From Seattle drive I-90 to exit 52 (signed for Snoqualmie Pass west). st. helens pacific crest trail pct pct 2014 penguin snoqualmie pass trout lake washington white pass Once past the Crystal Mountain area, pass by Norse Peak on the left and enter the Norse Peak Wilderness. McKenzie Carlson. But on the way home from California I found out the Rainy Pass was closed because of mudslides from a storm. PCT: WA Section I - Highway 12 to Snoqualmie Pass is a 93.6 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Naches, Washington that features a great forest setting and is rated as difficult. Eventually, reach a weather station where there is access to water. From Chinook Pass, the trail has an easy, rapid run to Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass. It is approximately 45 minutes drive to the White Pass Campground. Currently at Snoqualmie Inn, leaving for Stevens Pass tomorrow. I’ll try to give an update if we make it there. Pacific Crest Trail: White Pass to Chinook Pass is a 27.5 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Packwood, Washington that features a lake and is rated as moderate. This portion of the trail offers the best views. We will hike south on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from the Snoqualmie Pass south trailhead over the Summit West ski area and past Beaver Lake and Lodge Lake to the west. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. My nephew was hiking the PCT last year - the whole shebang. It has been reconstructed all the way from north of Mirror Lake (about 9 miles south of Snoqualmie Pass.) Keep left when 410 merges with SR 123. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. Starting from Chinook Pass: From Seattle, drive on I-5 South towards Enumclaw. View in Chinook Pass. Follow me on Instagram @alicezhang35 for updates. Anderson Lake, just inside Rainier National Park, makes for a stellar final camp. Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. I left the Tri-Cities at about 7:30. Starting at Chinook Pass, the trail is just above the parking lot, with many side trails to get up to it. The only reliable water north of Government Meadows is at a spring 5 miles north of Government Meadows and at (below) Blowout Mountain, a distance of 12 miles. From here, the trail stays relatively flat until you reach Government Meadow, where there is a shelter and a toilet. Again, there is little water. There is a relatively new shelter at Camp Ulrick (Government Meadows) with good water and a toilet. Been meaning to post something on this trip for awhile now. However, we did find a very good stream at Tacoma Pass (go west on road 52 for about 5 minutes; go left on the first logging road you come to and go 200 yds into the uncut forest; the stream crosses the road) which is about 6 miles north of Blowout Mountain. Past the weather station, walk under overhead power lines. Round the lake's southeast side and cross a footbridge over a small inlet. From Chinook Pass, the trail takes you along and above Highway 410 on a mostly exposed slope before turning north for a short way through a forest of cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir to Sheep Lake's south shore. Mt Rainier! Take Exit 142B onto State Route 18 E. Take SR 18 to SR 164 E, then to SR 410 E towards Mount Rainier. It has an elevation of 5,430 feet. About a 3 mile loop, without packs. Destinations along this section are Sheep Lake, Sourdough Gap, Bear Gap, Crown Point, Pickhandle Gap, Bullion Basin, Scout Pass, Norse Peak and Basin Lake. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, City of Seattle. By Ken Harris (PCT) September 8, 2014. Make your way through the Norse Peak Wilderness along rolling hills. A Pacific Crest Trail ridge-walk extravaganza with fields of flowers and views of Mount Rainier. Finally, make your way past Lizard Lake to Stampede Pass. Pass Sheep Lake along the way. 14,410′). Scenery was not anywhere as impressive compared to what we have seen from Snoqualmie Pass on north. Waking up at 3:30, unable to sleep, I hatched a plan to get me a double zero at Snoqualmie Pass. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. Many hikers ignore the section of the Cascades between Mount Rainier and Snoqualmie Pass because it has a reputation for not being as scenic as other parts of the Pacific Northwest due to logging and private usage. Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) - Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass, Wilderness permit. Washington Trails Association Like clockwork, I made it to the trailhead around 10am. Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass. Section H of the Pacific Crest Trail goes from the Bridge of the Gods at the Columbia River to White Pass near Mt. Gonna keep hiking NOBO to Manning. The last part of the day was through Shinook Pass, a part of the national park with a nice view of a valley. Class of 2014, Northbound, Thru-hiker. PCT Trail Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass Pacific Crest Trail - The South Cascades - Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) September 1-7, 1997 69.1 miles, 6 days This is the fourth section of the Pacific Crest Trail that my partner and I have hiked. The only water comes from a spring about 5 miles past the meadows. Make your way around Crystal Mountain and the resort area, keeping a reasonable distance away, and pass through Bear Gap, Panhandle Pass, and Bell Pass. It is strongly recommended that you go south to north. This post covers days 112-116 from White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass, mile 2,270-2,390. These occurred on days when we were in forests or clear cuts without any real views. No rain, although there were two days of low clouds with the fog rolling over the ridge tops we were on. St. Helens and Rainier. Pass by Reese Lake just before you reach Castle Mountain, both on the left. We got in about 26 miles for the day and camped by nice lake. The rest of the trail is a pleasant walk as you pass Lodge Lake and finally reach Snoqualmie Pass. Weather on the trip was mostly sunny and dry all the way. Four of us just hiked the 100 miles from White Pass to Snoqualmie. In 2015 the Pacific Crest Trail Association, which helps oversee the 2,650-mile trail, issued 2,808 thru-hike permits and documented 626 … Rainier (elev.14,410’). Stampede Pass connects to Highway 54 and other roads, so be alert when crossing it. → Next: Snoqualmie Pass (mile 2402) to Stevens Pass (mile 2476): Up the Goldmyer Hot Springs Alternative to Stevens Pass Share Tags: cascade locks chinook pass knife's edge mt. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Lots of elk (and quite a few bow hunters) were seen between Sheep Lake and Government Meadows. Introduction. Pass over Highway 410, and begin your walk following closely along the highway for the first mile. In this section the trail elevation varied from a high of about 6500 ft in the Norse Peak Wilderness area down to 3000 ft at Snoqualmie Pass. The flowers are still out and the day was warm and pleasant. This was a relatively easy section of trail and does offer a variety of views. Chinook Pass is right on the park boundary. There are many moderate to very strenuous loop backpacking options up to 20 miles with 10 one-way miles on the PCT. Water between Tacoma Pass to a few miles beyond Stampede Pass was not readily available (Lizard Lake water at Stampede Pass is bad news and should only be used in an emergency - boil and treat/filter.) (I hiked from Snoqualmie Pas to Stampede Pass as a 18.5 mile dayhike) The pictures cover many points in the seasons. If you camp at Tacoma Pass, be prepared for the logging trucks that come by at about 4:30 am. PCT Section J, Stevens to Snoqualmie trip report, July 29- August 2, 2020. The weather turned for the better and my heel is healed so Linda and I drove to Chinook Pass on Tuesday August 7, 2001. There were many mountain goats above us on the rocks. Section I, Snoqualmie Pass–Chinook Pass–White Pass: A zero, new challenges and renewed vows, trail magic, trading far-off vistas for closer look-sees August 15, 2017 August 15, 2017 / coleblume Sibling reunion at Snoqualmie Pass and the start to a great rest in Seattle This water is several hundred feet down and almost a mile off the PCT via trails #1318 and #1388. The PCT will not intersect directly with Crystal Lake, which is in the Park, but there is a trail that provides access for those interested in a visit. Manning Park is the northern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail which is 2300 miles long, and goes from Mexico to Canada This section of the Pacific Crest Trail (at least in Washington) had a wide variety of terrain, from typical high mountains with views of Mt. Keep an eye out for lots of elk. Coming into Chinkook Pass . PCT Trail Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass Pacific Crest Trail - The South Cascades - Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) September 1-7, 1997 69.1 miles, 6 days This is the fourth section of the Pacific Crest Trail that my partner and I have hiked. Stuart climb and it served me well. Past Government Meadows, the trail continues to roll north. September 6-Saturday-Early Start and Big PlansThe campsite for the night had been awesome. Much of the trail was through ""rolling"" hills either in forest or in clear cut rather than over high ridges with expansive views beyond. Chinook Pass; PCT Section J; By Geoff. From there on, water was generally available every few miles or so. Interstate 90 (Snoqualmie Pass ) Hwy 410 (Chinook Pass) Hwy 2 (Stevens Pass - Skykomish ) High Bridge (Bus to Stehekin ) Hwy 3 (Manning Provincial Park) ... Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Major Connecting Trail Major Road Access Passenger Rail Connection Local Bus Services mi 1820.9 mi 1823 mi 1839.2 mi 1655.9 mi 1718.9 Hike by WTA Correspondents: The best way to approach this thru-hike is to use two cars or a key swap. Chinook and Cayuse passes provide travelers two scenic routes through the Cascade Mountain range in Washington that take visitors through Mount Rainier National Park. Seattle, WA 98104. Begin your trip along the PCT at Chinook Pass, which sits midway through the east border of Mount Rainier National Park. Pacific Crest Trail: Snoqualmie Pass to Windy Pass A 12-mile round trip hike with 2,600 feet of elevation gain that explores a lightly used but scenic section of the Pacific Crest Trail south from Snoqualmie Pass. I am happy to report our hiking trip from Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass was a success, we did it in 4.5 days and had a great time. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. Mount Rainier Area -- Chinook Pass - Hwy 410, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Mt. Be aware: there is little access to water between Government Meadows and Blowout Mountain - about 8.8 miles of trail. Mileages from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest trail of California, Oregon and Washington. Drive to the White Pass Campground and Pacific Crest Trail trailhead on State Route 12. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. But on the way home from California I found out the Rainy Pass was closed because of mudslides from a storm. Between White Pass and Highway 410 at Chinook Pass, the trail skirts many lakes as it approaches the towering monarch of the Cascades, Mount Rainier (elev. Nothing major to change if we were to do it again, the distances and campsites all worked out well. Drop one car at Chinook Pass, drive approximately 45 minutes to White Pass and start hiking from there. The PCT guide states that Blowout Mountain has the only reliable water for the next 17 miles to beyond Stampede Pass. If this section of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) proves anything, it's that this is truly not the case. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. Continue on SR 410 into and out of the park boundary. After this point, connect to Stampede Pass. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, camping, fishing, and backpacking and is best used from May until November. This leaves about 170 miles to go, from Chinook Pass to the Columbia River. You may find water at Tacoma Pass, but there is no reliable source until you reach Stampede Pass. Take US-2 to Stevens Pass for the northern end. Around the weather station, there are lodgepole and western white pine trees. 3 reviews of Pacific Crest Trail at Chinook Pass "On August 27th, took a drive to Chinook Pass which was about 2.5 hours. Seattle, WA 98104. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, horses, and backpacking and is best used from June until October. It’s what keeps people coming. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) - Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass. If hiking thru to Chinook Pass, leave one car here. One of the many fields . Reach Blowout Mountain and enjoy the views. Meander past Stirrup Creek, Twilight Lake, Yakima Pass, and Mirror Lake along the way. Before Stampede Pass, pass by Bearpaw Butte and climb to Snowshoe Butte, a logged-over summit which features blueberries and Silver Firs. Take I-90 to Exit 52 at Snoqualmie Pass to reach the southern end of this section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Monday, August 26, 2013 PCT 2013: Snoqualmie Pass to Chinook Pass This trip was actually supposed to be Rainy Pass to Stevens Pass. The PCT does not reenter the park past this point. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Rainier. I had just taken the hammock on a Mt. There were no significant climbs, maybe a 1000 feet or so, as compared to 3000 foot climbs (and corresponding descents) in the Glacier Peak area (north of Steven's Pass.) 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 We then traverse a steep slope overlooking the deep canyon of the South Fork Snoqualmie River. So I got up at 4:30, started hiking at 5:00 by headlamp, and started putting in miles. WHITE PASS to CHINOOK PASS: This 25.6-mile leg traverses meadows dotted with lakes to the Cascade Crest for pin-up views of Mts. We have now hiked the PCT from Chinook Pass (I-90) to Manning Park, Canada, approximately 340 miles. I've done a few overnight backpacking trips with my setup, but never a longer hike. The trail from Sheep Lake (2.2 miles in from Chinook Pass) on through the Norse Peak Wilderness area and the Blowout Mountain area offered the best views. I thought I would meet him for a week while he was coming through Washington where I live. The parking lot is ample, as it … Dogs are also able to use this trail. Past Stampede Pass, enter the final stretch to Snoqualmie Pass. Self-issue at trailhead (no fee). Continue along the PCT past Three Way Peak towards Crystal Mountain Resort. Spot Arch Rock as you walk towards Louisiana Saddle. 6 miles past Blowout Mountain, cross paths with a cross country ski trail, and from this point on stay in close proximity with cross country ski trails, roads, and eventually the highway when you reach Snoqualmie Pass. The trail is well marked, there are abundant camp sites and many stopping points along the way. You can improve or add to this guidebook entry, Washington Trails Association The trail was generally good all the way with relatively few blowdowns. It would require two 30 mile days, one Saturday, then one Sunday, and check into the hotel Sunday night. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 At Stevens Pass, the PCT exits at the crest near the ski area. Tinkham Peak and Silver Peak are prominent on the left, and just past them enter Olallie Meadow. adams mt. Chinook Pass to Snoqualmie Pass. Bridge in Chinook Pass. Trail reconstruction was in progress near Tacoma Pass area, heading south to Blowout Mountain. Chinook Pass, the east entrance to the park, is located three miles east of Cayuse Pass and 51 miles west of Naches on SR 410. Water was scarce along some sections of the trail as well a relatively few campsites available in places. River crossing. Begin your trip along the PCT at Chinook Pass, which sits midway through the east border of Mount Rainier National Park. This trail provides hikers with views of Mount Rainier, various buttes and passes, and access to the Norse Peak Wilderness, all of which provide stunning views. The eight-mile path from the Naches Peak Loop Trailhead in Chinook Pass to Crown Point in the Norse Peak Wilderness is home to many alpine … The PCT does not reenter the park past this point. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn left (north) and cross under the freeway. If you can ignore the buzzing sound, they create nice meadows beneath them with lupine, indian paintbrush, and beargrass in bloom. This stretch presents many private land clearcuts that offer little cover from the often present rain, and as you get closer to the pass, you are likely to encounter more and more day hikers, and overnight campers. Rainier to many square miles of forest that has been clear cut. PCT 2013: Snoqualmie Pass to Chinook Pass August 26, 2013 by Ed Jarrett This trip was actually supposed to be Rainy Pass to Stevens Pass. Made a quick stop at the Ranger Station in Naches, WA to pick up a Wilderness Pass and find out conditions up in the mountains. Pass over Highway 410, and begin your walk following closely along the highway for the first mile. In about 100 yards, turn right onto a dirt road leading into the PCT trailhead. rainier mt. Together we hiked south overlooking Dewey Lake and then looped west past Tipsoo Lake. From Chinook Pass, the trail has an easy, rapid run to Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass. Quickly branch off and make your way towards Sourdough Gap and Crystal Lake. Pacific Crest Trail Section H Columbia River to White Pass 147 Miles August 30-September 13, 2003 . Quickly branch off and make your way towards Sourdough Gap and Crystal Lake. Between White Pass and Highway 410 at Chinook Pass, the trail skirts many lakes as it approaches the towering monarch of the Cascades, Mt. Enjoy grand views of the Cascade Crest, then descend into old growth and second growth forest. 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