What a beautiful day, had the trail to myself. Started out about 9:30am. This is one of my favorite hikes, no swithbacks thru old growth to get your reward. Trail breaks out into the open right away. Bugs were not bad and trail was in good shape. Still some wildflowers blooming and no hint of fall yet. Great views today of Glacier Peak, Baker, Shuksan, Rainer, Oympics, San Juans, Skagit Valley, and many other views. For such an easy hike the rewards are great. Took time at the top for lunch and pictures and was back at the car by 12:30pm. Met a few hikers coming up the mountain on the way back down. On a clear day this hike does not disappoint.

This was a great early fall hike. The wildflowers are still abundant above about 4,800 feet elevation (lupine, asters, paintbrush, columbine, tiger lilies, blue bell, purple thistle and more). Trail to summit is in great shape. Side trail to Sauk Lake is highly overgrown and difficult to find in places. Fall colors are only beginning on the alpine blueberry bushes. Mountain ash bushes have not yet begun to change color.

Bugs everywhere! At first it wasn't too bad, a few mosquitos and a ton of black flies. As you reach the top, where the snow currently is, there's a plethora of mosquitos. There were so many that I stayed long enough to take a quick snapshot and then raced back down the trail. Just a warning - there is very little shade. Also, the trail is all switchbacks uphill. The view is amazing, though. You can see Mt. Baker, rivers, the cascades - Definitely worth it. Just bring some bug spray and go on a cooler day.

Hiked just to peak for overnight stay near first snow bowl and lower summit. Trail was in very good shape; parking lot full at 1:15pm. Lots of upslope fog. Chilly breeze at top, passing clouds, 55 degrees until 5:00pm. Overnight breezy and then very foggy in morning, with visibility down to less than 100 feet and heavy dew. Plenty of snow to dig into to boil for water. No bugs or signs of bear. Plenty of marmot. What a great hike this would be for someone new to backpacking: perception of high challenge, terrific and precarious views, sense of remote while easy out, wildflowers. Easy and exhiliarating. Highly recommended for those 10+ years.

Our first trip up Sauk Mountain - my husband and I took our kids (10months and 3 year) my parents (65 and 68) and our lively black lab. Got a later start than we intended, thus it was HOT. Not many places to park at the trailhead - it was a busy Saturday. Well maintained trail. Almost zero shade, with switchbacks cruising up up up... I wouldn't call this an easy hike for little kids (or, at least for parents carrying kids...) but worthwhile once we reached the ridge -- amazing views in every direction, lovely visibility. Still some broad snow patches for our dog to nuzzle and slide in. Saw a giant marmot (i think?) who was eager to eat our food scraps (we had to shoo him away, I thought he was going to take a sandwich from my son's hand!). Black flies were present, but not terrible, even at the peak of the day. Wildflowers were plentiful. Some good Samaritan gave us an extra bottle of water for our dog (we brought a lot of water, but needed more due to the surprising heat) - thank you, whoever you were! I love the N. Cascades.