By Wayne Kruse
For The Herald
As a beautiful summer moves toward autumn, it’s the perfect time to hit the high country for a little alpine trout action. Or maybe just to enjoy the high Cascades, fish or no fish.
Some of the more popular hike-in trout lakes locally include:
Skagit County
Slide Lake, 8 miles southeast of Marblemount and a very popular rainbow fishery at 3,300 feet. One-mile hike; easy access.
Snohomish County
Blanca Lake, 3,975 feet on the south side of Monte Cristo Peak, steep 31⁄2-mile hike, rainbow and cutthroat, some in the 12-inch range.
Goat Lake, 3,154 feet, scenic, early ice-out, rainbow and brooks.
Heather Lake, 2,450 feet, cutthroat.
Janus Lake, 4,220 feet, 6 miles northeast of Stevens Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail, with cutthroat.
Joan Lake, 5,100 feet, 6 miles northwest of Stevens Pass, 3.7-mile hike.
Lower Ashland, 2,700 feet, brook trout, 5 miles southeast of Verlot.
Upper Greider, 2,930 feet in the Sultan River drainage just south of Spada Lake, with rainbow and golden trout. Short hike, special watershed rules.
As a bonus, Blanca, Goat and Joan lakes are considered by the state to be overpopulated with certain species, and the agency encourages anglers to catch and keep on those waters.
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