The North Cascades around Cedar Hollow have trails for every morning, not just the ambitious ones. Here's how our concierge team sorts them when guests ask what to do with their legs.

Easy — Riverside Loop Trail

0.5 miles, flat, starts directly behind the lodge. No guide needed, and it's the easiest way to get oriented on your first evening. Good with a coffee in hand, good after dinner, good in nearly any weather.

Easy-Moderate — Cedar Hollow Overlook (self-guided)

2.4 miles round trip, gentle elevation gain, well-marked. The trailhead is a ten-minute drive from the lodge (we can arrange a lift), and the view from the top takes in the whole Anders Valley. Best in the two hours before sunset.

Moderate — The Ridge Hike (guided)

5 miles round trip, roughly 1,200 feet of elevation gain, 4–5 hours with a lunch stop. This is the hike most guests do — see our Experiences page to book it with our resident guide, who packs lunch and knows where the mountain goats tend to be in early summer.

Moderate-Strenuous — Anders Falls (self-guided)

6.8 miles round trip, moderate scrambling near the falls themselves. Trailhead is 25 minutes from the lodge. Best April through June, when snowmelt has the falls at their fullest; can be dry and less dramatic by late August.

Strenuous — Marlowe Peak (guided only, seasonal)

9 miles round trip, nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain, full day. Available July through September only, weather permitting, and only with a guide — we can arrange this through the concierge with at least 48 hours' notice. Not recommended for a first hike of the trip; better on day two or three once you're acclimated.

Seasonal Notes

Trails above 4,000 feet can hold snow into June most years. Larch season (late September into early October) is the single most popular hiking window at the lodge — the Ridge Hike passes through larch stands that turn gold for about two weeks each fall, and it's worth booking that hike in advance during that window.

Quick Facts

  • Easiest trail: Riverside Loop (0.5 mi, flat, no guide needed)
  • Most popular guided hike: Ridge Hike (5 mi round trip, moderate, guide required for the full experience)
  • Longest/hardest: Marlowe Peak (9 mi, ~3,000 ft gain, guided only, July–September)
  • Best waterfall hike: Anders Falls, best April–June for peak snowmelt flow
  • Best season for fall color: late September–early October (larch season)