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It was a hazy Sunday afternoon, but I'd heard this is the lookout to visit if you are interested in seeing "Golden Larches". In the fall hiking season, Larches flaming yellow needles turn a Cascade landscape into something ethereal and otherworldly. There are only a few short weeks when the needles turn golden—typically late September into early October—make them all the more precious to spot. It’s no wonder we call our annual search “Larch Madness.”
Rising to a height of 7,000 feet, Goat Peak and its historic fire lookout comprise the most prominent landmark in the Methow Valley, visible from almost anywhere between Mazama and Winthrop. While the trail to its summit may inflict a little pain during its early steep stretches, you soon gain sweeping views from the floor of the valley to the tops of the airy summits of the North Cascades.
The original D-6 cupola cabin at Goat Peak was constructed in 1923 by the Chelan National Forest and then replaced in 1950 with the current L-4 cab on a 15′ timber tower.
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