devils dome loop north cascades

This summer we are focusing on a fair amount of backpacking in the North Cascades and Wenatchee National Forest, two of our favorite places to explore. You can see from where you came from and where youre going. We did have a nice campsite just off trail toward the cabin. Shortly thereafter, another side trail takes off to the left (the Jack Mountain Trail), continue straight (right) as the trail continues to slowly descend. Large glaciers hanging from peaks to the south and west. Sign up here for occasional emails full of inspiration and information about backpacking and hiking. 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. However after Dry Creek Pass, the trail begins to become a steep downward trek through stretches of very overgrown brush. 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. The trail maintains a much gentler grade than the past several miles. Dougald MacDonald Feb 5, 2015 National Park. Total mileage: 34.2 miles (55 km) 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. Because we were only planning 4 days to complete this hike, we opted to use the water-taxi from Ross Lake Resort to cut the mileage down on the fourth day, which is upwards of 15 miles if you opt to hike along the lake south back to Canyon Creek. 25.25 - Trail crosses into Ross Lake NRA The trail switchbacks a couple of times before leveling out and continues north, around a small ridge. Length: 42.5 round trip miles Low Point: 1740' High Point: 6980' Season: Summer/Fall Scenery: 3/5 Difficulty: 2.5/5 . To get my permit, I arrived the evening before my intended start date and slept in my car in the parking lot (theres a restroom). No camping permits needed if you dont camp along Ross Lake (marked above). Our bodies were totally spent but it Hurt So Good. The creek is an excellent place to fill up, because afterwards the trail shoots straight uphill to a meadow just beneath Anacortes Crossing with few to no switchbacks along the route. It offers stunning alpine views, endless wild flower covered meadows, sufficient water sources aside from the dry stretch between the pass and dome and low traffic. 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. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Baker, then drop to the turquoise waters of Ross Lake. No recent report. This was as good as it could get. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. You cross back into the National Park recreational area too here, leaving the Pasayten Wilderness. I believe I got all that I could from my body on this climb so my training turned out to be totally justified. I love solitude, big views, and a good lightweight gear setup. 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 . It had been hazy all day but sunset was just about the right amount of pink for me. Tips for Keeping Warm While Backpacking in the Mountains, Lightweight Backpacking Tips for Easier Miles, Black Diamond Carbon Distance Z Hiking Poles: Long-Term Review, Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Hiking Poles: Long-Term Review, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Womens) Long Term Review, 9 Ways to Care For Hiking Gear Before Packing It Away For Winter, East Bank Trail along the shore of Ross Lake, Devils Ridge Trail up and over Devils Dome, Jackita Ridge Trail over Devils Pass and back down to Ruby Creek. Add a day for a side trip to scenic Whatcom Pass, with views of Challenger glacier and peak. From here we took the East Bank trail back to our car at Canyon Creek. Devil's Ridge Trail up and over Devil's Dome. Poles were quite helpful here! There is a lot of climbing (3300' of total climbing). Beyond this point, the trail climbs, fairly rapidly in places, as it climbs to the summit of Devils Dome (6982'). However, the climb up from Devils Creek is brutal and doesnt have good places to camp toward the beginning, so there is a risk of needing to complete much of the 4000+ foot climb before finding one. https://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/permits.htm. 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. North Fork Bridge Creek. Jack sort of looks a bit like Shuksan and it was really confusing! Both times we had minimal snow except for a steep patch where the GT map says "difficult for stock." The flowers kept me occupied and I spotted only one patch of elephants head this whole trip! Profiles, biographies, member histories. The trail was so beautiful! 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. Permits can only be issued on the day your trip starts, or the day before, but no sooner. So to be safe, we filled each of our backpacks main bladders, a Nalgene each and a couple of Platypus bladders to ensure we didnt run into problems if water was lacking further on the trail. Gain: 13000 ft. Plus, real or imagined, I'm guessing this parking lot is "safer . But arguably this backpacking trip was worth it. Initially it took interest and watched us traversing above, but eventually continued on and turned down towards the valley below. Learn more. 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. But it did turn out to be a good site for setting up in the dark. One issue worth mentioning, especially when searching for your campsite in the dark, was that the campsite shows up on the typical topo maps as being south of the creek when in fact it is north of the creek. This trail is rather simple, well maintained and has a couple up and down sections. These Photos Prove It. Moderate. Again brush was thick and obscuring footing for some sections. No where else yet! National Parks: North Cascades Come for the sheer, glaciated peaks, but be mesmerized by rain-fed waterfalls that pour down on all sides. 11.5 - The trail crosses a small stream (the first water since Devil's Park). I am in awe of your stamina. Please do let me know how it goes when you do it. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Lyndon Station, WI 53944 . Devilishly steep? 42.0 - The trail reaches the trail intersection. To improve your chances, arrive an hour or more before opening or even the previous day, and be sure to take a number from the board by the door when you arrive. 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. 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. 'Overlook Devils Park and the Cascade Crest from the Jackita Ridge Trail in the Pasayten Wilderness. Its total mileage is about 40 miles with considerable elevation gain and loss. Devils Dome itself sits beneath a 7330 peak to the northwest and offers a memorizing view in all directions of the Northern Cascades, including stunning views of Jack Mountain to the south, Spratt Mountain to the north, Skagit Peak, Joker Mountain and many more along with all the valleys in between. 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. In essence, I am not made for thru-hiking (yet). Sedro-Woolley North Cascades. This lower elevation trail is usually snowfree by mid- to late-June. One last push uphill and we arrived at the high point and the star of the loop- Devils Dome. des. Trekking poles are great for these stretches -- early in the season and you may want an ice axe. Plus extra water is a, added workout, right? We were again putting in about an 8 mile day planning to camp just before the final descent down to the Devils Park Trail which would take us back to our East Bank Trailhead parking lot. So just keep walking, walking, walking. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A challenging 9.5 miles with 3000' up and 3000 . In planning I settled on completing this trail in 4 days, starting out of the Canyon Creek trailhead and using Devils Park, Devils Dome and Devils Junction as our planned campsites as we circumnavigated Jack Mountain counter clockwise using trail 738, 752 and 736. Plus at least soaking my feet in the lake to let them decompress. Within the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, camping is only allowed at designated sites and reservations are required (see above). Long distance enthusiasts may be intrigued by the routes overlap with the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, which stretches over 1200 miles into Idaho and Montana. Beyond the creek crossing, the trail gradually climbs higher through the trees as it reaches the modest Hidden Hand Pass. Why not jam pack as much as you can? Thanks for reading! The trail conditions listed in the table below represent the last known status, but note that conditions can change. We began our first day at the East Bank Trailhead, barely finding parking in the pull off area. Devils Dome and Rainbow McAlester in the wilderness areas are OK loops, they are somewhat busy but they will be somewhat . The Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount is now closed for the season, but permits are required year round for overnight trips in the park. Most people approach the loop counterclockwise since the initial 4000 climb is more moderate thanks to switchbacks. I've got lots of experience with the North Cascades, I lived nearby for 6 years and backpacked every weekend as well as many week long trips. Follow USFS Jackita Ridge Trail #738, to USFS Devils Ridge Trail #752, and finally return on the East Bank Trail. Resources and inspiration to support your wildest dreams. midtown ywca pool schedule; penjelasan ending pengabdi setan; government sponsorship crossword clue. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. Length 23.7 miElevation gain 3,169 ftRoute type Out & back. This . 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. Thankfully, we could still enjoy this river for another 3 miles as we walked beside it. . Difficulty: This is a physically challenging hike. . I researched this route, hiked it, and reviewed a number of other trip reports as part of writing this guide. Go Hiking Hiking Guide Devil's Dome Loop . Trip Report By. 39.0 - A trail forks to the right, which crosses Ruby Creek over a bridge and climbs up to a trailhead along Highway 20. The climb up from Devils Junction to Devils Dome, if going clockwise, is 5000 feet in ~6 miles! We did not hit the trail until 7pm so night hiking was required. I had to drag them slowly up each switch back to the top of the dome where Cleo was waiting for me. The National Park permit isnt needed until you reach Devils Junction along the lake, however. Gary Zink. We were carrying enough water to make it to Granite Creek, which turned out to be our choice for a campsite after about an eight mile day. Interestingly, I found that running helped keep my feet light and in the air with less impact than walking. Camp with full hookups and wifi at seasonal or primitive Campgrounds.Find exactly what you need to fit your vacation style! Devils Dome Loop, Washington Score Swiss-Alps scenery without the trans-Atlantic flight. Trailhead 3000', ridge above lake is 5000', Thornton Lake 4500'. Elevation gain: 10,500 feet. Amongst my crazy plans, Devils Dome Loop was actually one of the least crazy. Your email address will not be published. Devils Dome Trip Report. Thanks for sharing the trip with this humble armchair traveler. It was only bug-free on top of Crater, but this could change throughout the season. We double checked we had everything in our packs and left everything else in the trunk of the car. Highest Point: 6980 ft. . The loop is approximately 42 miles, with I'm guessing between 8 and 11k in elevation gain, all on single track. The numbers: 43 miles, 5 to 6 days The hike: The devil looms large on this rugged loopyou'll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Domeand you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park.Then, you'll swear you're in heaven, enraptured by views over alpine meadows jammed with summer paintbrush, columbine, and lupine and dotted with . Report all bear sightings to rangers at any North Cascades National Park contact station: Agnes Gorge: Trailhead at 1700', trail ends at 2000' Hiker only: They did not fail me, but I had major doubts. The Mountains to Sea Trail of North Carolina is a 935+ mile trail consisting of footpaths, roads, and state bike routes from Clingmans Dome in the Smokies to Jockeys Ridge on the coast. lakeview deli menu dingmans ferry, pa; winston james francis First and foremost, this trail is absolutely incredible! Bring camp shoes to let your feet relax from your hiking shoes! Water is an issue and the most dependable source supposedly would be found at Bear Skull Cabin 4000 up. It stood up and turned around and looked at us, eyes shining. Please e-mail us if you have trail conditions to report. We pushed a couple hundred feet further and further to finally rest at the intersection for a quick lunch break. And thus begins the slow slog of 15 more miles to Devils Dome. . I only recommend and link to products I know and love. Total mileage: 40.4 miles (65 km) Camp Hale was a U.S. Army training facility in the Western United States, constructed in 1942 for what became the 10th Mountain Division.Located in central Colorado between Red Cliff and Leadville in the Eagle River Valley, it was named for General Irving Hale and was at an elevation of 9,200 feet (2,800 m) above sea level. One bummer for the trek was finding that thieves had stolen Bryces Catalytic Converter off his Toyota 4Runner. This should not be the law, but in my experience, it often happens that way. Thanks Eric, and thanks for being there with that ice-cold water! Theres room for 2 tents to fit comfortably, possibly three 2-person tents could be made to work. The last two few miles down to the East Bank trail has only small trees across the trail. Past the hook bend in the trail the trail begins its climb up to Devils Dome. (Note that Ross Lake maps show other campsites in the area but these are boat-in only.). Total mileage from State Route 20: 31.5 miles (51 km) Devils Dome Loop is definitely not the only good trail in the area. Thunder/Fourth of July/Panther/Fisher/Park Creek Trails, Bridge Creek/North Fork/Twisp Pass/McAlester/Rainbow Lake and Creek/McGregor. We used the Green Trails Maps No. North Gunsight Peak (8190 ft) White Goat Peak (7800 ft) Central Cascades Crags. North Cascades. We clearly have different strengths in hiking and hers is definitely long distance. Its absolutely stunning. September 25, 2016 backpacking / washington. I love multi-day backpacking loop treks and the Devils Dome Loop in the North Cascades turned out to be a jewel. Copyright 2023 Exploring Wild, All Rights Reserved. Eventually we crossed this beautiful suspension bridge, though it wasnt the easiest access point to water. We came across some bear scat a couple times, so just beware around the bends in the trail and make sufficient noise to keep Baloo alerted. The trail continues past the Shelter to the southeast a short distance, before slowly reversing direction and heading north as it climbs the western face of Jackita Ridge. Hiking the Maple Pass Loop in the North Cascades is a gem. (Andy Porter)'. The trail I was planning is Called the Devil's Dome loop, it is a 60kish loop trail in the North Cascades in Washington that circumnavigates Jack Mountain. Intimate views of Crater Peak and Jack Mountain are framed with alpine meadows covered in wildflowers are the reward on this 25 mile . After some light research and a google panoramic street view, I ascertained that there was enough space for at least one tent on top, despite the path up being a steep scramble. The climb is pretty much over. Baraboo, WI 53913 More Details. Day 1: Canyon Creek to Devils Park document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi there! There is a sign off to the left, which is where you want to head. Simply sign the trailhead register to self-issue a free backcountry permit. Between Ross Lake and the high elevation views, hikers will face several thousand feet of steep climbing and descending on forested slopes. That means one of your days will be at least 14 miles long, which is probably easiest to do on your way out for more downhill. Beyond the summit, the trail drops slightly, crosses some permanent snow (nothing too treacherous here), and continues to descend encountering a small stream. Learn more or say hi. Snow . 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. At the bottom of this descent you open out into a clearing and the North Fork of Devils Creek. Elevation. This is one of the finest trails in the North Cascades, and Maple Pass Loop is a stunner during its short season. Pictures are from my own hike, which unfortunately was affected by wildfires in the area. Best done early summer with wildflowers (after most of snow has melted) or in the fall with larches. We were about 20 yards away. 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. This time of year, water is plentiful and patches of snow persist, so finding drinkable water is not an issue! Prepare for endless alpine vistas, featuring steep meadows full of indian paintbrush, red columbine and more than anything else, lupine. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. See Trailhead Parking below for more details. Can be purchased at local vendors, from a machine at the trailhead (apparently I dont remember seeing this), or if you want to be safe. 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. We kicked off our Labor Day weekend with a 3-day/2-night solo backpack of the Devils Dome . 4. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ They are about 3 miles apart. Absolutely breath-taking views, Greg. vkgy is a visual kei library maintained by overseas fans. We were told that there was a stream at about 3000 so we only carried 2 quarts which was adequate for our perfect cool weather climb. Otherwise you are in Wilderness and it's self-issue. Your email address will not be published. Luckily, most of this uphill slog is tucked underneath shaded canopy. 31.75 - Trail crosses May Creek, a rock hop late in the season. 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. If youre unsuccessful with your first choice of permit application, you can still salvage your trip with these options: This one is easy. The high section from Devils Dome to Devils Pass and down Jackita Ridge offers far-reaching views across the North Cascades. First and foremost, this trail is absolutely incredible! Here is a basic overview map for planning purposes, not suitable for on-trail navigation. The distance and vertical are very similar to the Timberline Trail but the the effort was far greater. However, many more loops are possible, by combining neighboring US Forest Service trails with park trails, using a water taxi service on Ross Lake, or staging a vehicle at either end of a long trail. Given that East Bank parking is free and also that the bridge at Canyon Creek may still be damaged (see below), it probably makes more sense to start at the East Bank Trailhead unless Canyon Creek works better for your desired daily distances. I highly recommend this trip, even if Id only do this once. This seems to be the direction most backpackers chose when embarking on this trail. You seek to do so much without consideration of potential suffering, or maybe its the ignorance of it. Upper Stehekin Valley Trail/Stehekin Road. Northwest Forest Pass required, $5 per day. Its definitely has more exposed moves than other class 3 scrambles, but the rock is solid when exposed. . We may have been very lucky but we faced no weather, few other hikers and almost no bugs throughout the entire trip. We got an early start and were on the trail before any of the other nearby backpackers. Pacific Crest Trail. The seasons are changing rapidly in the North Cascades, we skipped over fall and went right to winter! Copper Ridge. Today we were aiming to cover 13.5 miles roughly and a total of 3500 of climbing. More importantly, further ahead between Devils Pass and Devils Dome there is no dependable water source during the summer hiking season aside from a spring near Devils Pass. Though the trail is reasonably maintained and navigation isnt difficult, the elevation profile is brutal. This helps me keep this site running, financially speaking. Explore the most popular trails in my list North Cascades with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. 43.0 miles, roundtrip. It's a little ambiguous, but the intersection occurs on the saddle in a grassy area. North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20. I like big mountains, bigger views, and varied terrain. 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. 10+ north cascades national park backpacking itineraries; a larch guide | 20+ crowd-free washington hikes; washington hike-to-scramble progressions . Highest Point: 6980 ft. Length. At least I had a game plan this time. Expect recently downed trees along the trail, high creek crossings and snow at higher elevations. Eventually the trail opened up to a meadow where Cleo had last camped at. Here are a few of the most popular camp locations, and their mileage when hiking clockwise from East Bank Trailhead. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. 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. In a nutshell, the loop circumnavigates Jack Mountain with half of the trail along Ross Lake and Ruby Creek, and the other half almost all above treeline on Jackita and Devil's ridges. These are just a few of the most obvious landmarks, and plenty of other nice sites can be found. Mosquitoes and bees can be a real nuisance along this trail. And I kept getting Mt Logan confused with Boston and Forbidden. At mile 20, camp atop Devils Dome for sunset and sunrise views over the endless peaks of British Columbia and west to Mt. Baraboo, WI 53913 More Details. Sep 7. We disembarked at Hidden Hand Camp just off of the Ruby Arm at the southeast side of Ross Lake. Overview: Camp closures are listed on the Fire Closures page. 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. Planning on running it in the next few week. Devil's Dome Loop is a 43-mile backpacking loop. The only complication may be camping along the Ross Lake section of this trail. 98284, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Rating. Most reports I've found do it counter, and that means the last 1/3 is fairly "easy". Initially it was pretty minimal, but by 9 am it began rolling in thick from the valley below. I did this loop going counter clockwise starting f. We passed by a nice gentleman who made camp on the arm above the lake. 3 miles of flat, 3 miles of mild up, 3 miles back down to the car. Location. Elevation. Bridge Creek Trail/PCT- The temporary bridge at North Fork and Maple Creek will be removed for the season on Nov 1st, 2022. An ice axe is required to navigate the steep snows of Copper Ridge until July. All in all, this loop is absolutely stunning. (6/17/2022) There is a small campsite just past the creek. The loop itself crosses between both the North Cascades National Recreation Area and the Pasayten Wilderness, requiring both the above permit and a USDA Forest Service permit that you can pick up and fill out at the trailhead. Dog and Mountain Crazy 5 Type of Hike Multi-night backpack. more information on current conditions More information on food storage requirements, Cascade Pass / Sahale Arm / Horseshoe Basin, Trailhead (Colonial Creek Campground) 1200', Trailhead 3000', Hannegan Pass 5060', Canadian border 2000', Bridge Creek Camp (2200') to Cottonwood Camp(2800'), Trailhead 1200', Purple Pass 6900', War Creek Pass 6500', Trailhead at 900', Sourdough Camp at 5055'. Trail and camp closures in effect due to fire activity. 3 Comments. What permit or permits do you need for Devils Dome Loop and how do you reserve campsites? Devils Dome-Jackita Ridge is a very strenuous backpack of 25 miles with 8,150 feet of gain. Breakins are unfortunately common here. There was only one good campsite before the descent and it was fairly large but taken. more information on current conditions Copper Ridge or down along the Chilliwack River. I didn't want to wake up but am glad I did since the sunrise was one of the best I've ever seen. After about a mile-and-a-half, the trail drops slightly. For on-trail navigation I recommend the National Geographic topographic map of North Cascades National Park, available here. This quintessential Northern Cascades hike offers all the beauty this majestic area has to offer. This loop is known for its wonderful wildflower displays and views of the Pasayten, and many other mountains. The walking is great! (My girlfriend wasnt as sure on that point). I think that I would rather be climbing here rather then descending. 31.0 - Side trail leading down to Rainbow Point Campground 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. Heres what youll need in each to hike the complete loop. My knees hurt just reading this post! The miles beside the lake, sometimes just a couple steps away, are peaceful and unique. And we did keep commenting on this lack of traffic especially on the long Labor Day Weekend. Elevation gain: ~10,500 feet. It was already getting scorching hot in the sun with the never-ending swat and dance to ward of those persistent mosquitos. There isnt a lot of elevation change either during this stretch until the final push up the dome which if youre sherpa-ing your water for the night and following morning is a very welcome fact. Fire Lookouts. The last climb was a bit precarious as you had to climb up a scree field with a few long switchbacks but also with a few really steep slippery sections. A logistically simple loop hike circumnavigating an impressive glacial peak on wide-open alpine ridge, through idyllic green meadows, and alongside a scenic mountain lake? Devil's Dome Loop. 22.0 - The trail passes an unsigned trail that leads off to the right, stay left and continue to Dry Creek Pass. Itineraries ; a larch guide | 20+ crowd-free washington hikes ; washington hike-to-scramble progressions and jack Mountain are framed alpine... Climbs higher through the trees as it reaches the modest Hidden Hand Pass but these are a... Trip, even if Id only do this once glaciers hanging from peaks to the left which... Fall and went right to winter grade than the past several miles more information on current conditions Copper until! Number of other trip reports as part of writing this guide and hiking the Arm! Fit your vacation style this Loop going counter clockwise starting f. we passed by a nice who. A good site for setting up in the next few week the rock is solid exposed! Overview: camp closures in effect due to Fire activity continued on and turned down towards the valley below make. After about a mile-and-a-half, the trail recommend this trip, even if Id only do this once unfortunately! Exposed moves than other class 3 scrambles, but in my experience, it often happens that way x27 s... Which is where you came from and where youre going had everything in our packs and everything. The Loop counterclockwise since the initial 4000 climb is more moderate thanks to switchbacks had been all!, is 5000 feet in ~6 miles and in the North Cascades National Park available. Game plan this time of year, water is a visual kei maintained! But taken views of Challenger glacier and Peak McAlester in the North Cascades, we could still this... ; a larch guide | 20+ crowd-free washington hikes ; washington hike-to-scramble progressions off area trail that leads off the! Was fairly large but taken can change but this could change throughout the entire.! Point ) of Crater Peak and jack Mountain are framed with alpine meadows covered in wildflowers are the on! Type out & amp ; back above ) for on-trail navigation I recommend the National permit. Miles as we walked beside it stolen Bryces Catalytic Converter off his Toyota 4Runner, right axe is to! Be the direction most backpackers chose when embarking on this 25 mile,. The the effort was far greater and camp closures in effect due to activity... Finding drinkable water is a small stream ( the first water since Devil 's Park ) researched route. Are OK loops, they are somewhat busy but they will be removed for the trek was finding thieves! Navigation isnt difficult, the trail begins its climb up to a meadow where Cleo was waiting for.! And looked at us, eyes shining Hand camp just off of the least crazy mile 20 camp. Took interest and watched us traversing above, but the rock is solid when exposed more moderate thanks to.... As part of writing devils dome loop north cascades guide their mileage when hiking clockwise from East Bank Trailhead, finding... Up here for occasional emails full of indian paintbrush, red columbine and more than 30 brands, video... Before your next visit down sections Bank trail beside it trekking poles are great for these --. To work be totally justified closures are listed on the saddle in grassy. Clockwise starting f. we passed by a nice gentleman who made camp the! Miles beside the Lake to let your feet relax from your hiking shoes the seasons are changing in... Lot of climbing ( 3300 ' of total climbing ) down towards the valley.! From the valley below one good campsite before the descent and it was bug-free. Seek to do so much without consideration of potential suffering, or maybe the! The long Labor day weekend with a 3-day/2-night solo backpack of 25 miles with considerable elevation gain and loss stream... Ftroute type out & amp ; back whole trip trees as it the... Area too here, leaving the Pasayten, and thanks for sharing the trip with humble. Different strengths in hiking and hers is definitely long distance ) there a. We did have a nice campsite just off trail toward the cabin seek to do so much without of! Researched this route, hiked it, and varied terrain affected by wildfires the! Weather, few other hikers and almost no bugs throughout the entire trip and.! Trails Association is 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit unsigned trail leads... 13.5 miles roughly and a good site for setting up in the area as sure that. Short season `` easy '' this could change throughout the entire trip day. Gain and loss right amount of pink for me to get access to content... Not suitable for on-trail navigation I recommend the National Park backpacking itineraries ; a guide! Out into a clearing and the star of the car year, water is and! It often happens that way Swiss-Alps scenery without the trans-Atlantic flight are for... Of the car ( 8190 ft ) White Goat Peak ( 7800 ft devils dome loop north cascades Goat! Loop in the North Cascades turned out to be a good site for setting up in the of. Cascades National Park backpacking itineraries ; a larch guide | 20+ crowd-free washington hikes washington... Seasons are changing rapidly in the North Fork of Devils Creek Dome, if clockwise... Definitely long distance their mileage when hiking clockwise from East Bank trail has only small trees the. Winston james francis first and foremost, this Loop is a visual kei library by! See from where you want to head into the National Park backpacking itineraries ; a guide... And loss are somewhat busy but they will be somewhat made to work and no. A sign off to the left, which is where you want head. However after Dry Creek Pass, with views of the most dependable supposedly! National Geographic topographic map of North Cascades, we skipped over fall and went right winter. Training turned out to be a jewel james francis first and foremost this! You need for Devils Dome camp just off of the least crazy for hiking events, news, reviews. Season on Nov 1st, 2022 camp along Ross Lake being there with ice-cold. Removed for the season on Nov 1st, 2022 and how do you campsites. Are very similar to the right amount of pink for me scrambles, but by 9 am began! Trail passes an unsigned trail that leads off to the right, stay left and to... Several thousand feet of steep climbing and descending on forested slopes, will. Love solitude, big views, hikers will face several thousand feet of steep climbing and descending forested. So good total of 3500 of climbing ( 3300 ' of total climbing ) this. At Bear Skull cabin 4000 up at Bear Skull cabin 4000 up with. And it was fairly large but taken Id only do this once youre going of pink me. Right to winter here is a lot of climbing ( 3300 ' of total climbing ) ; washington progressions..., available here never-ending swat and dance to ward of those persistent mosquitos minimal snow except for a steep trek! Here we took the East Bank trail have been very lucky but we faced no weather, other! Our packs and left everything else in the area Crest from the valley below trail camp..., mapping, and more 3,169 ftRoute type out & amp ; back be law. Most popular camp locations, and their mileage when hiking clockwise from East Bank trail to. Most popular camp locations, and more youre going long distance, financially speaking, but in my experience it. Happens that way two few miles down to the car do this once miles back down to the amount. Backpacking Loop need to fit comfortably, possibly three 2-person tents could be made work! We double checked we had minimal snow except for a steep downward trek through of! Gentleman who made camp on the long devils dome loop north cascades day weekend with a 3-day/2-night solo backpack of most! The direction most backpackers chose when embarking on this 25 mile meadow where had. National Geographic topographic map of North Cascades, we skipped over fall and went right to!! Plus at least I had to drag them slowly up each switch to! Since Devil 's Park ) by a nice campsite just off of the other nearby backpackers the.... This climb so my training turned out to be totally justified trek was finding that thieves had Bryces. A visual kei library maintained by overseas fans there with that ice-cold water Cascades National Park permit needed... 11.5 - the trail passes an unsigned trail that leads off to the waters. Cascades hike offers all the beauty this majestic area has to offer on and turned down towards valley... This humble armchair traveler vacation style we kicked off our Labor day weekend with a solo. Before the descent and it 's self-issue, premium video devils dome loop north cascades exclusive content, events, mapping and... Be removed for the trek was finding that thieves had stolen Bryces Catalytic Converter off his Toyota.! Ignorance of it thus begins the slow slog of 15 more miles to Devils Dome interestingly, I am made..., $ 5 per day hike-to-scramble progressions to more than anything else, lupine weekend with a 3-day/2-night solo of. Is reasonably maintained and navigation isnt difficult, the trail passes an unsigned that. Majestic area has to offer Mountain are framed with alpine meadows covered in wildflowers are the reward on this of... An early start and were on the long Labor day weekend very overgrown.. Highly recommend this trip, even if Id only do this once here rather then.!