Part 05: Rainy Lake

We spent a day taking it easy and decided to hike the Rainy Lake Trail out of Rainy Pass in the beautiful North Cascades. The trial was only a mile long, and barely changed elevation at all, maybe fifty feet total. It was a smoothly-packed and graded gravel path, perfect for people in wheelchairs, or little kids in strollers. And it led to a lovely lake, perched like a gem within a glacial cirque.

We began our day in a motel in Winthrop, east of the Cascade Range. Vicki cooked some ramen in the room’s microwave and I ate a nourishing Pop-Tart. Then we headed west on Route 20, the North Cascades Scenic Highway, all the way to the summit, at Rainy Pass. There was a picnic area and day-use parking, which needed a five dollar permit or a Northwest Forest Pass. We had the latter, so we parked and got out the daypack with some water, snack, and the ten essentials.

We parked at the southern parking lot at Rainy Pass, where the trail to Rainy Lake began — We parked at the Rainy Pass Picnic Area, where the trail to Rainy Lake began

The parking area required a Northwest Forest Pass, which we already had, so we hiked onward — The parking area required $5/day or a Northwest Forest Pass, which we had, so we hiked onward

Informative display at the Rainy Lake Trailhead, which also mentions the Maple Pass Trail — Display at the Rainy Lake Trailhead, which also mentions the Maple Pass Trail

The map at the trailhead made it clear that the Rainy Lake Trail was strictly a day-hiking excursion

Vicki was very happy to hike on an essentially flat trail. and I thought it fitting that it was drizzling when we arrived. Raining at Rainy Pass. Perfect! Most of the clouds clinging to the nearby mountains seemed to be arriving from the west side, the ocean side, and that was to be expected. Out east, in Winthrop where we started, the skies were clear.

Vicki posing at the Rainy Lake Trailhead — Vicki posing in her raingear at the Rainy Lake Trailhead on a drizzly morning

She agreed to try this trail after feeling tired yesterday, once I showed her that it barely climbed at all — Wide trail, wheelchair accessible, with minimal elevation gain over one mile

There were many convenient benches to rest on along the Rainy Lake Trail

The trail crossed over two side creeks on footbridges, and we got to see some cascading water, tumbling down the mountainside.

Wide footbridge on the Rainy Lake Trail over a side-creek — Wide footbridge crossing over a side-creek

We came upon a much larger footbridge on the Rainy Lake Trail — We came upon a much larger footbridge over a larger creek, with a waterfall!

Rainy Pass was living up to its name that morning - luckily we were on the dry(er) side of the pass — Rainy Pass was living up to its name that morning – luckily we were on the dry(er) side of the pass

At the halfway point, a side trail branched off to the right. It wasn’t smooth gravel; it was muddy and steep! It was a loop trail that went up the ridgeline and around the cirque surrounding Ann Lake, then back to the parking lot. This looked like a fun trail to me, one worthy of what I would call a “Solid Day’s Hike” but Vicki wasn’t having any part of that nonsense. We were here to have an easy day after our recent hike on the PCT.

The Maple Pass Trail branched off from the Rainy Lake Trail, but it was muddy and steep

Another wooden bench along the Rainy Lake Trail, which also had wide spots for wheelchairs — Another bench along the trail, which also had wide spots for wheelchairs to pass or pause

Less than a half mile later, we arrived at Rainy Lake. It was much larger than I expected, and much prettier. Once again, there was a bench to sit on and a wide platform for viewing the lake and taking photos. There was also an informative display about what a “Glacial Cirque” actually meant. Basically, where we were standing used to be deep within a glacier, and the bowl that the lake sat in was circular, hence a cirque.

We arrived at Rainy Lake after a short and easy hike, less than a mile and maybe 50 feet of up and down

The Rainy Lake Trail ended at the lake, on a nice flat spot with more benches to sit on

Informative plaque describing the Glacial Cirque and Lyall Glacier that formed Rainy Lake — Plaque about the Glacial Cirque and Lyall Glacier that formed Rainy Lake

So I took a bunch of photos! And videos. There was snow up above, and the map even showed that there was a glacier, the Lyall Glacier, far above us, but it was shrouded in blowing clouds. It was probably melting right now, receding ever-so-slowly thanks to changes in climate over the recent centuries. Meanwhile, long skinny waterfalls were pouring down the hillside into the lake. Very dynamic, indeed.

The Lyall Glacier is invisible, high up in the clouds at the far end of Rainy Lake above the waterfalls — The Lyall Glacier was invisible, high up in the clouds at the far end of Rainy Lake above the waterfalls

Zoomed-in view of the waterfalls at the southwestern end of Rainy Lake

Panorama view of Rainy Lake on a drizzly morning in the North Cascades

We hung out for a while. We were the only ones there at the time, which was the way we like it. Just the two of us, experiencing the beauty of the world together. Eventually, of course, it was time to go. We headed back slowly, enjoying the forest. We met another couple on the way in and said hello. Everyone is friendly on trails. The world needs more of them, obviously.

There was a pile of lumber at Rainy Lake indicating that the NFS was going to build additional infrastructure — A pile of lumber at Rainy Lake indicated that the NFS was going to build additional infrastructure

Vicki was quite happy hiking back to the car on the smooth and flat Rainy Lake Trail — Vicki was quite happy hiking back to the car on the smooth and flat trail

I found a bit of amusing Spanish Moss on the way back from the Rainy Lake Trail — I found a bit of amusing Spanish Moss on the way back from the lake

Back at the parking lot at Rainy Pass after a fun hike on the Rainy Lake Trail — Back at the parking lot at Rainy Pass after a fun hike

We got back to the car and drove away. Our plan was to spend a night near here in the Klipchuk Campground that we stayed in a few nights ago, then drive to Lake Chelan tomorrow, and take the ferry to the town of Stehekin. We were really looking forward to that.

For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page

For LOTS more photos of our trip see my Flickr Page

<< Back to Part 4 Onward to Part 6 >>

Up to “Table of Contents”

Up to “Further Afield”

<< Back to Part 4 Onward to Part 6 >>

Share this: