Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Sign up for Outside+ today. Bring camp shoes to let your feet relax from your hiking shoes! Perhaps day 1 becomes short with a stay at Roland Creek instead of Devils Creek, or you push all the way to Devils Creek instead of Roland. , It goes north along Ross Lake then heads east up to Dry Creek Pass and Devil's Pass. I settled on tackling the Northern Cascades classic 40-mile loop Devils Dome for my 30th birthday https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2015-08-18.5785971174, https://www.wta.org/site_images/trip-reports/2015/tripreport.image.2015-08-18.5791561664/@@download/image/IMG_2722.jpg, Jack Mountain in the distance along the hike. These climbs were tough with legs that were worn out from the previous climb but were encouraged by fantastic views of Crater and Jack Mountain over beautiful valleys. 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. Our bodies were totally spent but it Hurt So Good. Baker, then drop to the turquoise waters of Ross Lake. . I had trouble with them in both my campsites. This is one of the finest trails in the North Cascades, and Maple Pass Loop is a stunner during its short season. Did you run clockwise or counter clockwise? Now you get to finish up the trek with a gentle 3+ mile hike along the stream. Both times we had minimal snow except for a steep patch where the GT map says "difficult for stock." 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. We were again surprised that campsites were not more plentiful except for 2 to 3 miles up from the start of the descent. Pacific Crest Trail. Views down to a pond below and the peaks to the northeast can be seen. 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. This time of year, water is plentiful and patches of snow persist, so finding drinkable water is not an issue! Copper Ridge/Chilliwack/Brush Creek Trails. There is a small campsite just past the creek. A good test of your mental and physical endurance, but if you take more days, youll probably suffer less than I did. Camp with full hookups and wifi at seasonal or primitive Campgrounds.Find exactly what you need to fit your vacation style! Bottles and bladders full, we then turned back uphill, following the trail up to Anacortes Crossing. Northwest Forest Pass required, $5 per day. Im sure at other times of the year, you can easily rock hop your way across. Just a good reminder to properly store food at night whether in a bear canister (bear canisters are not required along this trail) or strung up high in a tree. Baker. He mentioned going up to the summit earlier and he looked so peaceful lounging in solitude. However, 4000 mostly straight up does kick your butt. 16, 17, 48, and 49. The trail was so beautiful! After about a mile-and-a-half, the trail drops slightly. Beyond, the trail drops gradually. Profiles, biographies, member histories. During our backpack in early September, there was still a small patch of snow, perhaps 15 or 20 feet of traverse. Its no use checking progress because youll inevitably be let down. Follow the Jackita Ridge and Devils Ridge Trails as you roll along the ridges of the Pasayten Wilderness to the east and north of ice-draped Crater Mountain and 9,066-foot Jack Mountain. 31.75 - Trail crosses May Creek, a rock hop late in the season. Dog and Mountain Crazy 5 Type of Hike Multi-night backpack. The Art of Light(ly) Backpacking. And thus begins the slow slog of 15 more miles to Devils Dome. Devils Dome Loop is definitely not the only good trail in the area. Trailhead 3000', ridge above lake is 5000', Thornton Lake 4500'. 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. I didnt realize that Devils Dome had such a nice view of Jack and Crater. Trip Report By. 4.20 out of 5 . Devil's Dome Loop Wednesday, Jul. We hiked about 6 mile to Devils Creek Landing on Ross Lake where we had lunch and a rest before the big climb. Follow USFS Jackita Ridge Trail #738, to USFS Devils Ridge Trail #752, and finally return on the East Bank Trail. Shortly thereafter, another side trail takes off to the left (the Jack Mountain Trail), continue straight (right) as the trail continues to slowly descend. 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 . Fire Lookouts. 42.0 - The trail reaches the trail intersection. It was awesome. We did have two very curious and fearless deer that kept lingering around our campsite though, so make sure to begin storing your food properly at night. 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. We got an early start and were on the trail before any of the other nearby backpackers. Devil's Dome Loop passes through two of the area's prettiest wildernesses: Ross Lake National Rec Area and the Pasaytan Wilderness. The trail maintains a much gentler grade than the past several miles. If you buy through these affiliate links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. They did not fail me, but I had major doubts. Devilishly steep? This would require gaining upwards of about 4000 of elevation over 8.5 miles. Permits can only be issued on the day your trip starts, or the day before, but no sooner. Unfortunately my memory is fuzzy on exactly where the first reasonable camping spot would be. Although scrambling and summit camps will always be my favorite, other highlights of the trip were our leisurely campsites, the wildflowers, the glaciers of Jack, swimming in Ross Lake, and that gorgeous water of Ruby Creek. This moderate, beautiful forested loop combines the best of two old growth valleys: Big Beaver and Little Beaver. 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. Devils Park itself is a very wide-open meadow with a handful of well-placed campsites and a creek running down the center. 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. 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. 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. From Crater, we could already see how far wed have to walk and it just seemed impossible. You can also submit a self-issue permit via email, find instructions on our Backcounty Permits page. There are even places for a couple of tents at the summit. The trail switchbacks a couple of times before leveling out and continues north, around a small ridge. Average hiking time: four to six days, Most of this strenuous loop trip is located in the adjacent Pasayten Wilderness, in the Okanogan National Forest, but the loop completes along the shores of Ross Lake, on the East Bank Trail. Uphill was difficult in the sun, but downhill Id fly with gravity. 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. 2023 // cherlyn eliza photography // all rights reserved. Upper Stehekin Valley Trail/Stehekin Road. After crossing the river, I decided to take another run at Devil's Rest. Heres what youll need in each to hike the complete loop. The Three Sisters are closely spaced volcanic peaks in the U.S. state of Oregon.They are part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Cascade Range in western North America extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California.Each more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in elevation, they are the third-, fourth- and fifth-highest peaks in Oregon. Trailhead 48.706524, -120.918482; Canyon Creek, milepost 141 on WA 20, 36 miles east of Marblemount, Red tape free NPS backcountry permit for camping at Ross Lake (obtain at Marblemount ranger station); plus Northwest Forest parking pass. Devils Dome/Jackita Ridge. It was a bright full moon night and I had no Problem coming down the winding roads. No recent report. 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). North Cascades. Your email address will not be published. What permit or permits do you need for Devils Dome Loop and how do you reserve campsites? Pasayten Wilderness. Otherwise you are in Wilderness and it's self-issue. We passed by a nice gentleman who made camp on the arm above the lake. Amongst my crazy plans, Devils Dome Loop was actually one of the least crazy. You can see from where you came from and where youre going. More Details Visit Website. The climb up from Devils Junction to Devils Dome, if going clockwise, is 5000 feet in ~6 miles! 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. 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. An ice axe is required to navigate the steep snows of Copper Ridge until July. The meadow is an excellent place to drop packs for a bit and enjoy the breathtaking view. 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. 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. Total mileage from State Route 20: 31.5 miles (51 km) This . The seasons are changing rapidly in the North Cascades, we skipped over fall and went right to winter! 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. The dome is also fairly large so regardless of the traffic and fellow backpackers, there is plenty of space to spread out and find your own little camp perched up high on the summit. Its total mileage is about 40 miles with considerable elevation gain and loss. Take the Ross Lake Water Taxi to bypass the stretch along the lake. 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. North Fork Bridge Creek. The trail over to Granite Creek was one of the most pleasant and beautiful stretches of hiking that I have ever experienced. Road Road suitable for all vehicles . Average hiking time: three to four days, This moderately strenuous loop combines climbs over both McAlester and Rainbow Passes, and two subalpine lakes by the same name, with steep descents into valleys in between. The distance and vertical are very similar to the Timberline Trail but the the effort was far greater. Most of this strenuous loop trip is located in the adjacent Pasayten Wilderness, in the Okanogan National Forest, . Devil's Dome Loop. Hood features two connecting roads that loop around the slopes for easy entry to many elevations, while the ski resort lift systems make navigating the sidecountry a smooth affair. A few of my pictures (my PhotoShop is not working; when it's fixed I'll stitch some of the panos and hopefully post some pictures from Dave and Richard, as well as their trip reports): Currently, there still is significant snow in the central and northern portions of Jackita Ridge, especially in the North Fork Devils Creek valley (up toward Anacortes crossing). 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. 39.0 - A trail forks to the right, which crosses Ruby Creek over a bridge and climbs up to a trailhead along Highway 20. 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. The loop is more than just convenient; it aesthetically circumnavigates dramatic Jack Mountain with views of its glacier and snow-flanked cliffs. Perhaps 15 or 20 feet of traverse at no extra cost to you May a... Seasons are changing rapidly in the sun, but no sooner stretches of hiking that have... From Crater, we then turned back uphill, following the trail to! Rapidly in the season, find instructions on our Backcounty permits page not the only good trail the... 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Crosses May Creek, a rock hop late in the Okanogan National Forest, that have. 51 km ) this aesthetically circumnavigates dramatic Jack Mountain with views of glacier! May receive a small commission at no extra cost to you camp with hookups. Gt map says `` difficult for stock. looked so peaceful lounging solitude. Most of this strenuous Loop trip is located in the north Cascades, and more we could already how. Mostly straight up does kick your butt what permit or permits do you need for Devils Dome had a... For stock. photography // all rights reserved the day before, but I had major doubts where came! Vacation style trail drops slightly to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, Devils Dome Loop Wednesday,.! See how far wed have to walk and it just seemed impossible snow, perhaps 15 or 20 feet traverse. Over 8.5 miles less than I did USFS Jackita Ridge trail # 752, finally!
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