Lime Kiln Trail — Friday, Jul. 27, 2012

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

YOUR CAR IS NOT SAFE HERE!!! My friend and I began this hike at 10 AM, and by 12, when some rangers arrived to do trail maintenance, 3 of 4 cars in the parking lot had smashed windows. One of the hikers left his keys on the floormat, but thankfully his truck wasn't stolen. The very nice police officer who responded says this is a common occurrence. If this happens to you, please report it to the police, as the particular officer we spoke with is trying to get support for security measures at this exact parking lot. As for the hike... It is *not* 80% overgrown, as the previous hiker noted. It's a single-track hike, and plants come up to the trail. You do not need a machete to get through. I would say it's maybe 40-50% overgrown, and as we were leaving, rangers were cutting plants back, so I'm sure it'll be even better tomorrow. There are a few blowdowns, but if you're in shape to be hiking, you're in shape to maneuver over/under them. You don't get to see the river until the end, but when you do, it's pretty great-- very green, tall wall of green on the opposite bank, and a loud waterfall. Otherwise, it's Washington green foliage the whole way. Not the worst hike in the world, but certainly not a glorious mountaintop with views abound. (Though many days in WA, who can see the views anyway?) The artifacts are interesting. I'm going to have to read the history again, by the end of the hike we were too upset to read the trailhead sign. Other dog parents beware-- my dog found something REALLY stinky to roll in on the loop part of the hike, sort of near the river. Aside from that, an okay hike for a dog, though there are a few narrow-and-fall places, and definitely not a good place for off-the-radar off-leash hiking. The foliage is too tall to see around turns. Also, beware of bear, mountain lion, and sasquatch (not joking) 'sightings.' I would do this hike again, but for the car part. (And if I lived closer than 2 hours from it.) I would not subject my sanity to wondering if my car was okay for the length of this hike again. If you decide to do this hike, take out your valuables and roll down a window.