The parking lot tends to fill by mid-morning.
Station registration and permit check.
The start of the Monarch Lake Trail.
Easy sand path for the first 0.5 mile.
1.1 miles along the trail you enter the Indian Peaks Wilderness boundary.
Trail Junction for Crater Lake.
Moose frequent the swampy grasslands at the base of the watershed.
Rocky Mountain penstemon.
One of many side creeks of crystal-clear water.
First glimpse of the high terrain.
One bridge crossing is more technical than others.
Cascade Falls.
Bridge across Cascade Creek above the falls.
Indian paintbrush.
Looking south toward Apache Peak and neighboring crags.
Lucky backpacker who scored an overnight permit.
Lots of large fallen trees near the trail.
Labyrinth of cascading waterfalls criss-cross the trail.
The formidable Lone Eagle Peak.
Looking southwest toward Peck Glacier.
The origin of Cascade Creek and Apache Peak in the background.
Crater Lake and Lone Eagle Peak.
Crater Lake.