Started at the Day Use area along Cascade Lake, headed up Cold Creek trail where you get much of the elevation for this hike. Connected to Little Summit trail where we encountered low clouds and some moisture. The forest was beautiful with this misty setting. Kept on going up and got above the clouds to Mt. Constitution, sunshine and Mt. Baker in the distance. Took 2 hours 15 minutes to get to Mt. Constitution (about 5 miles). The area at the top was great for a break. The stone tower's interior has info boards about the CCC, the tower's construction, and the park's benefactor, Robert Moran. The gift shop looks new and the bathrooms were nice.
Spent an hour at the top and then crossed the parking lot to find the Twin Lakes trail and do the longer Northern Boundary trail which eventually connects back to Cold Creek. The northern section was very foggy and misty at times. Took 3 hours 45 minutes to go from Mt. Constitution back to Day Use area (about 8.6 miles). Well marked trail was in wonderful shape, lots of mushrooms, verdant green moss, fall colors, beautiful old trees in the Cold Creek area, temp was in the low to mid 50s all day.
We hiked on a Friday and encountered no hikers on the entire trail - only 3 mountain bikers. Lots of people at the top as Mt. Constitution is accessible by car.
Total numbers from GAIA: 13.6 miles for the looped hike, 2,994 elevation.
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