22 Goat Lake Falls

RATING - 21.2

VR - 1.8 (Sm) HR - 4.0 SR - 14/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Trail

DIFFICULTY - Fairly Difficult

LOCATION - Ptarmigan Ridge Trail

TYPE - Cascades

HEIGHT - 70'

WIDTH - 10'

GPS - N48 48' 27.81" W121 44' 05.59"

ELEVATION - 5412'

DIRECTIONS - Take the Mt Baker Highway east from Bellingham to its end at Artists Point and depart on the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail. In about 4 miles, the trail will travel south of Coleman Pinnacle. At this point, the lake is visible from the trail. Leave the trail and follow the obscure route to the lake. Skirt the ridge along the east side of the lake and follow it up to the rocky crags above Rainbow Creek Valley. The falls can be seen dropping out of the south side of the lake.

22 Goat Lake is a small, unofficially named lake located just south of the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail on the east side of Mt. Baker. The lake is a stunning jade color, thanks to the melting snow that supplies the lake's water. As the water escapes the lake, it immediately cascades down a pretty, though fairly lackluster waterfall. The falls can actually be seen from inside the lake's basin and it's even possible to just scramble down the boulders alongside the waterfall. The best view, however, is from the ridge southeast of the lake. A small herd of mountain goats lives in the area immediately around the lake and is the reason for the lake's colloquial name. You shouldn't hike the trail just to visit this little waterfall, but if you do hike the trail (and you definitely should), it might be worth the side trip.