I started this hike with the following expectations on a scale of 1 - 10
weather - 8
Smoke - 5
hike - 7
For weather, it was a 9. It was crystal clear and beautiful. If it was 65 degrees then it would have been a 10, but I can't complain. It was an amazing beautiful day.
The smoke cleared out and that part was a 10.
From the descriptions, I assumed it would be a hike through uninteresting terrain and ending with a big rock. With the lakes and the amazing views and the sheer massiveness of Cathedral Rock, I definitely give the hike a 9. We have to leave room for others to be better, but this one is in my top 10. What a special place.
Backing up, let's consider the drive. I came from Seattle and have not explored this side of the mountains yet. I have a new Subaru Forester and want to push the limits to get to some interesting trails. Plus, if the road is challenging then that will limit the crowds! Getting to exit 80 on I-90 is trivial. The road from there is where you will spend your time. This was my first trip through Roslyn and I want to come back to explore the town - it looks like fun. This could add interest to your day if you need it.
The speed limit from Roslyn is mostly 35 which makes the road take a while. And of course, there is that last 12 miles of unpaved road. The road is very good in many places but many sections are washboard and potholes and some are pretty rocky which you need to be careful of with your tires. There is one creek crossing which is not rough and not deep. I saw Honda Civics in the parking lot so if they made it then you can too.
Ok, you have persevered and made it to the parking lot. There are actually three lots here. One for the Cathedral Pass trail, another about 100 yard down the road for the Deception Pass trail, and an overflow lot between them. I easily found a spot in the overflow lot, but there are also places to park along the road if all are full. Judging by the number of cars, I estimated a pretty good load on the trail, but I think many of these were overnighters as the trail was not busy at all. In fact, I encountered a couple of overnight groups, a couple of which had climbed Mount Daniel.
Definitely stop at the large lake to the left of the trail. WTA is encouraging a name change since it has a derogatory name. If you have influence in that area, perhaps it would be a good effort. Anyway, I will not use the name here. The lake was peaceful and quiet as I was the only one there at the time. Definitely a great rest spot.
Ok, you have had your rest not let's get on with this. You still have a bit of climbing to do but you will soon encounter some open meadows and beautiful scenes. There are a couple of small ponds and lakes before the top which are nice and some pretty meadows. Also keep your eyes out for fresh blueberries all along the trail. They are sweet and tasty.
Once I reached the intersection with the PCT, I headed left, toward Cathedral Rock. You can also go a bit to the right and get some great views of the rock across the meadow area there.
Seeing it in person was spectacular. It is enormous and commanding. Heading to the left on the PCT, you will soon crest over the pass. Just a bit further, there is a rocky area to the right which is a great place to rest and have lunch. A bit of shade can be found if you look around.
I took the suggestion of the pro tip in the hike description and went another .1 mile to the intersection of the trail to Peggy's Pond. From the vantage point, you can get a great view of Deep Lake far below, the back side of Cathedral Rock, and an upclose view of neighboring Mount Daniel. You might be tempted to continue your hike and bag - it looks like it is right there!
Overall, I would highly recommend this hike and say that it is worth the effort to get to the trailhead. It provided the perfect place for my day.
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