Hiking On The East Side
My decision to hike on the east side of the North Cascades in the Leavenworth area, during the first weekend of June, was originally born from a severe discontentment with the unseasonably cold weather in Seattle. The possibility of sunshine and warmer weather was more than enough reason for my boyfriend and me to load up the car and head east for bluer skies. Little did I know what I was about to experience on this memorable day spent hiking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
We began our hike on the Stuart Lake Trail. The trail began gently, following the rushing Mountaineer Creek with a gradual incline that allowed us plenty of time to leisurely examine the abundant wildflowers along the trail. From purple trilliums to the white flowers of the thimbleberry bushes, it was hard not to stop every 50 feet to examine the vegetation.
After a while, the gentle terrain we’d been experiencing took a turn for the steeper, turned away from the creek and headed upward. Soon the colorful wildflowers were replaced by granite boulders the size of buses, footbridges made from logs crossing the cascading Mountaineers Creek and more sparsely-scattered ponderosa pines and larches.
As we ascended a particularly steep portion, Colchuck Peak and Dragontail Peak began to come into view. I was so distracted by these dramatic peaks as they grew closer and closer, I almost didn’t notice the glimmer of a lake appear through the trees to our left as the trail flattened.
We’d made it. After finding a prime spot to eat our lunch and view the glimmering Colchuck Lake and its surrounding mountains and glaciers, we spotted a mountain goat watching us from a rock no more than 10 feet away. As we sat and ate our favorite trail lunch of bread, havarti cheese and apples, we reveled in the absolute perfection of the day. Aside from a chilly breeze occasionally whipping up from the lake, the weather was perfect, the views were unbeatable and the company—especially the mountain goat—couldn’t be matched.
Driving Directions: From the west end of the town of Leavenworth on Highway 2, turn south on Icicle Creek Road. Drive 8½ miles to the Eight Mile Creek Road (FS #7601). Drive four miles more to the road's end and the Stuart Lake Trailhead. There is a very large parking area and an outhouse.
A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead. Overnight permits are required for any overnight stays. Day permits are available at the trailhead.
By Jamie Clark, TWS Program Intern.
The North Cascades