The dense old growth canopy and the profusion of moss cast the first mile-and-half of the hike in deep greens and browns. The trail has a series of steady switchbacks from the get-go, which roughly follow the course of 22 Creek. The creek's waters flow from Lake 22, the destination of the hike.
The terrain surrounding Lake 22 was set aside in 1947 as a natural research area to study the impact of human use on the forest. After emerging from the cool dampness of the old-growth forest the trail leads up a talus slope. Hikers are rewarded by views of snowcapped peaks (only one in August) and the Skagit River (but it was fairly dry).
