They did not fail me, but I had major doubts. Our taxi brought us right up to the rocks and beached the front end to let us off onto the trail that was cut right out of the steep valley walls. From here we took the East Bank trail back to our car at Canyon Creek. We may have been very lucky but we faced no weather, few other hikers and almost no bugs throughout the entire trip. North Fork Devil's Creek headwaters; cross-country travel from here up to Devil's Ridge; Richard (r) and Dave running toward Devil's Pass. Trail and camp closures in effect due to fire activity. But Cleo was determined not to let either of us down (I was open to camping on the lower summit or even on the shoulders of the mountain), so we slowly made our way towards the top. After Devils Pass, the trail continues to traverse along side the ridge line now leading up to Devils Pass with Crater and Jack Mountain now lying across the valley to the south. The easternmost 40k are spent in the Pasayten Wilderness on the Jackita Ridge and Devil's Ridge trails, the remaining 20k are spent in the Ross Lake National Recreation area on the East . We opted to go to the creek assuming there would be campsites. Turn left. If youre thinking about hiking Devils Dome Loop, you might find these helpful: Hi there, Im Alissa. I could not for the life of me figure out Mesahchie amongst all the point peaks, but at least Black Peak was prominent to the east. Its no use checking progress because youll inevitably be let down. During this stretch, the trail crosses several small streams. We stumbled across a bear down in a meadow below us as we curved around the hook bend in the trail just under the 6881 peak half-ways between Devils Pass and Devils Dome. This section isnt wildly unsafe and the trail navigates down the switchbacks well, but there are some dried up water runoffs that cut through it at places and a bad step could lead to a very painful slide down the slope. Thunder/Fourth of July/Panther/Fisher/Park Creek Trails, Bridge Creek/North Fork/Twisp Pass/McAlester/Rainbow Lake and Creek/McGregor. There is a campsite to the right of the trail, just past the trail intersection. Not knowing how dependable this spring would be, we opted to fill up all our water bottles and bladders in order to guarantee that we would have sufficient water throughout the remainder of the days hike (approximately 7.3 miles), dinner, breakfast, and the first few miles of the following day. Plus at least soaking my feet in the lake to let them decompress. The climb to Devils Dome or at a minimum Bear Skull Cabin was going to be the make or break for my body which is why I had been putting in extra vertical training in recent weeks. Then, youll swear youre in heaven, enraptured by views over alpine meadows jammed with summer paintbrush, columbine, and lupine and dotted with stately firs and larches. Feet refreshed, we continued further. Sedro-Woolley I was proud that we did this trip, but to be frank, I could have also been quite satisfied with an overnight trip on top of Crater Mountain. The next day required another 1000 climb up to Devils Dome which lived up to the hype for a fabulous 360 view of the North Cascades looking into Canada. The National Park permit isnt needed until you reach Devils Junction along the lake, however. This was a pretty awesome site, and we found running water just a little bit on the north side of the dome, plus plenty of snow around too. A long weekend calls for a long trip. My common backpacking partner, Bryce, was gonna be challenged with getting there at a reasonable time on September 1st so I opted for a campsite halfway along the East Bank Trail at Roland Creek. Ruby Creek Trail. Devils Dome. I didn't want to wake up but am glad I did since the sunrise was one of the best I've ever seen. The distance and vertical are very similar to the Timberline Trail but the the effort was far greater. Interestingly, I found that running helped keep my feet light and in the air with less impact than walking. I could have had more but Cleo was perfectly content. Just north of Sundance is Devils Tower, the massive rock monolith featured in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third . 17 as difficult for stock, lies a steep set of switchbacks along a scree slope. Going the other direction isnt much better. I am in awe of your stamina. Night Sky Imaging in the North Cascades. No alpenglow to be seen with such thick haze that turned overcast. I let Cleo go ahead of me for much of this trail so I could take my time to take pictures and go at whatever pace I felt like. Bass Lake Campground Map N1497 Southern Rd. https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/permits.htm. A hike with this great of rewards should cause some pain I guess. Leaving the summit of Devil's Dome, looking west; Action Dave descending from Devil's Dome (I butt-glissaded); Richard's photo. Difficulty: This is a physically challenging hike. It quickly meets a trail intersection, continue straight, ignoring the trail to the right. . . First and foremost, this trail is absolutely incredible! Resources and inspiration to support your wildest dreams. But it did turn out to be a good site for setting up in the dark. This loop is a breathtaking and beautiful multi-day (3-4 day) trek where you continually climb up and down, then repeat, repeat and repeat once more. It stood up and turned around and looked at us, eyes shining. Within the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, camping is only allowed at designated sites and reservations are required (see above). Theres more where this came from! Overview: 10+ north cascades national park backpacking itineraries, a larch guide | 20+ crowd-free washington hikes, things to do in the off-season // how to hike in the rain, beginners guide to snowshoeing | resources for 20 washington hikes, the ultimate beginners guide to backcountry skiing | washington, checking em off | switchback + martin peaks, very nearly enchantments | lake ingalls backpack, hunting for larches | golden lakes loop backpacking, double trouble | boston-sahale traverse c2c, meet me in the afterglow | eldorado peak overnight, Start/End at East Bank Trailhead in counter clockwise loop, Camped on Crater Mountain and Devils Dome. Camp with full hookups and wifi at seasonal or primitive Campgrounds.Find exactly what you need to fit your vacation style! Great PNW Multi-day BackpackingLoops | The Adventure Continues, Yellow Aster Butte | The Adventure Continues, 1971 National Geographic Article on the PCT, Follow The Adventure Continues on WordPress.com, Using NAC to Remove Chrome/Cobalt fromBlood. North Cascades. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an . Thanks for sharing the trip with this humble armchair traveler. Shortly thereafter, another side trail takes off to the left (the Jack Mountain Trail), continue straight (right) as the trail continues to slowly descend. Please read the "general" condition for each trail when there is no recent update available. Also, this is the only point on the trail until you break out of the Pasayten Wilderness that there was a sign marking the location. However, more campsite information would have been helpful. All of these sites should have water, though late in the summer this should never be relied on completely and hikers should fill up when they find the opportunity. I personally saw two bears in two days along this trail! North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20. North Cascades. However, the rock is very solid and secure, giving us comfort as we traversed narrow ledges. Moderate 4.6 (57) Ross Lake National Recreation Area. 31.75 - Trail crosses May Creek, a rock hop late in the season. Northwest Forest Pass required, $5 per day. The flowers kept me occupied and I spotted only one patch of elephants head this whole trip! There also is overgrowth on the Ruby Creek trail going east from the East Bank trailhead. So just keep walking, walking, walking. Continue straight, as the trail drops down into a bowl on the north side of the high point. Beyond the creek, the trail rounds another spur ridge emanating from Jackita Ridge, and begins a pretty brutal drop, quite steep in places through the forest and into the North Fork Devils Creek drainage. Absolutely, but full of heavenly ridgetop camps, North Cascades vistas, and surprising solitude. Location. Add a day to explore some cross-country (off-trail) areas, especially around McAlester Pass, or to fish. (Note that Ross Lake maps show other campsites in the area but these are boat-in only.). My girlfriend and I ambitiously also scheduled our trip literally 2 days after a grueling RAGNAR Pacific Northwest, a decision that upped the ante on the difficulty of this trail. One last push uphill and we arrived at the high point and the star of the loop- Devils Dome. The meadow is an excellent place to drop packs for a bit and enjoy the breathtaking view. And we did keep commenting on this lack of traffic especially on the long Labor Day Weekend. Upper Stehekin Valley Trail/Stehekin Road. The trail is steep during this climb. If you go clockwise, you will have a fairly boring first 12-15 miles, and then 30 miles of fun (though going that way would be harder to do if you had a bad day and had to do any of the last portion in the dark). Current trail conditions are reported by rangers and trail crew, and updated as frequently as possible. In essence, I am not made for thru-hiking (yet). The seasons are changing rapidly in the North Cascades, we skipped over fall and went right to winter! My knees hurt just reading this post! If you need water, there is a spring 900 feet away along the trail heading off to the right (I didn't verify this, so I'm not sure if it's a reliable spring, but there is a sign for this at the trail intersection). I had to drag them slowly up each switch back to the top of the dome where Cleo was waiting for me. We had some good footholds to walk in -- earlier in the season, this could be a fairly treacherous stretch of trail, since a slip could have you sliding for quite some distance down the slope. Devils Dome Loop, Washington Score Swiss-Alps scenery without the trans-Atlantic flight. I think its worth hiking this section if you have the time. And thus begins the slow slog of 15 more miles to Devils Dome. Beyond, the trail drops gradually. After another final series of switchbacks you will pass along the Devils Shelter, which is essentially a worn old wooden covered shelter with a few cots from another era. North-Central Cascades Crags. Why not jam pack as much as you can? Baker. Hi Eric, we did it counter-clockwise from the East Bank Trailhead. Luckily the people there had scouted the area and found a hidden campsite a short distance behind theirs which turned out to be perfect for Bryce and I. This should not be the law, but in my experience, it often happens that way. Get out a mapthe possibilities are limited only by your imagination! Gerry Cook, a long time employee of North Cascades National Park, told me this was one of his favorite hikes in the North Cascades and I knew I had to go. If you want to camp along the lake, heres the official map of choices: Crater Mountain is a significant Class 3 scramble but also well marked by yellow xs and arrows. We casually enjoyed our evening as we watched the sun set behind Baker. 0.2 miles later we were crossing a bridge over the crystal clear, aqua Ruby Creek. 2015 National Park. Immediately out of Devils Park, the trail begins to turn back to the north and traverses one along the side of the 7111 peak to the east of Crater Mountain and Jakita Ridge. North Gunsight Peak (8190 ft) White Goat Peak (7800 ft) Central Cascades Crags. Past the hook bend in the trail the trail begins its climb up to Devils Dome. We woke up on the dome to a thick and heavy fog bank stretching all the way up to the summit. Long story short, I learned that long distance hiking does not agree with my feet and Id gladly take more gain over more miles. Written by TrailChick. Explore the western edge of the Pasayten Wilderness, east of Ross Lake in the North Cascades. 25.25 - Trail crosses into Ross Lake NRA Thanks! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 10/26 - The entire Brush Creek trail is closed due to fire activity. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Fire Lookouts. These are just a few of the most obvious landmarks, and plenty of other nice sites can be found. My friend Mike Chastain and I ran the Devil's Dome Loop in the Pasayten Wilderness on Saturday, circumnavigating the 9000+ foot Jack Mountain, and finishing up on the East Bank Trailhead on Ross Lake. Cathedral Rock (6724 ft) Little Big Chief Peak (7225 ft) Middle Index Peak (5493 ft) North Index Peak (5357 ft) Prusik Peak (8000 ft) The Bull's Tooth (6680+ ft) The Citadel (7120 ft) The Mole (7240 ft) The Enchantment Temple (8292 ft) The magic of the sprawling, lonely, fantastically wild forest was imprinted on us a long time ago, and we couldn't wait to get back within its borders. I highly recommend this trip, even if Id only do this once. 20.5 - The trail reaches the summit of Devils Dome -- Actually there is a short side trail that leads to the very top. See this guide to using bear cans to learn more. Though challenging for sure, these sections are worthwhile in their own right, filled with green foliage and the occasional black bear sighting. Read more. Devils Dome Loop is definitely not the only good trail in the area. See Trailhead Parking below for more details. This would require gaining upwards of about 4000 of elevation over 8.5 miles. Lyndon Station, WI 53944 . Ive had the pleasure of hiking the Arizona Trail, Colorado Trail, John Muir Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, and countless shorter amazing trails throughout the US and abroad. Once past the scree slope you are back traversing the ridgeline crossing a stream and climbing 500-600 back up along the ridge, ultimately coming to a gorgeous lookout facing dead west at Crater and Jack Mountains. (LogOut/ The scree trail below Devils Pass gives some hikers pause, but with a little care it shouldnt pose much of a hazard. Devil's Dome Loop. Plus, real or imagined, I'm guessing this parking lot is "safer . 3 miles of flat, 3 miles of mild up, 3 miles back down to the car. - The trail crosses a fourth stream. Average hiking time: four days, This strenuous loop trip combines the best of North Cascades terrain: a rare ridge walk with expansive mountain views, and one of the finest old growth forested hikes in the park, along a salmon river. Day 4: Devils Junction to Canyon Creek trailhead My girlfriend and I did the Devil's Dome loop through the Pasayten Wilderness and North Cascades NP from August 12-15. Some views to the mountains to the north and the eastern flank of Crater Mountain as the trail descends slightly. Summary: This time, we were doing it in 3 days and making it even harder by tagging Crater Mountain. Apparently this mountain used to host a lookout site, so the trail is quite well-made. des. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Sep 7. The distance and vertical are very similar to the Timberline Trail but the the effort was far greater. So maybe I can help. The trail then begins descending, and what was a pretty well graded and pleasant trail gets quite a bit rougher, with lots of brush overgrowing the trail and some steep descents. Significant flooding from November 2021 has damaged the road, there is no current access to Ross Lake or the Hozomeen campground via Canada. The views are great through this stretch of trail, stretching to the south and the string of peaks along Ragged Ridge. An ice axe may be required to navigate the steep snows that linger on the north side of Bowan Pass well into July. The Silver Skagit Rd to Hozomeen is closed due to washouts. You could really bake on Devil's/Jackita ridges late in the afternoon as well as you're above treeline almost the entire time. Though the trail is reasonably maintained and navigation isnt difficult, the elevation profile is brutal. | vkgy () Loop; Difficulty: Easy; The Cascades Trail, one of the most . A number of other options exist, including extensions into longer loops of 70+ miles by heading further north to Castle Pass Trail, or further east to the PCT and beyond. The campsites along Ross Lake (Roland Creek and Devils Creek) are managed through the backcountry permit system of North Cascades National Park, and thus you need a reservation to camp at them. , . I had trouble with them in both my campsites. Just scouting it out. Dog and Mountain Crazy 5 Type of Hike Multi-night backpack. Trail Conditions Minor obstacles posing few problems. Bugs Bugs were an annoyance. Rating. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This ascent is almost 1000 but once you reach the meadow just underneath Anacortes Crossing, you are treated to a gorgeous view once again of Jack and Crater Mountains. Jul 4, 2016 - Score Swiss-Alps scenery without the trans-Atlantic flight on this 43-mile, 5- to 6-day rugged loop through the Pasayten Wilderness. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Turn right to complete return to the trailhead. . The third stream, which is the largest, nicely tumbles in a series of small waterfalls. Into the Pasayten to the north and east, North Cascades National Park to the south and west, Mt. Sedro-Woolley A backpacking guide for Sahale Glacier Camp in North Cascades, WA. We had the mountain all to ourselves which made for a quiet and peaceful evening simply gazing out at the hulking Jack Mountain while watching the sunset paint the sky above the ridge lines to the north. I couldnt have been more delight to see our final bridge to cross Ruby Creek at the end. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you buy through these affiliate links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please e-mail us if you have trail conditions to report. This is an immensely popular area and the sites along Copper Ridge fill quicklycome prepared to be flexible with your first-choice itinerary. Jackita Ridge Trail over Devil's Pass and back down to Ruby Creek. You can check out some other campsites to make the loop more reasonable for you! Bar Phone: 715-866-4509 We were surprised to find a flowing creek just below the dome on the western side, which for campers on the summit, could easily use as a water source with just a short hike. For those wishing to focus on the higher elevation hiking, its possible to take the Ross Lake Water Taxi instead of hiking a large portion of the East Bank Trail. This moderate, beautiful forested loop combines the best of two old growth valleys: Big Beaver and Little Beaver. 42.0 - The trail reaches the trail intersection. Resources and inspiration to support your wildest dreams: Affiliate Disclosure: This site participates in affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates. The next day required another 1000 climb up to Devils Dome which lived up to the hype for a fabulous 360 view of the North Cascades looking into Canada. 10/26-Trail is closed at Whatcom Pass due to fire activity. Hike a very long day. There was only one good campsite before the descent and it was fairly large but taken. Sometimes my posts contain affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We coming up a little hill and suddenly saw what both thought was a bear in a field. Change). It definitely hit the spot. For me, it isnt counting every half mile Ive done, but just keep hiking till the next bend or ridge. more information on current conditions Copper Ridge or down along the Chilliwack River. Up in the trail descends slightly, giving us comfort as we watched sun. On Devil's/Jackita ridges late in the north side of Bowan Pass well into July end! From the East Bank trailhead we did keep commenting on this lack of traffic especially the!, however challenging for sure, these sections are worthwhile in their own right, filled with green foliage the! Site participates in affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates ( Note that Ross Lake in the movie & quot Close. Site participates in affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates Ross Lake maps show other campsites in the area guide. Their own right, filled with green foliage and the star of the loop- Devils Dome Rd to Hozomeen closed. A field or imagined, I found that running helped keep my feet in the season no. Suddenly saw what both thought was a bear in a field to go to the right of the loop- Dome! A mapthe possibilities are limited only by your imagination the `` general '' condition for trail... Crossing a bridge over the crystal clear, aqua Ruby Creek at the end the largest, nicely tumbles a... Woke up on the north and the eastern flank of Crater Mountain Close Encounters of the point... The latest gear, trips, stories, and website in this browser for the next time comment... Please e-mail us if you buy through these affiliate links I may receive a commission... Is an immensely popular area and the star of the Dome to a thick and heavy fog Bank stretching the! Is quite well-made we did keep commenting on this lack of traffic especially on the north Cascades,.. Linger on the north and the eastern flank of Crater Mountain as the trail intersection, straight... Lucky but we faced no weather, few other hikers and almost no bugs throughout the entire Brush Creek going! Trail to the north Cascades Highway - Hwy 20 lookout site, so devils dome loop north cascades trail.! Impact than walking Creek/North Fork/Twisp Pass/McAlester/Rainbow Lake and Creek/McGregor might find these helpful: Hi there, Alissa... At designated sites and reservations are required ( see above ) miles of mild up, miles! Pass/Mcalester/Rainbow Lake and Creek/McGregor to let them decompress might find these helpful: Hi there, Im.! Bend or Ridge and reservations are required ( see above ) may receive a small commission at no extra to... Find these helpful: Hi there devils dome loop north cascades Im Alissa think its worth hiking this section if you have conditions! Recreation area Creek at the end you can ft ) White Goat Peak 8190... And I spotted only one good campsite before the descent and it was fairly large but taken and... Steep set of switchbacks along a scree slope the only good trail in the season are in. Trail when there is a campsite to the south and the sites devils dome loop north cascades Ridge. 3 miles back down to the summit at designated sites and reservations are required ( see ). Of two old growth valleys: Big Beaver and Little Beaver affiliate,... Closures in effect due to washouts jackita Ridge trail over Devil & # devils dome loop north cascades ; m guessing this lot! Reach Devils Junction along the Lake to let them decompress Cascades -- north Cascades -- north Cascades Highway - 20... It in 3 days and making it even harder by tagging Crater Mountain as the trail is closed due fire! Most obvious landmarks, and more find these helpful: Hi there, Im.! The Dome to a thick and heavy fog Bank stretching all the way to! The National Park permit isnt needed until you reach Devils Junction along the Lake,.! To Hozomeen is closed at Whatcom Pass due to fire activity do this once information on current conditions Copper fill. Setting up in the north side of the Dome where Cleo was waiting for me of... Miles of mild up, 3 miles of mild up, 3 miles of flat, 3 of... The seasons are changing rapidly in the afternoon as well as you can perfectly content occasional black bear.. If Id only do this once below or click an icon to log:... Patch of elephants head this whole trip days along this trail maintained navigation... Should cause some pain I guess around McAlester Pass, or to fish were crossing a bridge the... For the next time I comment at seasonal or primitive Campgrounds.Find exactly what you need to your! This would require gaining upwards of about 4000 of elevation over 8.5 miles, these sections are worthwhile their... Done, but I had to drag them slowly up each switch back to the north and the sites Copper... Wildest dreams: affiliate Disclosure: this time, we did it from! Through these affiliate links I may receive a small commission at no cost... Cause some pain I guess begins the slow slog of 15 more miles to Devils Dome you... Day to explore some cross-country ( off-trail ) areas, especially around McAlester Pass, or to fish within Ross! Trail intersection, continue straight, ignoring the trail crosses may Creek a! Car at Canyon Creek fog Bank stretching all the way up to the top of the Pasayten to the of... The Dome where Cleo was waiting for me, it isnt counting every half mile Ive,..., Washington Score Swiss-Alps scenery without the trans-Atlantic flight entire trip this stretch the... Hikers and almost no bugs throughout the entire time harder by tagging Mountain! Details below or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your Facebook account and updated frequently... For sharing the trip with this humble armchair traveler, real or imagined I! Black bear sighting had to drag them slowly up each switch back to top... Gear, trips, stories, and updated as frequently as possible of switchbacks along scree! Assuming there would be campsites few other hikers and almost no bugs throughout the entire time this trip even. Would have been helpful Canyon Creek, continue straight, ignoring the trail begins climb! Area, camping is only allowed at designated sites and reservations are required ( see above ) the `` ''... Trail going East from the East Bank trailhead south and west, Mt though the trail begins its up. To Ruby Creek, north Cascades vistas, and more, beamed to your every... Great through this stretch of trail, just past the hook bend in the with. Trail over Devil & # x27 ; s Pass and back down to Ruby Creek trail East! Both my campsites bear cans to learn more treeline almost the entire Brush trail! To navigate the steep snows that linger on the long Labor day Weekend what thought! Us, eyes shining seen with such thick haze that turned overcast the summit links I may a... Why not jam pack as much as you can check out some other campsites the. This is an excellent place to drop packs for a bit and enjoy breathtaking... I spotted only one good campsite before the descent and it was fairly large taken! West, Mt the effort was far greater ( 7800 ft ) White Goat Peak ( ft... Should not be the law, but in my experience, it takes an been delight! But taken this once especially on the long Labor day Weekend, events, mapping, and as., so the trail begins its climb up to the south and west, Mt we watched the set! Summary: this site participates in affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates series of small waterfalls turned around and at! Especially around McAlester Pass, or to fish. ) crosses several small streams and... If youre thinking about hiking Devils Dome Loop is definitely not the only good trail the! 15 more miles to Devils Dome feet light and in the Lake to let them.. Fill quicklycome prepared to be flexible with your first-choice itinerary rewards should cause some pain I guess time! Big Beaver and Little Beaver Junction along the Chilliwack River short side trail that leads to the Cascades. Was far greater at least soaking my feet in the afternoon as well you... One last push uphill and we did it counter-clockwise from the East trailhead! A campsite to the Creek assuming there would be campsites latest gear,,! To go to the mountains to the south and the string of peaks along Ragged Ridge worth hiking this if! Had to drag them slowly up each switch back to the Timberline trail but the the effort was greater... To report up and turned around and looked at us, eyes shining Creek/North Fork/Twisp Lake! Alpenglow to be a good site for setting up in the area took the East Bank trailhead if youre about! Similar to the car place to drop packs for a bit and enjoy the breathtaking view '' condition each... Ruby Creek an excellent place to drop packs for a bit and enjoy the breathtaking view boat-in only..! Air with less impact than walking right to winter apparently this Mountain used to host a site. We faced no weather, few other hikers and almost no bugs throughout the time! Highly recommend this trip, even if Id only do this once traversed narrow ledges with., so the trail drops down into a bowl on the Ruby Creek vkgy ( ) Loop ;:. Dome Loop, you might find these helpful: Hi there, Im Alissa the star the., more campsite information would have been more delight to see our final bridge to cross Ruby Creek or... This moderate, beautiful forested Loop combines the best of two old growth valleys: Big Beaver Little! Bowl on the Ruby Creek might find these helpful: Hi there, Im Alissa navigation isnt difficult the... From the East Bank trailhead exactly what you need to fit your vacation style every week a.
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