Anderson and Watson Lakes, Anderson Butte
Oct 19, 2008
by
OMRay
—
last modified
Sep 30, 2010 10:57 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Anderson Butte
- Region: North Cascades -- West Slope
- Trails: Anderson Butte (#611.1)
- Avg Rating: 3.29
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Anderson and Watson Lakes
- Region: North Cascades -- West Slope
- Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest - Mount Baker District
- Trails: Anderson and Watson Lakes (#611)
- Avg Rating: 3.67
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Anderson Lake
- Region: Olympics -- East
- Agency: Fort Flager State Park
- Trails: Anderson Lake (#.)
- Avg Rating: 2.00
- Why You Should Go Now
- Ripe berries
- Be Aware Of
- Mudholes
Mt Bacon reflected in the western Watson Lake. Photo by Ray.
We felt like a change from our usual 2 hr driving radius around Seattle, so we headed to the Mt Baker region for some new scenery. We were very happy with what we found, even before we reached the trail. The drive from Baker Lake to the trailhead included some of the scenic highlights of the trip, with impressive views of the dome of Koma Kulshan increasing as the road zigzagged its way steadily up the hillside.
There were only five vehicles at the trailhead when we arrived at 10.15am, and that included the ranger, who was checking for forest passes (one car got ticketed). The trail was in good shape, a little icy to begin with, and then muddy in a few spots later in the day once the ice had thawed. Although there was a lack of fellow hikers, after we passed the turn-off to Anderson Butte and the trail opened up, we had the calls of the pikas to keep us company as we walked.
At the western Watson Lake we came across a couple camping, and could smell a small fire, despite a sign just metres away saying "no campfires". We moved on, and had lunch at the eastern lake. Both lakes had equally perfect reflections of Mt Bacon and the surrounding hillsides. On the way back we again passed the campsite, this time minus the campers, but with embers from their fire still smoldering - we could smell it quite strongly from the opposite side of the lake. It looked like they were burning their trash, as the embers contained broken glass. Made me hope they were the ones whose car the ranger ticketed.
At the notch above the junction to Anderson Lakes, we were treated to the sight of half a dozen pikas scampering around the rocks gathering material for their winter dens. On the way back I did a quick dash up to the old Anderson Butte ridge lookout site for superb 270 degree views of the North Cascades. Just before re-entering the forest on the main trail, I noticed some fresh bear scat on trail boardwalk. We also saw a grouse on the trail just before reaching the parking lot.
Apart from the relative solitude compared to hikes closer to Seattle, the other thing I noticed was how very quiet it was whenever we stopped. I recall only hearing one plane flying over during the hike, and wondered if the regular drone of aircraft overhead was something I'd grown used to further south so that I noticed its absence on this hike.
There were only five vehicles at the trailhead when we arrived at 10.15am, and that included the ranger, who was checking for forest passes (one car got ticketed). The trail was in good shape, a little icy to begin with, and then muddy in a few spots later in the day once the ice had thawed. Although there was a lack of fellow hikers, after we passed the turn-off to Anderson Butte and the trail opened up, we had the calls of the pikas to keep us company as we walked.
At the western Watson Lake we came across a couple camping, and could smell a small fire, despite a sign just metres away saying "no campfires". We moved on, and had lunch at the eastern lake. Both lakes had equally perfect reflections of Mt Bacon and the surrounding hillsides. On the way back we again passed the campsite, this time minus the campers, but with embers from their fire still smoldering - we could smell it quite strongly from the opposite side of the lake. It looked like they were burning their trash, as the embers contained broken glass. Made me hope they were the ones whose car the ranger ticketed.
At the notch above the junction to Anderson Lakes, we were treated to the sight of half a dozen pikas scampering around the rocks gathering material for their winter dens. On the way back I did a quick dash up to the old Anderson Butte ridge lookout site for superb 270 degree views of the North Cascades. Just before re-entering the forest on the main trail, I noticed some fresh bear scat on trail boardwalk. We also saw a grouse on the trail just before reaching the parking lot.
Apart from the relative solitude compared to hikes closer to Seattle, the other thing I noticed was how very quiet it was whenever we stopped. I recall only hearing one plane flying over during the hike, and wondered if the regular drone of aircraft overhead was something I'd grown used to further south so that I noticed its absence on this hike.
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Koma Kulshan from the old lookout site on the ridge below Anderson Butte. Photo by Ray.
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