Goat Lake — Thursday, Jul. 14, 2016

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Our group took the Upper Elliot trail to the lake and then descended on the Lower Elliot trail. Both are muddy and your boots will get mucked up either way. But the trail is a joy to hike, and the mud is just a minor irritation. Either direction offers beautiful scenery. The lower trail follows beautiful Elliot creek while the upper trail offers mammoth, old-growth cedars and peek-a-boo views of a waterfall that rivals Wallace Falls. There are a few blow downs that aren't difficult to climb over or under. We weren't bothered by mosquitoes at the lake but the chipmunks were a nuisance. The mosquitoes got worse later in the day, especially in the parking lot. Watch out for false trails as you ascend into the forest on the upper Elliot route. Keep an eye out for a red ribbon when you come to one of the junctions and veer left. The gravel road to the trail head is fine for a two-wheel drive. There are a few potholes that can be easily maneuvered. Leave No Trace and thank you for being a good trail steward!