The “Goat Hole” is actually the Goat Lake Basin not too far from the Crystal Mountain ski area. There is plenty of parking at the sand flats horse camp. From the horse camp area head across the road and uphill! After a few miles and even more views you’ll reach the top of the ridge and get your first peeks of the basin. Head down hill across a shale slope or two and you’re there!
Plenty of good camping spots are available as well as a pit toilet (or as I like to say a “loo with a view”). Mountain goats can be seen and heard in the cliffs above you. Goat lake has water but there is a good spring fed stream that provides water closer to the main camping spots.
From Goat Basin you can easily head out on and connect with many other trails and mountain lakes.
I went with a Washington State BCH group and had a ball! For the scenery, solitude, and ease of access (ease of access and solitude does seem like an oxymoron but is certainly true here) I’d have to say that this bit of trail ranks easily in my high country top ten.
As always, many more photos, driving directions, weather, etc. HERE
sounds like you had a great time and the weather was good too. I heard it has been unusually dry and warm in your part of the country. 
