PNWDad
0 reviewer rep
| 10 forum posts
With our daughter getting ready to go off to college we decided to get in one last trip. We picked a famous loop within the Goat Rocks Wilderness that is about 2.5 hours from our home in the Puget Sound region. It was set to be a warm weekend and as we pulled up to the trailhead it was clear we were not going to be alone.
The start of the hike is shaded and provided nice cover as the temp started to rise. After a few hours we made it to Snowgrass Flats, which was our first destination. Our daughter found a lovely campsite tucked up in a grove of trees that was a short distance from a small creek. We pumped water and set our camp up for the night. At that point the mosquitoes started to attack. It got bad enough we donned head nets but it still did not detract from the beauty of the area. Off in the distance we could see waterfalls, wildflowers and Mt. Adams.
After a good night's sleep, we broke camp early and made for Goat Lake. The lake is at the top of the valley and stays frozen most of the year. The outlet of the lake leads to a waterfall that goes down into the valley. We made it to the lake around lunch and took pictures. The view from the lake is spectacular. Mt. Adams is directly in view and you get a commanding view of the entire area.
The only drawback is this area is well loved, so if you are looking for classic wilderness solitude you won’t find it However, I am happy to report we saw zero garbage on the trip.
After lunch we pushed on to the highest point of the trip.. As we climbed along the ridge we got more sweeping views of the valley, endless wildflowers and the surrounding snow covered peaks. Due to busy schedules we only got to explore the area for two days. Definitely need to go back and check out Cispus Basin and other areas in the wilderness that are accessed by the PCT.
If you go to Goat Rocks you won't be alone, but the beauty is worth it.
ppine
Old Guide
Alicia MacLeay @Alicia
Mike Mineart
Dave MacLeay @Dave
