Directions: From the Everett area, take State Route 92 through Granite Falls. Continue straight ahead, down Stanley St, and turn left at the stop sign (by the car wash). Go straight through the next stop (now on the Mountain Loop Highway). Continue down Mountain Loop several miles until you go over the pale blue bridge. Immediately after the pale blue bridge, turn right. It is clearly labeled Mt Pilchuck. Follow the well used road 1 mile and look for a bunch of cars on pulled off to the side of the road.
Trail Notes: Last week I saw this hike and thought what the heck for the sake of adding to the hikes I have done would give it a try though I knew it wouldn't be too difficult. The hike lived up to my expectations and wasn't too bad, but overall if I had to describe the hike in one word it would be 'muggy'.
So the trail itself starts off in second growth with a pretty full canopy. There is quite a bit of evidence that there was old growth here not so long ago - the notches are still visible in the giant tree stump where loggers put planks to stand as they cut down these giants. That was then, this is now the trees are much smaller and you are only left to wonder what things might have looked like a hundred years ago.
The trail is generally pretty gentle and becomes progressively more steep as you continue along. After about 15 minutes or so you make your way to a long abandoned logging road which shortly thereafter turns into a trail. It is at this point that the trees become much older with some goodly sized old growth thrown in - mostly Western Red Cedar. The trail also becomes more rocky and muddy. At the moment the entire trail from here is mostly mud, with roots and rocks. Not really too much of a surprise given that the snow is just melting and well...turns into mud.
As the trail continues up I notice the air becoming warmer and more humid. So humid it had that balmy swath won't evaporate sort of feel...and I wore my big boots and heavy socks. What was I thinking?
The trail slogs on for about another 30 minutes or so and then levels out as one gains the valley of the cirque lake which is Heather Lake. When you get to the lake be sure to walk along the boardwalk so you can see all sides of the lake. It isn't really that the view is so great, but what the heck. Also be advised that there are quite a few people on the trail and at the lake. There are many dogs, on and off leash - mostly off, and many little kids. So if you have dogs and/or kids - I highly recommend this hike. I would recommend leaving in the early morning for this one, at least until the moisture has burned off. And lastly this hike is also very much like Annette Lake so if you liked that you will like this one.
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