Golden Lakes,Eagle Lakes #431,Boiling Lake #431,Angel Staircase #1259.4,Cooney Lake #434
Jul 31, 2007
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Angel Staircase
- Region: Central Cascades -- Lake Chelan
- Trails: Angel Staircase (#1259.4)
- Avg Rating: 2.25
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Cooney Lake
- Region: North Cascades -- East Slope
- Trails: Cooney Lake (#434)
- Avg Rating: 3.75
- Be Aware Of
- Bugs
July 31st, 2007: Golden Lakes Loop
This was a long day! I left the house at my normal 2:30am start, but only managed to reach the trailhead by 8:30am (a nap and poor directions put a spanner in the works).
The trail lead off through cool forest with partial views of the high country, in which most of the day would be spent. Around 6,000ft I started to move in and out of forest and the views improved. Soon after, I also got my first peek-a-boo views of Lower Eagle Lake.
A little less than 2hrs after setting off I was at shallow, peaceful Middle Eagle Lake. Flowers ringed the lake and colorful butterflies flitted hither and thither. Next up was Upper Eagle Lake a little less than a mile off from the main trail. Unlike Middle Eagle Lake, this one was much more substantial. The lake was ringed by the rugged cliffs of Mt Bigelow. Larch trees clung to the cliffs, and would probably be glorious in October.
Back at Middle Eagle Lake (11:00am), I set off for Horsehead Pass. As the rocky trail switch-backed up to the pass, Lower Eagle Lake was finally revealed in its entirety. The pass is a great viewpoint with Lower Eagle Lake on one side and Boiling Lake (my next objective) on the other.
At Boiling Lake, I decided to take the more scenic route over the 7,500ft pass south of the lake. From here, all the way to Angels Staircase, the entire route is in meadows full of flowers. I have not been on any other hike with this many flowers; bees buzzing, butterflies floating, color everywhere...it was just gorgeous!
I rejoined the Chelan Summit trail and wandered the meadows to Angels Staircase. Angels Staircase was literally and figuratively the high point of the trip. Incredible views of gorgeous meadows and jagged peaks near and far. The Sawtooth Ridge, Mount Rainier, Mount Daniel, Glacier Peak, the Entiat Mountains, were the backdrop for lush green meadows. This was also the steepest part of the hike, but not too bad, and I was at the 8,000ft high point of Switchback Pass before 2:00pm.
From Switchback Pass, I skirted Merchants Basin (Sunrise Lake was visible across the basin) and finally stood on the pass overlooking Cooney Lake. Cooney Lake was the best of the lakes. Ringed with larches, lovely meadows and tarns, it was a sight to gladden the heart. A perfect way to put an exclamation point to the magnificence of Angels Staircase.
I had lunch at the lake and decompressed for a bit, before embarking on the long slog back to the trailhead. Martin Lakes were skipped for another trip, and I was back at the car exactly 9hrs after starting.
Stats:
• Distance (round trip): 23mi
• Elevation gain: ~5,500ft. High point: 8,000ft.
• Hiking time: 9hrs
• Total trip time: 19.5hrs.
Trail notes:
• Snow free, the entire route.
• All trails in excellent shape.
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Cooney Lake and Switchback Peak
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