Goat Lake

Goat Lake - February 21st, 2015

North Cascades - Mountain Loop Highway

Distance: 10.4 mi / 16.8 km (Round Trip)

Elevation Gain: 1400 ft. / 426.7 m.

Highest Elevation: 3161 ft. / 963.4m.

Dogs: Allowed

Difficulty: Easy

Required Pass: Northwest Forest Pass

About the Author:

My name is Katie Young. I am a veterinary technician in Seattle, WA. When I'm not fixing sick puppies and kitties I am out romping around in the great outdoors. Chris and Allison got me back into hiking a few years ago and paved the way for me to organize my own hikes in the PNW through the 'Katie Pushes People Down Mountains' hiking group.



Contact information:

lkatieyoung@gmail.com 

I chose the Goat Lake trail hike in honor of Chinese New Year: the year of the Goat! Nah, I actually chose it just because the most recent trip report on WTA.org said that it did not have snow and it also looked pretty and rewarding. At 10.4 miles round trip and 1400 feet of elevation gain I knew our group would finally get a chance to stretch our legs after a long winter hiatus. 

We started out with the promise of a clear day as the sun broke free from the clouds and revealed stupendous snow-covered mountain views. We arrived at the trail-head at about 11 AM and began our journey. A gradual incline led us along a fairly straight gravel path with occasional glimpses of snow covered mountain peaks. You could see an obvious line in the trees where the snow began and stretched toward the mountain peaks. We were down below the snow and soaking up the sun.

We reached a sign for Lower Elliot about three fourths of the way along the trail and discussed taking this alternate route on our return trip as it intersects with the main trail near the trailhead. Shortly after the sign our mild incline turned into a bit of a climb up the last half mile or so. We soldiered on and reached a fork in the trail with one trail leading off to a waterfall! Of course, we took the short detour to the waterfall, got some pictures, came close to sliding off the edge of a rock (the rocks are slick! be careful!), and headed up to the lake. 

We walked up a short trek from the waterfall and reached a clearing with a gorgeous blue green lake surrounded by stunning snow covered mountains.

We watched as people floated on inflatable rafts in the center of the lake and made a mental note to bring our own rafts the next time we visit Goat Lake. We ate lunch and soaked in



the view and a little bit of sun before we started to get cold and decided to get moving again. 

Our descent led us to the Lower Elliot trail which ran alongside the river. If you attempt this hike I highly recommend following the Lower Elliot trail for at least one leg of the trip. It is a lush and green trail that meanders along, mimicking the twists and turns of the river. 

Our legs were a bit achy and our stomachs were growling by the time we reached the end. Overall, it was a beautiful hike and I hope to try it again when the weather is a bit warmer. Maybe I'll even take a dip in that inviting lake.