Creek (now THAT's woodcraft), and the abrupt change in your surroundings after Canyon Creek at 6.5 miles. All of a sudden, it appears that you've switched to the east side of the crest. The trail is very dusty and you're surrounded by open pine and fir forest. Different... DO NOT make the mistake I did. Just because there are numerous small creeks across the trail before Canyon Creek does not mean there will be after. The forest is much much drier and the few tiny creeks there now look like they will dry up soon. Drink your fill at Canyon Creek, then fill up your water bottles. Fill an extra one or two if you plan to camp between here and Image Lake, just in case. Soon enough, at about 10 miles, you come to a junction. The left trail leads to Miners Ridge and Image Lake. The right continues along the river to the PCT which makes its way over Suiattle Pass. There are a couple good campsites here with questionable all summer water. When you're ready for a workout of body and mind, continue up the left trail towards Image Lake. The switchbacks pull you in at first. They wind at a fairly easy grade through forest shady enough so you won't cook (except on VERY hot days). If you're like me, you'll start to think, ""Hey, this isn't that bad, what's all the fuss about'"" Be forewarned, the grade gets steeper, the switchbacks longer, and the trail hotter well before you reach the ridge. Just to pass the time, you can count the regularly spaced switchbacks. There are 26 on the lower part. The last few are considerably steeper and longer than the first many. At this point, you cross what are creeks now-maybe only creek beds in two weeks. Soon you come to another junction with another trail leading to Suiattle Pass (is this really necessary'). The steeper and longer trend started on the last few lower switchbacks continues on the 12 upper ones. Two of the last three switchbacks leading to the ridge are VERY long. This is heartbreaking at the end of such a long climb. At least the trail is still nearly perfect and there is no snow here, or anywhere else along the trail. Finally you reach the ridge. If you have the energy, walk the short distance to your left to the Miners Ridge Lookout Tower and chat with the retired couple volunteering there this entire summer. They can fill you in on a lot of useful information about the area, including where to get the best views. After this take the trail to the right toward the lake losing a few feet in elevation during the .6 mile or so to the lake. This part is through incredible flower fields that stretch all along Miners Ridge right now. Finally, you arrive at the lake. So small, so fragile. Doesn't seem like much of a ""destination."" You'll see why it is when the sun sets. It took me from 11:30 in the morning till about 8:30 in the evening to reach the lake. The climb took everything I had, mentally and physically. I think that says something because I'm in the best shape of my life right now and the hike up Dickerman last week was, well, easy. I arrived at the lake right at sunset. Like I said before, I didn’t care, I just wanted to sleep. So I did. The campground is just maybe an eighth of a mile south of the lake. The first few campsites have the best views, but have the disadvantage of people constantly walking through your living room. I dropped down a little ways to larger campsites in a stand of subalpine fir. My planned trip to Cloudy Pass didn’t really work out. Just the mild climb out of the lake basin showed me just how sore and fatigued I was. I decided to wander around the lake basin for the day instead. I highly recommend scampering up one of the small peaks to the north of the lake. The one to the northeast looks a little easier. From here, views to the north and east greatly improve. Dome Peak makes itself plainly visible to the north. Jagged rocky peaks of the Lyman Lakes area rake the sky to the east. Now it was time to photograph the sunset. There is something so pure and beautiful about photographing the mountains. For once, the weather cooperated almost perfectly. I am very anxious about how the pictures will turn out. Now for the long, painful day out. My feet were already sore and somewhat blistered. You cannot know how much I would have liked to stop for the night at Canyon Creek Campground. Unfortunately, I told my mom I’d be out on Thursday and I didn’t want a search party coming up looking for me. So, I took some pain medicine and fought my way out. My 1978 Oldsmobile never looked so beautiful. But even that didn’t compare to the sight of McDonalds on the way home. A word to the wise: don’t try to do this trip as I did. Take at least four or five days. Two days up, two days down, and however long you want on top.