Decision Time

It was 11:45 and check out time at the campground was noon. It was decision time. Should we stay or should we go? The main choice seemed to be whether to head back to Mount Rainier or spend another day here. We waffled and ended up deciding to stay and make the eastward drive to see the rest of the North Cascades Scenic Highway. We’d heard from our neighbors at the campground that it was worth it.

This turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip. As it happens, Colonial Creek is essentially the line of demarcation in this area between boring, obstructed views of North Cascades and gorgeous vistas of the mountains. We’d stayed west of our campground and missed the jaw-dropping scenery that makes up “the most beautiful mountain drive in Washington.” One particular spot, the Washington Pass, was indescribable. (It’s worth noting, though, that by the time we hit this we were into national forest land as opposed to the park itself).