At our annual July 4 camping trip this year, we decided that next year we're going to go to North Cascades. We've gone to Walupt Lake every year for 5 years so we decided to break the cycle and do something really wild and crazy
Anywho, I'm thinking about using the last three days of my vacation this week to go check it out. I haven't decided for sure, but I'm leaning heavily in that direction.
Anyone have suggestions for me? My new knee is feeling great and I'm really antsy to hike, but it still puffs up a bit so I need to reign myself in. I don't want to dork up a $35k knee before it heals completely :(
1. Are there any short walks/hikes that would yeld nice camera targets? I should probably limit myself to a mile round trip.
In the for what it is worth category, there are lots of places you may want to consider, but, one that I think you may enjoy that I believe fits you criteria (short hike, no elevation gain, good photo opportunities, and right off the side of the road) is the old growth trail on the other side of Hwy. 20 from Rockport State Park (very nice place to camp also).
The easy trails you'll want to hit, all off Highway 20:
Rainy Lake (maybe still a little snow now, but probably not much)
Happy Creek Nature Trail (1/3 mile east of the Ross Dam trailhead)
Ladder Creek Falls in Newhalem
Pretty much everything else off 20 is gonna require hiking a couple miles or going off trail to get to the good stuff. When the Cascade River Road is in (currently damaged, slated to be repaired this summer), the drive to the Cascade Pass trailhead is well worth the 23 mile detour.
As for roadside stuff, the Diablo overlook, Gorge Creek, several places along the lower stretch of the Skagit Gorge, Washington Pass (as well as the big hairpin turn in the highway just east of the pass proper). Not a whole lot of campgrounds in the area. The Newhalem CG is nice, as is Colonial Creek, but CC was partially damaged in the floods of '03, and I think that its still only half open (and its popular on the holidays, so best to reserve for that one).
Sweet, thanks for the info guys! it's all printed out and stuffed into my camera bag :) Good to know about the road To Cascade Pass TH. I thought Hwy 20 was pretty much the only road through the park.
Discussion
3 repliesAnywho, I'm thinking about using the last three days of my vacation this week to go check it out. I haven't decided for sure, but I'm leaning heavily in that direction.
Anyone have suggestions for me? My new knee is feeling great and I'm really antsy to hike, but it still puffs up a bit so I need to reign myself in. I don't want to dork up a $35k knee before it heals completely :(
1. Are there any short walks/hikes that would yeld nice camera targets? I should probably limit myself to a mile round trip.
2. What are the roadside icons to shoot?
3. What's your favorite campground?
Thanks!
In the for what it is worth category, there are lots of places you may want to consider, but, one that I think you may enjoy that I believe fits you criteria (short hike, no elevation gain, good photo opportunities, and right off the side of the road) is the old growth trail on the other side of Hwy. 20 from Rockport State Park (very nice place to camp also).
Regards, Simon
Rainy Lake (maybe still a little snow now, but probably not much)
Happy Creek Nature Trail (1/3 mile east of the Ross Dam trailhead)
Ladder Creek Falls in Newhalem
Pretty much everything else off 20 is gonna require hiking a couple miles or going off trail to get to the good stuff. When the Cascade River Road is in (currently damaged, slated to be repaired this summer), the drive to the Cascade Pass trailhead is well worth the 23 mile detour.
As for roadside stuff, the Diablo overlook, Gorge Creek, several places along the lower stretch of the Skagit Gorge, Washington Pass (as well as the big hairpin turn in the highway just east of the pass proper). Not a whole lot of campgrounds in the area. The Newhalem CG is nice, as is Colonial Creek, but CC was partially damaged in the floods of '03, and I think that its still only half open (and its popular on the holidays, so best to reserve for that one).