Do you like using all four limbs during a hike' How about gaining 3400 feet of elevation in only 2 miles' If so, you will enjoy the climb up Constance Creek to the beautiful aquamarine Lake. What you will see: Massive moss covered boulders, old growth trees, a cascading creek, potential danger at every turn, and lots of dirt under your finger nails. What you will not see: casual sunday strollers or any young children. The entire ""trail"" is snow free and there is only small patches of snow at the Lake. Choose a rainy day for solitude and added adventure. Don't forget to stop by the Ranger's Tent for fresh baked cookies. -Dirt and Nimrod

Very steep trail, one of those rare trails that is steep enough to slow you both up and down (3400 ft gain in 2 miles, no joke). Took 2.5 hours up, 2 hours down. Probably the longest 4 mile hike I've ever done. No snow until just at the lake, ~4700 ft. The lake still mostly iced over with one section of open water at the south end. We thought we had it all to ourselves until we passed a pair coming up to overnight it. I certainly don't envy anyone carrying big packs on this trail and really wouldn't want to be them coming down! About a half mile in or so, there's a very fun log you can ride up and down like a seesaw.

The trail is in perfect condition. This is not a trail for the weekend casual hiker. Turned 52 today and had to do this. As expected it was up, up and more up. At times the trail is hard to follow. At 1.5 miles the choice is hard, but go the creek trail, other two choices are really dangerous. The last half mile is brutal to say the least. Made it to the lake, had a wonderful 2 hrs, listened to the last 3 Mariners frames, and the goats on the ridge. Coming down wasn't fun, but took my time and made the best of it. I can't imagine what this adventure would be like in bad conditions, with a 50lb pack. Happy to have made it, probably won't be back. Art

Despite the cool, cloudy weather, we made the near-vertical asent to Lake Constance. The ""trail"" (can you call it a trail') was in good shape and dry. 3,400 feet in two miles makes this the longest two miles I've ever hiked! But it's well worth it. The lake is beautiful, as are the surrounding mountain peaks. The camping spots need some work, particularly #6 which was hit in 98-99 by a slide. The weather was threatening so we headed down the ""trail"" before the rain could make it interesting. I look forward to returning with time to explore the canyon beyond the lake.

LAKE CONSTANCE/ AVALANCHE CANYON / SOUTH CHUTE ROUTE MT. CONSTANCE We started out saturday noonish with hopes and dreams of baggin the summit the next morning, but the evil trail (is it really a trail you must ask yourself) to Lake Constance stood between us and the summit. The trail to the lake is in good condition. There are a few blow downs here and there, but otherwise it is just your average two mile hike were you gain 3500 feet (ouch!). This would be a fine day hike but with a pack and your climbing gear it hurts a little. At about the one mile mark, right after the trail flattens out for a few yards then heads back up it's steep route, the normal route has been washed out and you have to take an alternate route. This part was a bit confusing, but just follow the red trail markers. There is no snow on the trail to the lake, but once at the lake there is over six feet still on the ground. The roof of the outhouse in the campgrounds can be seen, and that is about it. We woke up sunday am to start our climb and avalance canyon and the southern chute in the morning are both extremely icey so bring your crampons, and axe. There is still snow almost all the way up the southern chute, and from what I could see the northern chute also. Wear your helmet (isn't that right buttercup) and be ready for the burn of the Mt. Constnace inferno! No summit for us this time, we just plain ran out of time and had to turn around. We couldn't forget that we had to hike down the trail from the lake back to our car. Coming down the lake constance trail is quite a bit more trickey than coming up, especially with a pack, but it was worth the effort and all the aches that I have today. See you in paradise. Cool beans- skip and cup