The North Cascades are stunning. They are much older, steeper and more rugged than the rest of the Cascade range to the south. This means the terrain is more varied and dramatic than any other area in Washington state. This area has received some local press coverage and that seems to be attracting a lot of people. Even late in the day there was a pretty steady stream of hikers on the trail. This isn't ideal if you are seeking solitude, but it's a fair trade-off for the privilege of visiting this amazing region.
This is a loop trail, so you have two options for travel. We took the counter-clockwise route which is definitely the easier of the two routes. Going down the other side was a knee-pounder, so going up that direction would have been pretty difficult. We didn't pass anyone going clockwise...
After about 1.25 miles, a trail branches left to Lake Ann which is a classic alpine lake with an idyllic island within it. The lake sits in a talus bowl and is a beautiful blue in the sun. We took this side trail to Ann Lake and probably could have skipped it because you can't get as close to the water as I had assumed. However, if we had been hiking in the morning with the sun shining on the mountain face beyond the lake, I would be writing something very different. As it was, the sun was going down on the other side of the mountain so the scenery at Ann Lake was muted.
Back on the main trail, things changed quickly. At this time of the year the heather is red and the larches are golden. With this scenrey in the foreground, the mountain views are simply stunning in every direction. At the pass you find yourself at the boundary of the North Cascades National Park. It was a bit cold with a strong wind blowing from the south. Definitely bring something warm to wear because the weather changes quickly.
We were the last ones off the trail and had the final half of the loop by Rainy Lake all to ourselves. The terrain on the return route is very different from the first half and makes the entire loop feel varied and satisfying. We returned just about the time we would have needed our headlamps. Awesome experience.
