Much less crowded than other popular hikes in the area, but still plenty of bang for the buck - we came on a weekday and saw maybe three other parties all day.  Trail is generally in great shape, though there were a few overgrown spots just before the balcony.  It's pretty much just climber's trail from there up to the summit - super-steep, but the 360-degree views are totally worth it!

Parked in the the first lot on the left of the road. Started 815am and the trail start at an easy incline, basically all the way until you get to what people call the “balcony” from there the trail is unmaintained and goes straight up a steep meadow to a ridge which you take to the false summit. The berries were delicious and so were the views. I decided I wanted to push to the true summit, and I must say I’ve done a few scrambles and this one was scary! But the holds were good, the rock was mostly dry, and I found an ok route that I felt comfortable with. Once you get down the cliff the rest is nothing compared to what you just did just caution on the loose rock (lesser traveled trails=looser rock). You can kinda see the path up when you look at it from the false summit. The views were so worth it. I’m coming for goat East!

I was on this trail with WTA a few weeks ago for a work party and today decided to see where it went. I found out it went up and up and up. Trail itself  is in really good condition until you get within 1 mile of the view point. Some spots have a lot of vegetation creeping in and the last half mile you’re hiking up a drainage ditch that is rocky and steep but slow and steady we went and were rewarded with amazing views of Baker and Shuksan.  

The bugs at the bottom section are not too bad and you’re walking in really nice shaded area. This was certainly welcome on a very hot August day.  As you ascend the bugs get buggier and after you leave the forest and are mostly in the tall vegetation they become really annoying.  Once close to the top mosquitos and the like are replaced by even more annoying flies.  I’d recommend a nice lightweight long sleeve shirt for when you get out of the forest section.  My wife put on hers and she found it made a real improvement to her enjoyment.  

My GPS says it was right around 4 miles from the parking lot to the viewpoint with about 2500 ft elevation gain. It was a good slog and we were wore out once we got back to the car. As you probably already do, bring your water. There are a few trickle streams along the trail you can collect but at this time of year they are not exactly rushing.  

Overall this was a great trail to explore and the view was simply amazing.  Most of the hike is under the shade of trees and the tread is in great shape for 90 of the hike up.  ***Note to WTA. There are two trees that have come over the trail below where Jerome led the last work party.  *** 

Doug had the idea to do Goat today and I was definitely game. I'd been that way a few times in the past, but hadn't gone beyond "the balcony". Now, I can't imagine why not. Yeah, it's a bit of a haul with 4100' gain, but worth it. The first part of the trail is in great shape, nice soft forest duff (which would prove to be handy when I did a complete face plant on the trip down....happens). The trail at this point is well graded and well maintained. A very nice viewpoint is arrived at about 3 1/2 miles. Most folks settle in here for lunch and then head back. I'd never been to the actual end of the trail at the summit of West Goat Mt. or who some consider as the false summit of Goat Mt. In either case, for those who continue, this viewpoint is stunning and worth all the work to get there. And there is some work involved. The trail gets skimpy in places and the grass gets in the way of keeping feet on trail. There are spots where it's sandy, slippery and slanting (got to love those alliterations), but with care it's totally doable and if one were to slip they would tumble a ways, but come out OK with some scrapes and bruises. Towards the top of the ridge, just where one is feeling tired, is where it gets steep. OK. Views distract from the pain. Baker, Shuksan, Mt. Ruth, Icy, the Picketts, Tomyhoi, Excelsior Ridge, and slamming you right in the face is Sefrit. Wowie. Oh, and Price Lake in it's aqua gorgeousness is below. Really, too much to write about. Words fail. And the flowers! This trail is about 2 1/2 miles of very nice forest and 2 1/2 miles of glorious meadows fully in bloom right now. One thing I should caution folks about is that somehow in the  upper meadow I got off on a nasty, steep and somewhat hazardous trail that maybe cut a switchback? After following it for a bit, I joined the actual and much more civilized trail. I worried about how it would go coming down it and fortunately missed it on the return. So, I would advise that if you find yourself on a steep and jungley trail, you might want to backtrack and look for a better way. This trip is primo in my opinion, but not for everyone. If enough years go by without some trail repair, it might not be for anyone. So, let's walk these trails and let the forest service and WTA know that we support keeping them open and friendly, and volunteer for a trail project! The hiking community is who are going to keep the mountains accessible and the more trails we maintain,the more we can spread out, and the more solitude we can enjoy.

Dry and minimal bugs until the higher meadows, then (if there is minimal wind) lots of black flies and mosquitoes, couldn’t stand still!!

Stunning views, overnight was amazing, very dusty with minimal water available.