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Access
1
From Seattle take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 East for
2.3 miles, stay in left lane, go to Lake Stevens Highway 204 East,
in 2.2 miles take left (north) on Highway 9 to Lake Stevens, in
1.7 miles take right (east) on Highway 92 to Granite Falls, in 8.4
miles turn left (north) to Mountain Loop Highway, follow the highway
for 19.5 miles to Barlow Pass. Gravel road starts from this point.
Follow it for about 7 miles. Look for sign "Lost Creek Ridge Trail"
on the left side of the road. Turn right onto Road #49. Trailhead
is in about 3 miles on the left hand side.
Access
2
From Seattle take I-5 North to Exit 208 to Highway 530 East to Arlington.
Follow Highway for 32 miles to the intersection with Mountain Loop
Highway in Darrington. Turn right and follow the road for about
16 miles to junction with Sloan Creek Road #49 (in about nine miles
gravel road starts). There will be no sign indicating road #49,
so pay attention! Look for MP 13, junction is in 0.2 miles after
it. Turn left onto road #49 and continue for about 3 miles to the
trailhead on the left side of the road.
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August
28, 2000
The
trail enters the woods and gradually climbs for about 0.5, then
it turns into switchbacks and gradually climbs to a small stream
for about 0.5 mile. From here the trail gets steeper and switchbacks
for about 2 miles to Bingley Gap. A cross country route goes to
the left, leading to Spring Mountain (5770 ft), main trail continues
to the right climbing for about another mile to the meadows. The
trail evens up and in about 0.5 mile reaches a Y junction where
left fork leads to the ridge overlooking Round Lake  .
In about 200 feet the side trail divides again - going to the right
the trail leads to the peak (6343 ft), that offers a very good view
of the Round Lake and the surrounding mountains, the one to the
left steeply descends to the lake (about 0.5 mile / 500 ft.). The
lake is quite nice. There are several campsites situated on the
west shore.
Main
trail continues further and in about 0.5 mile reaches a small creek
coming out of the Sunup Lake. About 200 feet pass the creek going
to the left a short trail leads to Sunup Lake .
It steeply climbs for about 0.1 mile, then evens up and devides
into two - left one turns back to the creek and in about 0.1 mile
leads to the lake. The lake is very pretty, with open rocky shores
and shallow water. There are several campsites near the lake as
well as one on the top of the hill on the east side of the lake,
that offers a good view of the mountains and the valley.
From the junction the main trail continues on along the open slope
for about 1.5 mile with constant elevation gain and loss, crossing
several creeks. Use this chance to replenish your water supply for
no water may be available for about 5 miles. The trail goes for
another mile at times entering the the woods and leads to the ridge,
where a nice view of the valley and the mountains opens up. Following
the ridge the trail continues for about 0.5 mile and then quickly
descends on the north side of the ridge. Pay attention here not
to miss the left turn and don't follow the right fork of the trail
on the ridge.
Another
two miles of ups and downs bring you to Hardtack Lake .
The lake is not that attractive, but the there is a campsite near
it, if you feel that you need some rest. Good view of the Glacier
Peak opens up from this part of the trail .
In about 0.5 mile the trail crosses a small creek, and in 1.5 mile
reaches Camp Lake. There are several nice campsites near the lake.
The lake is very beautiful, with crystal clear water. The trail
crosses a Camp Creek and meets with Lake
Byrne Trail #774.
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