Lake Ann and Diablo views
2 / 7
We packed up at Pearrygin State Park and headed west along Highway 20, leaving the dry, open landscape behind. Within miles, the scenery began to shift. The road climbed steadily, and the terrain tightened around us as we approached Washington Pass. Soon, we were surrounded by sharp, jagged peaks that felt completely different from anything we had seen so far.
At Washington Pass, we pulled into a roadside parking area and took the short trail to the overlook. The views opened up immediately, with dramatic peaks rising in every direction. It was an easy stop, but one of the most impressive viewpoints along the drive.
We pulled off at the Rainy Pass Trailhead for a hike to Lake Ann, about four miles round trip. The trailhead is also the starting point for the Maple Pass Loop, one of the most popular hikes in the North Cascades, known for its sweeping ridge views. That had originally been the plan, but I wasn’t feeling 100 percent that day, so we opted for the shorter route to the lake instead. The main parking lot was already full, so we ended up parking along the highway amongst a long line of cars.
The trail climbed steadily through open slopes dotted with wildflowers, with sweeping views of rugged ridgelines along the way. At the end, Lake Ann rested quietly beneath the surrounding peaks, a small alpine lake tucked into an impressive mountain setting. The mosquitoes were relentless, but the wildflowers and scenery easily made up for it. At the end of the hike, we noticed a sign marking the Pacific Crest Trail passing right through here, meaning we could hike all the way to Mexico. I asked Danny if he was game. He politely declined. Probably for the best.
Back in the car, we continued west through the mountains. Farther down the highway, we stopped at the Diablo Lake Overlook, where the water glowed an almost unreal turquoise below the steep surrounding peaks. That vivid color comes from rock flour, finely ground glacial sediment suspended in the water that reflects light just right. The water is held back by Diablo Dam, part of a series of hydroelectric projects along the Skagit River. The system has been generating power for the nearby Seattle area since 1924.
By evening, we rolled into Newhalem Campground, surrounded by dense forest and towering trees. It felt like we had fully arrived in the North Cascades, with dramatic scenery in every direction and far fewer crowds than some of the more well-known mountain parks.
We pulled off at the Rainy Pass Trailhead for a hike to Lake Ann, about four miles round trip. The trailhead is also the starting point for the Maple Pass Loop, one of the most popular hikes in the North Cascades, known for its sweeping ridge views. That had originally been the plan, but I wasn’t feeling 100 percent that day, so we opted for the shorter route to the lake instead. The main parking lot was already full, so we ended up parking along the highway amongst a long line of cars.
The trail climbed steadily through open slopes dotted with wildflowers, with sweeping views of rugged ridgelines along the way. At the end, Lake Ann rested quietly beneath the surrounding peaks, a small alpine lake tucked into an impressive mountain setting. The mosquitoes were relentless, but the wildflowers and scenery easily made up for it. At the end of the hike, we noticed a sign marking the Pacific Crest Trail passing right through here, meaning we could hike all the way to Mexico. I asked Danny if he was game. He politely declined. Probably for the best.
Back in the car, we continued west through the mountains. Farther down the highway, we stopped at the Diablo Lake Overlook, where the water glowed an almost unreal turquoise below the steep surrounding peaks. That vivid color comes from rock flour, finely ground glacial sediment suspended in the water that reflects light just right. The water is held back by Diablo Dam, part of a series of hydroelectric projects along the Skagit River. The system has been generating power for the nearby Seattle area since 1924.
By evening, we rolled into Newhalem Campground, surrounded by dense forest and towering trees. It felt like we had fully arrived in the North Cascades, with dramatic scenery in every direction and far fewer crowds than some of the more well-known mountain parks.