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Trip Report

Sauk Mountain — Thursday, Jul. 31, 2025

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
View of the lake down below.

Something to note...It says this road is steep, but most all cars can do it. I would agree until you get about 0.2 miles from the trail head parking lot. I refused to try to go further in my mini cooper because at this last corner, there's a huge rutty area and it was too risky to try. 

This hike was beautiful! So many flowers and the view just wouldn't quit. We saw marmots, bumble bees, and a couple of weird mountain chickens. 

When we got back closer to the parking lot, a buzzing insect started terrorizing us. We got back in the car and it perched on the outside mirror. It was quite hideous! Not a bug expert, but I'm guessing it was a horse fly?

Weird mountain chicken.
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Comments

Muledeer on Sauk Mountain

That grouse pic is a classic 'caption this picture' for putting on FB, hilarious! Probably a horsefly, they are nasty, follow you down the trail and will actually take a bite out of you, I encountered one at the TH Tuesday, but it wasn't the same one, I made sure of that!

Posted by:


Muledeer on Jul 31, 2025 07:35 PM

Cyann100 on Sauk Mountain

Any tips on how to deter these dreaded insects?

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Cyann100 on Aug 01, 2025 10:48 AM

Mancunian_hiker on Sauk Mountain

The 2nd picture 😂 Flabbergasted 😂

Posted by:


Mancunian_hiker on Aug 01, 2025 07:17 AM

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Cyann100 on Aug 01, 2025 10:47 AM

Joseph Gonzalez on Sauk Mountain

No way. That grouse photo is unreal

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Joseph Gonzalez on Aug 01, 2025 11:34 AM

PNW-vera on Sauk Mountain

I went there yesterday too. I also noticed a grouse on my drive back down the forest road. But it was a bit further from the trailhead. Your photo looks really scary

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PNW-vera on Aug 01, 2025 07:15 PM