Mount McCausland and Lake Valhalla Hike

Let's hike to Mount McCausland and Lake Valhalla! This is a gorgeous hike with mountain vistas as well as a stop at the beach on Lake Valhalla. On top of that, there are now fall colors to admire and likely blueberries and/or huckleberries to much on. Game plan is to stop at the view point at Mt. McCausland rather than the true summit, which involves a scramble.

Since this is at Stevens Pass, we're going to set the start time for when we meet at the Stanwood I-5 Park and Ride rather than the trailhead. There is more than one park and ride in Stanwood, so make sure you have the correct one at 26625 Old Hwy 99N. This is at I-5 and SR532. A rough estimate for when we start the hike is at 10:30am. Please have a clear schedule for the entire day, as this involves a long drive with potential traffic delays as well as possibly stopping for dinner which could make the end time even later.

Park & Ride: https://maps.app.goo.gl/twXasi2vJeQ6nfax9

Distance: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,200' (estimated)
Difficulty: Moderate overall, but the McCausland trail is steep!
Parking Pass: None Required
Dogs: This is a dog-friendly hike for friendly dogs.

We will postpone this hike for heavy rain, high winds, or thunderstorms, so check this site the day before. We will not cancel for light rain or clouds.

Housekeeping:
You must sign-up and be on the “Going” list to participate.
If you sign-up for this event, out of respect for the group please make every effort to attend. We will cancel for high winds or monsoon rains. We will hike sun, rain, snow, or sleet. Please practice leave-no-trace.

Disclaimer: We are not professional hiking guides or medical professionals. You alone are 100% responsible for your own comfort and safety. By attending this hike you agree to these terms and do not hold hike organizer(s) liable for injuries and/or medical issues during or after this event. Please carry the ten essentials: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials

Driving Directions: (from WTA)
From I-5, take Hwy 2 east. Four miles after the pass, the highway divides. Look for signs for FR 6700, and a few hundred yards past the divide, take a left turn onto FR 6700. This is also known as the Smithbrook Road (or Rainy Creek Road on GoogleMaps.) Be careful crossing the westbound lanes of Hwy 2 here: the visibility is poor and the road on the opposite of the highway is difficult to see.

The Smithbrook Road is in decent condition and suitable for passenger cars, though there are bumpy sections and a few isolated areas of potholes. Pass a couple of dispersed campsites and arrive at the trailhead at 2.6 miles. The parking area is large enough for approximately 20 cars, but there are no pit toilets.