North Cascades Trip Day 5

September 2:  This was "Rainbow Trail and Falls" day.  We were dropped off at the north end of Rainbow Loop Trail and our host Jeanneta positioned our loaner car at the south end of the trail.  The hike traverses one side of the Stehekin Valley at about 800 to 1000 feet above the valley floor, and is about 5 miles long end to end.  It obviously climbs rather steeply at the beginning and drops precipitiously at the end, but the trail was well-graded so did not feel strenuous.  We started by 9:30 before it got too hot, but we were on the trail for 4 hours, so the last bit was hot (and not well-shaded).  Fortunately, it was downhill.

This is the sign at the beginning; look for the "you are here" label to see the start of the trail.

Rainbow Creek Trail junction is at the midpoint and climbs up the creek's valley for many hundreds of feet.  We only went up the Rainbow Creek Trail for 350 vertical feet (1/3 mile) to catch the view.

The trail was very well graded.

We spotted this grouse about 20 feet off the trail.  It sat patiently for me to get the photograph.

A unique warning sign, put up after a wildfire in 2010.

The junction at the midpoint of the Rainbow Loop Trail (2200 feet elevation).

Sisi Ridge (7320 feet elevation), across the river valley.

Topshin Peak (8232 feet elevation), also on the south side of the valley.

Lake Chelan from about 2550 feet elevation. The air is hazy from a wildfire in the next basin.

The trail climbs out after crossing Rainbow Creek.

The "footlog" bridge over Rainbow Creek.

 

The wildfire burn area -- some very large trees were killed.

The panoramic view looking up valley to the west.

The end of the trail (again look for the "you are here" label, if at all interested in the trail).

Our host left our loaner car  at the trail-end parking area, which was 1/2 mile from the Stehekin Pastry Company, a world famous bakery and quite a treat for everyone who comes here.  We enjoyed snacks before driving to see Rainbow Falls (the bottom end of the creek we crossed earlier).

The upper section of Rainbow Falls -- it is a hanging valley which is common for u-shaped valleys that are carved by prehistoric glaciers.  We had another short  hike to the viewpoint (about 1/4 mile), with a little more climbing.  The upper falls drop 312 feet and with the lower tier, the total fall is just under 400 feet.

Maybe a video for the falls.

 We both enjoyed cooling our feet in the Stehekin River and watching  bright-red Kokanee (land-locked salmon) jumping.  The water was too cold and too rocky for more serious wading.