Spent two nights camped near Cutthroat Pass, and day-hiked from there to Snowy Lakes and Methow Pass. The larches were glowing golden, and blueberries glowed red. If you don’t like crowds, dogs, or beauty, skip this hike!
On Friday early afternoon, cars were parked out onto the road but it wasn’t hard to find a spot within a short walk of the trailhead. Similarly, camping near Cutthroat Pass was popular but some campsites stayed open all of Friday night. Saturday, on the other hand, the trail felt like a parade. There was a steady stream of backpackers heading to Snowy Lakes - so many that it’s hard to imagine they could all find spots amidst the fragile environment. Only saw one group on the way to/from Methow Pass, though.
As others have mentioned, water is scarce beyond Porcupine Creek, and the few sources are more of a trickle. Trail is in great condition and has a relatively gentle grade. It’s carved into a rocky slope for much of the way to Snowy Lakes which makes for big views the whole time. This hike is definitely a high reward for the effort compared with others of similar lengths/environment.
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