Directions: From Seattle drive north on Interstate 5 to Exit 194/City Center/Stevens Pass. Drive six miles east on US 2 to the Highway 9 exit near Snohomish. Follow Highway 9 north to US 92.Turn right and follow US 92 eight miles east to Granite Falls. At the end of town, turn left (north) on the Mountain Loop Highway. Drive 12 miles to the Verlot Public Service Center and another 15.2 miles to Perry Creek Road/Forest Service Road 4063. Turn left (north) and travel one mile to the roads end and the trailhead.
Trail Notes: I have tried to hike this trail before a couple times. One time I was turned back since the person I was hiking with ran out of energy, another time I was turned back by snow in November. This time we made it to the top but the weather was cloudy so the views weren't all they could have been. Still the overcast rainy weather made for a relativly solitary hike. On the way up we did not see anyone. On the return we passed six people in two groups.
The hike itself starts off fairly easily on a gradual uphill grade. The hike runs along the southern wall of the valley several hundred fee above the valley floor. The trail is rocky and gains elevation relativly pleasantly with occassional views of waterfalls across the valley. Some of the waterfalls are very tall, maybe 1000 to 15000 feet tall in total.
At the end of the valley you will spy some trees immediatly after the valley rounds a corner. Here is a large waterfall, and the remanants of a guard rail. The view is nice but the falls are pretty much hidden by the surrounding rocks. Care should be taken not to get too close to the edge of the rocks - the fall would be nasty.
From here the trail crosses the creek on a giant log which in the rain could be slippery. I opted for the log while Alex opted for the trail ajacent to the log - probably a wise choice. In any event this point marks a dramatic change in the demeanor of the trail. From here the going getts significantly steeper winding up a root covered trail through old growth trees. This section of the trail was very nice, offering localized views of the clouds making their way up the opposite valley wall. Very tranquil.
After an hour or so you make your way to the meadows which if the clouds weren't present would have offered grand views of Glacier Peak and Mt. Dickerman I would imagine. Following the path from here takes you to a cirque lake and ultimately the top of Mt. Forgotten. This section of the trail is exposed, and during our hike was windy, wet and cold. I actually wound up with a little wind burn.
On balance I would think this hike is really pretty nice in terms of views. I would expect this to be a lesserly traveled trail during the high season too. Still consider this is a pretty long steep hike.
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