Rainy Lake and Washington Pass Overlook

Today was our last day to 'do something' while we are still in Twisp, Washington, so we opted to go back to Rainy Pass trailhead and hike to Rainy Lake.  Traveled again on the Cascade Loop Highway 20 up and over Washington Pass and seeing the Liberty Bell Mountain looming overhead.  Much snow has melted since we first came through 10 days ago.

Storing up memories from our drive up and over Washington Pass

Got to the trailhead - the parking lot was quite full but found a spot and donned our bug spray, hiking boots, grabbed our cameras and off we walked.  This same area is where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses and we saw a couple of hikers resting - definitely doing the trail.

Pacific Crest Trail crosses here

This time the distance was exactly what was listed - .9 miles one way.  Thank goodness.  Did leave the bear spray in the car since the parking lot was full so there had to be many people doing the same thing.  People = noise = keeps bears away.

I like this hike - smooth, flat, paved.  No rocks to contend with.

Pretty little meadow - no moose, no bear, though

 

Pretty little hike.  Wheelchair accessible, very flat, paved, weaving through the forest, paralleling Route 20 (Cascade Loop highway).  That was the only draw back of the hike - we could hear the traffic for most of the time until we came around the mountain and moved more into the Cascades.

"If you feel happy....."

A small waterfall to our right, a nice bridge to pass over the water, interpretive signs explaining what you were looking at - the fauna, the trees, the growth, the meadowlands.  Nice that the Forest Service does this - people who cannot hike the longer trails can experience nature and see a lovely lake this way.

First glimpse of Rainy Lake

Wow!

Close up of a waterfall

Caught a first glimpse of the lake and knew we would rewarded.  Aqua blue, waterfalls cascading down into the cirque lake, we could see fish swimming right along the viewing platform.  Very lovely.  The sun was shining just right to catch the waterfalls.

On our way back to the RV we stopped at Washington Pass overlook area.  Amazing views.  A trail wound up and over, looking down at the highway.  We were storing up our memories of this time and taking in all the different mountains and peaks and glaciers.  Once we passed over the Pass and started our downward ride, I could see above where we were just at - the cliff was really high!

Oh so pretty

Liberty Bell

The overlook trail

The upheaval rocks were as amazing, too!

Zoom in to middle of pic - see the people? That's where we were.

We will use tomorrow to clean the RV and do laundry, review our driving route for Friday, and Friday we head to Leavenworth, Washington.  This is south and east of where we are now, in the Sawtooth Wilderness area of the Cascades.  Will spend about 11 days there before moving to Burlington, Washington where our niece, Donna, will join us for a week of sightseeing.