The trail has numerous switchbacks, wide views of peaks, alpine lakes and a long ridge of green meadows making it one of the prettiest areas in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. Once reaching the ridge along Lost Creek, the trail becomes a matter of following boot tread, blazes and cross-country travel, however the going is fairly easy and spectacular.

Be sure to carry water on this route, for you cannot be assured that water will be found along the way. The trail climbs steeply through open woods for 3.0 miles to Bingely Gap at 4425 feet in elevation.

The route enters Glacier Peak Wilderness at mile point 4.6 and continues on, climbing up along the ridge to meadows and a saddle overlooking 12.0-acre Round Lake (elevation 5100 feet). A side trail, 0.7 mile in length, drops down to the lake. Camp spots can be found here among the trees.

The main trail continues past 0.5-acre Sunup Lake (elevation 5300 feet). Then the trail becomes harder to follow, as it is more a matter of following boot tread, blazes, and cross-country travel.

Early season travel can be hazardous because of high-angle snow slopes and difficulty of route finding. In late season, the going is fairly easy and enjoyable, with numerous lakes dotting the rolling timberline ridge.

Following the ridge, passing through vast meadows and through open basins with constantly changing views, you pass 0.7-acre Hardtack Lake (elevation 5450 feet). At 11.0 miles you reach 9.9-acre Camp Lake (elevation 5700 feet).

From here a side trail climbs to a knoll then drops to a rocky basin and descends to 51.2-acre Lake Byrne (elevation 5550 feet).

Basic Directions