Goat Lake- Hike #72

Today we woke up to beautiful sunshine and blue skies, which I was very happy to see. It means for  a sweltering hike but that is okay, we could deal with that. This was an easy hike with about 1400 feet elevation gain and according to our GPS we did 10.7 miles round trip.
  To get to Goat Lake take the Mountain Loop Highway heading East to Granite Falls. You will drive past the Ranger Station. (Stop here and get a Northwest Forrest Pass if you do not have one, because this hike requires one.) Follow the road all the way to the end of the pavement, continue going and go right on Forrest service road (FR 4080). There is a sign that says Elliott and Goat Lakes. Keep going until you come to the parking lot.
 Since today was Memorial Day the parking lot was full and we had to park on the side of the road. I didn't take any pictures of the parking lot or the information sign or the register book because there were people standing around. There is a pit toilet, and no running water. We brought one thing of water per person and had extra water in the vehicle for when we arrived back to head home.

 Here is a picture of the trail after the information sign and register. Which we did register.

B lead the way and started at a pretty good pace.

 Most people from posts that I have read take the Upper Elliott Trail and come down the Lower Elliott. We however did it the other way around.

The trail is so pretty and almost pancake flat for most of the way.

 We crossed a bridge over a wetland and I had to take a picture of this skunk cabbage, it was ginormous. No buds on this one yet.

 Only a few feet further down we found these, and I think that I figured out that they are called shelf/bracket fungi. (If not can someone inform me please?)

 B, H and A and Cookie left L and I in the dust.

 The river was so close, pretty and loud. The water was flowing extremely fast too.

The Western Red Cedars that were over the path were huge.

I tried to get a picture to show how large in diameter, but pictures don't begin to do it justice 

As I was continuing on the path I decided to stop and take a picture of the underside of the Western Red Cedar. The log was so long, wish I actually knew how old the tree was.

Shortly after we came upon another small stream to cross. At each stream we made sure to let the dog have water.

There was another bridge to cross. I thoroughly enjoy walking on wooden bridges that are this nice.

One of my favorite pictures of these 2.

As you get closer to the lake you go through smaller and closer together trees. For some reason it makes me think of a scene that would come out of Anne of Green Gables.

A glimpse of a mountain.

These Cedars were very large as well, but alas pictures don't begin to do them justice.

The kids and I found this hollowed out stump interesting.

Starting to notice the elevation gain here.

Another stream crossing.

I am pretty sure that this is a Western Trillium. I love the color of it.

So pretty.

Another glimpse of the mountain as you come up the trail. 

The stumps that you can find/see from the old logging days fascinate me very much.

This part of the trail is wider and is nice.

then it turns into the above picture for a ways. It felt to me more like we were walking through an old stream bed.

Finally made it! But we had to walk around the lake for bit before we could find a place that was vacant for us to sit at and spend some time.

The lake and view were amazing! Definitely worth the hike and crowds.

Soaking their sore and hot feet. 

Cookie was hot enough that she went in the lake on her own, but only up to her tummy. In this picture she is begging for some snacks. Isn't she cute though? We stayed for about half an hour and headed back. We stopped and admired the falls on our way back down, it is worth it. 

When we arrived at the junction we took the Upper Elliott Trail. It is an old road that is rather compact and wide.

The bleeding hearts were very pretty to see and right along the edge of the trail. There were also numerous false lily of the valley along the way.

There are more stream crossings on this section as well. 

 Evidence of a spit or spittle bug. I didn't know that the nymphs incase themselves in the "spit".

Another waterfall, it doesn't begin to be as grand as the one right before the lake.

Shortly after this stream crossing, there is another one that is a culvert that has been washed out. It is manageable, you can walk on top of the metal pipe.

The yellow of this swamp buttercup/straight-beaker buttercup is so bright.

There is a waterfall back there, you have to look closely. After taking this picture I didn't take anymore pictures because I was tired of holding my phone and the trail was flat. We did pass through an area of sword fern surrounding you on every side, and I wish now that I had taken a picture of it.... Oh well.
    H and A did such a good job and didn't complain the whole way. Miss A's foot and Mr. H's knee were hurting toward the end but they kept on going. We had a really great time and the hike was very pleasant and pretty easy.

Until next time!