Find the trail at the north end of the parking lot and right off the bat, start a short, steep switchbacking climb to the lake. Give an “Ain’t she purty!” to the lake, then head right and climb steadily up an old roadbed. At 0.5 miles, turn right into the forest at a signpost reading South Ridge Trail. A nanosecond later, a hard switchback to the left offers the first ridgetop running and views west to Blanchard Mountain.
Run right at a fork at 0.8 miles and continue climbing along the ridge. Caution: Sections of this ridge offer an exposed and deadly drop-off to the right. Something to keep in mind on the way down too.
About a quarter mile ahead, run left at a T-intersection with an old logging road. Go straight a few hundred yards farther at another intersection, and just beyond, admire the Skagit Valley views to the south and west. After a quick dip followed by a quick ascent, the Alger Alp appears just up ahead.
Bear right at the next intersection and at 1.7 miles run left at a T-intersection. Alger Alp is directly in front of you. Do the serious climbing thing for about a half-mile but don’t stop ‘til you’ve reached the top and are showered with that whole grain, 360-degree rock ‘n’ roll mountain goodness that I alluded to earlier.
When you’ve had enough return the same way as far as the fork you hit at the 0.8 mark. This time, take a hard right and drop quickly on a wide trail for a couple hundred yards. At a T-intersection with a dirt road, run right, and continue dropping. At a signed intersection, run right again following the arrow for Beaver Pond Loop. Reach the Pond—which isn’t really a pond so much as it is a marsh—and at 4.2 miles (total), take a left.
Just past the Beaver Pond Loop—which isn’t so much a loop as it is half of a loop—run left just before a dirt road onto a narrow trail that drops quickly. At 4.5 miles, take a hard right following the sign for Squires Lake Loop, which is a proper loop. Follow the lake, and in about a quarter mile reach the spot where you gave the lake an “Ain’t she purty!” not all that long ago. Return to the parking lot at 5.0 miles the same way. .
At 1.5 miles, an open area with a rope hanging from a tree invites you to cut your run short to take a flying leap. Save it for the way back. At 3.2 miles the trail abruptly ends at a no-nonsense No Trespassing!-signed fence. Turn around and return the same way, making sure to stop and take a swing or two on the rope.