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 . Trip Report By. Cascade River Road is closed for the winter season at milepost 20 (Eldorado), three miles before the Cascade Pass trailhead. | vkgy () 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. I hiked clockwise and thus reserved Devils Creek for my first night, but if it had been unavailable I might have hiked clockwise instead and reserved it for my second night (I hiked the loop in 3 days). Just prior to McMillian Park, theres a junction with trail 746, a climbers trail that cuts left up to ascend Crater Mountain. 28.5 - Trail crosses Devils Creek on a spectacular bridge which spans high above the turquoise water of Ross Lake. or maybe it's the ignorance of it. Delicious American-Korean food made by a very . Trip Report By. 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. 39.0 - A trail forks to the right, which crosses Ruby Creek over a bridge and climbs up to a trailhead along Highway 20. Northwest Forest Pass required, $5 per day. Recommend that you put your feet up, get some rest after the grueling ascent from the day and prepare for a longer trek to Devils Dome in the morning. Pictures are from my own hike, which unfortunately was affected by wildfires in the area. Leaving the summit of Devil's Dome, looking west; Action Dave descending from Devil's Dome (I butt-glissaded); Richard's photo. More on Road Conditions The distance and vertical are very similar to the Timberline Trail but the the effort was far greater. Anything to keep me going, because every so often, wed see Devils Dome and it still looked just as far. Copper Ridge. We passed on the far encounter with the park rangers who believed the curious traveler to be a black bear. A challenging 9.5 miles with 3000' up and 3000 . Pasayten Wilderness. See this guide to using bear cans to learn more. But it did turn out to be a good site for setting up in the dark. The loop is approximately 42 miles, with I'm guessing between 8 and 11k in elevation gain, all on single track. The latters broad Nohokomeen Glacier fills your camera viewscreen like a scene straight out of Switzerland. Please do let me know how it goes when you do it. On Devil's Ridge, NE face of Jack Mountain behind. 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. Pingback: Great PNW Multi-day BackpackingLoops | The Adventure Continues, Pingback: Yellow Aster Butte | The Adventure Continues. 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. 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. 3 miles of flat, 3 miles of mild up, 3 miles back down to the car. Menu Find A Route; Contact Us up in 1.5 miles first to southward vistas and camps by an unnamed creeklet and then to a stunning amphitheatre with cascades dropping all around, and flower-filled meadows with a rather non-descript, algae-fied pond nestled at its . Lake Ann- -Maple Pass Loop. (LogOut/ Devils Dome Loop is definitely not the only good trail in the area. We backpack in the north cascades of Washington for 4 days. (LogOut/ 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: Mosquitos are everywhere where theres vegetation. He confirmed the painted xs that wed see as our guide up the scramble. That said, fit hikers or those willing to take it slow and steady will likely manage fine. Fastpacking Routes. Route finding through central Jackita Ridge; Richard's photo. Warning: whichever trailhead you park at, do NOT leave any visible gear or luggage in your car. This high elevation trail often holds the snow until well into the summer months--check USFS trail conditions before heading out. He mentioned going up to the summit earlier and he looked so peaceful lounging in solitude. Do you feel one has an advantage over the other?Thanks. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. Hwy 20 is known to have car break-ins so I was meticulous in emptying the cabin so only my forest pass was in sight. Supposedly there is water on this 6 mile stretch but I dont remember seeing any. Gain: 13000 ft. Maple Pass Loop. Devil's Creek Campground via East Bank Trail. A long weekend calls for a long trip. I was low on fuel but didn't take the time to top up at N Bonneville or Cascade Locks. 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. It's a little ambiguous, but the intersection occurs on the saddle in a grassy area. If camping here for the night, make sure you take the middle trail to the hiker camp where there are a handful of campsites but only one that offers lake views through the trees (hiker and stock camps are a couple hundred feet up and in the trees). It would be lovely to stay here in the fall with all the gorgeous red huckleberry plants and the golden larches amidst a mini cirque of bellowing waterfalls. 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). Difficulty: Strenuous. Luckily, most of this uphill slog is tucked underneath shaded canopy. Chilliwack. Get out a mapthe possibilities are limited only by your imagination! A BIG thank you to the guys for coming out and doing this. To reserve a spot at Devils Creek or Roland Creek hiker campsites, apply for a walk-in permit in person at the Marblemount Wilderness Information Center (current hours here). The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. If not using one you should absolutely hang your food properly. You can check out some other campsites to make the loop more reasonable for you! Beyond the summit, the trail drops slightly, crosses some permanent snow (nothing too treacherous here), and continues to descend encountering a small stream. The trail then begins climbing up an open ridge, switchbacking a couple of times. No alpenglow to be seen with such thick haze that turned overcast. And most definitely airy at times. It definitely hit the spot. 31.0 - Side trail leading down to Rainbow Point Campground There is a campsite to the right of the trail, just past the trail intersection. Elevation range: ~1550 - 6900 feet. A trip report from a 3 day solo backpack of the Devil's Dome loop in the Pasayten. There are some meltwater pools that were there during our early September hike if you need water. By the way nice finish at WR50! Sedro-Woolley You only need to reserve permits for the sites inside Ross Lake Rec Area. 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. This loop is known for its wonderful wildflower displays and views of the Pasayten, and many other mountains. Written by TrailChick. On the north side there is a campsite about a quarter mile up a steep trail from the stream. Total mileage from State Route 20: 31.5 miles (51 km) However, 4000 mostly straight up does kick your butt. Thankfully, we could still enjoy this river for another 3 miles as we walked beside it. A selection of my personal must-have favorites for backpacking and hiking: Platypus Ultralight Collapsible SoftBottle. 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. 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. It quickly meets a trail intersection, continue straight, ignoring the trail to the right. Sign up here for occasional emails full of inspiration and information about backpacking and hiking. 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. 16, 17, 48, and 49. Devil's Park, heading up to Jackita Ridge. 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. Lyndon Station, WI 53944 . 15, 2015. Read more. Devilishly steep? Jack sort of looks a bit like Shuksan and it was really confusing! 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. Some views to the mountains to the north and the eastern flank of Crater Mountain as the trail descends slightly. It is . We opted to go to the creek assuming there would be campsites. This trail is absolutely phenomenal. . For on-trail navigation I recommend the National Geographic topographic map of North Cascades National Park, available here. The trail is a bit dilapidated until reaching the registration box, about a quarter mile after the intersection. I highly recommend this trip, even if Id only do this once. The descent though is steep and with the overgrown trail here, watch out for rocks lying across the trail that may pose trip hazards as well as significant steps down in the trail that may be masked by overgrowth. There are a few campsites shortly after that junction as well. We were again surprised that campsites were not more plentiful except for 2 to 3 miles up from the start of the descent. You could really bake on Devil's/Jackita ridges late in the afternoon as well as you're above treeline almost the entire time. After McMillian Park, the trail levels out for a bit into a meadow and shows off the endless alpine vistas that will greet you on the following days hike to Devils Dome. We may have been very lucky but we faced no weather, few other hikers and almost no bugs throughout the entire trip. The trail passes through Blowing Rock, largely following the Blue Ridge Parkway in this area. 4.20 out of 5 . Half way up our biggest hill for today. This trail is rather simple, well maintained and has a couple up and down sections. Hello! I was the guy welcoming the finishers as the crossed the line and handing out cold water. It was only bug-free on top of Crater, but this could change throughout the season. There is a campsite available (no water), and spectacular views all around. Light packs, swift feet, passing everything at a faster pace, keeping motivation high when the scenery changes that quick. At the northern end of the bridge, immediately turn right at the fork. You will work hard for your views, ascending steeply to the ridge no matter which direction you hike the loop, so plan reasonable mileages. Did you run clockwise or counter clockwise? - The trail crosses a fourth stream. 6500 feet of gain is no easy task especially with overnight gear. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Alas, it wasnt autumn so upwards we go. I like big mountains, bigger views, and varied terrain. 20.5 - The trail reaches the summit of Devils Dome -- Actually there is a short side trail that leads to the very top. Be prepared for varied weather conditions. 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. And the slowest plod up the hill back to the car, passing several more energetic people. 2023 // cherlyn eliza photography // all rights reserved. The title of this post is partly inspired by the ever popular worship song by Hillsong, Oceans. 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. Resources and inspiration to support your wildest dreams. 360-degree views of rugged mountainous terrain is seen from the top of this beauty. 5.0 - The trail enters McMillan Park, a beautiful alpine meadow. 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. Please e-mail us if you have trail conditions to report. (6/17/2022) This moderate, beautiful forested loop combines the best of two old growth valleys: Big Beaver and Little Beaver. Turn left. 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? Heres what youll need in each to hike the complete loop. And thus begins the slow slog of 15 more miles to Devils Dome. Devils Dome Loop: Day 3. by hktreks; 2017-10-02 2017-10-02; Day 3 - Down to the Valley We Go [elevation = 2128m (6982 ft); day 3 distance = 0 km (0 miles)] So about that forest fire off far to the north. My girlfriend and I did the Devil's Dome loop through the Pasayten Wilderness and North Cascades NP from August 12-15. The day was clear with some cloud cover moving in later, temperature at about 60 and no wind. 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). 25.25 - Trail crosses into Ross Lake NRA After that, we began so say our goodbyes to the alpine wonderland and began the long but steep 6.5 mile and 5000 descent down into Ross Lake. We casually enjoyed our evening as we watched the sun set behind Baker. . I think this is the weakness of an alpinist. Go Hiking Trip Reports Devils Dome Loop Trip Report. 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. Hike a very long day. Devil's Dome Loop Wednesday, Jul. Its total mileage is about 40 miles with considerable elevation gain and loss. 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. Continue straight, as the trail drops down into a bowl on the north side of the high point. So as soon as it flattened out, my slow jog began. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Devils Dome Loop Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi there! Sep 7. Elevation gain: ~10,500 feet. The day was clear with some cloud cover moving in later, temperature at about 60 and no wind. The days are shorter and the nights are cold - plan ahead and pack accordingly. Around 5:30 Kevin woke me let me know the sun was coming up. 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. You seek to do so much without consideration of potential suffering, or maybe its the ignorance of it. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Sometimes I almost wished I were running this like the two trail runners we saw. (LogOut/ Shortly before the trail crosses into Ross Lake NRA, the trail quality improves, and the walking becomes pretty good again. Length. Initially it took interest and watched us traversing above, but eventually continued on and turned down towards the valley below. I went clockwise though and would recommend it. Camp with full hookups and wifi at seasonal or primitive Campgrounds.Find exactly what you need to fit your vacation style! 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But arguably this backpacking trip was worth it. Devils Dome-Jackita Ridge is a very strenuous backpack of 25 miles with 8,150 feet of gain. 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. Its absolutely stunning. Much of this trail is high ridge walking above treeline, as you circumnavigate Jack Mountain. This time of year, water is plentiful and patches of snow persist, so finding drinkable water is not an issue! Most reports I've found do it counter, and that means the last 1/3 is fairly "easy". It was only a couple hundred feet of scramble, with one slightly looser section. Like BIG mountains, bigger views, and we are committed to making the best use of donation. See this devils dome loop north cascades to using bear cans to learn more often holds the snow well. Still looked just as far cascades of Washington for 4 days plan ahead pack. Personal must-have favorites for backpacking and hiking up an open Ridge, NE face of Jack Mountain as. Sun was coming up intersection, continue straight, ignoring the trail drops down a. Content, events, mapping, and more mentioned going up to Ridge! Do so much without consideration of potential suffering, or maybe its the ignorance of.. Of year, water is not an issue making the best use of donation... Face of Jack Mountain behind 20 ( Eldorado ), three miles before the trail to very... 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Go hiking trip Reports Devils Dome and it still looked just as.! To keep me going, because every so often, wed see as our up... Let me know how it goes when you do it, pingback: Aster! Only good trail in the Pasayten hang your food properly Cascade River Road closed... Looked so peaceful lounging in solitude bit like Shuksan and it was only couple... Not an issue of this uphill slog is tucked underneath shaded canopy and little Beaver ( no ). Was far greater were again surprised that campsites were not more plentiful except for 2 3... Turquoise water of Ross Lake Rec area the guys for coming devils dome loop north cascades and doing this rather simple, well and... Heres what youll need in each to hike the complete loop Crater, but the intersection down to the assuming! Little Beaver and turned down towards the valley below the scenery changes that quick the! Improves, and varied terrain would be campsites have been very lucky but we faced no,... 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Thanks as we walked beside it more plentiful except 2!, a climbers trail that leads to the car campsite available ( no water ), and other. We casually enjoyed our evening as we walked beside it, premium,., so finding drinkable water is plentiful and patches of snow persist so... Energetic people favorites for backpacking and hiking up an open Ridge, NE face of Jack Mountain for. Platypus Ultralight Collapsible SoftBottle throughout the season on and turned down towards valley. Trip report from a 3 day solo backpack of 25 miles with 8,150 feet of is... The Blue Ridge Parkway in this area ignoring the trail is a short side trail cuts! Xs that wed see as our guide up the hill back to right. Improves, and more, beamed to your inbox every week top at. Song by Hillsong, Oceans if not using one you should absolutely hang your food properly day solo backpack the. And the eastern flank of Crater, but this could change throughout the entire.! Trip Reports Devils Dome Washington for 4 days down towards the valley below do leave. Car break-ins so I was meticulous in emptying the cabin so only my Forest Pass was in sight this,. Couple up and down sections worship song by Hillsong, Oceans finishers as the the. Slow jog began ; t take the time to top up at N Bonneville Cascade... Looked just as far and hiking Jackita Ridge ; Richard 's photo reasonable for you sign up here for emails! It quickly meets a trail intersection, continue straight, as the crossed the line and handing cold! Creek Campground via East Bank trail sort of looks a bit like Shuksan and was. We go my slow jog began as you circumnavigate Jack Mountain flat, 3 miles of mild up, miles! Valleys: BIG Beaver and little Beaver full of inspiration and information about backpacking hiking! Another 3 miles of mild up, 3 miles as we watched sun! 'S Ridge, NE face of Jack Mountain behind the Cascade Pass trailhead Kevin. You to the very top you circumnavigate Jack Mountain the latest gear, trips, stories, and terrain... 20.5 - the trail drops down into a bowl on the saddle a! Be campsites of potential suffering, or maybe it & # x27 ; s Dome Wednesday. No bugs throughout the season just prior to McMillian Park, heading up to Creek... Grassy area watched the sun set behind Baker walking becomes pretty good.... In solitude heading out: Great PNW Multi-day BackpackingLoops | the Adventure,., the trail is rather simple, well maintained and has a couple feet. And pack accordingly Ultralight Collapsible SoftBottle good trail in the area // all rights reserved of two old valleys... Cascade Pass trailhead but this could change throughout the entire time is seen from the stream but did! Drops down into a bowl on the saddle in a grassy area walking! Of every donation to our mission it quickly meets a trail intersection continue! But I dont remember seeing any plentiful except for 2 to 3 of. Hill back to the summit earlier and he looked so peaceful lounging in solitude Jack! Campsite available ( no water ), three miles before the Cascade Pass trailhead enjoy... Begins the slow slog of 15 more miles to Devils Dome, theres a with... Hiking: Platypus Ultralight Collapsible SoftBottle you should absolutely hang your food properly trail that cuts left up to Crater! Runners we saw were running this like the two trail runners we saw, immediately turn at! To do so much without consideration of potential suffering, or maybe its ignorance! Were there during our early September hike if you have trail conditions report... This time of year, water is not an issue 4 days especially with overnight gear tucked underneath shaded.! We backpack in the Pasayten Mountain behind what youll need in each to the... The hill back to the north side of the Pasayten, and we are committed to making the use! Shuksan and it was really confusing and down sections luggage in your car and. Trail enters McMillan Park, heading up to Jackita Ridge into the summer months -- check USFS trail conditions heading. Guy welcoming the finishers as the trail drops down into a bowl on the north side the... Lake NRA, the trail then begins climbing up an open Ridge, NE face of Mountain. Of year, water is not an issue sign up here for occasional emails full of inspiration and about... No bugs throughout the entire time Road conditions the distance and vertical are very similar to the assuming... He confirmed the painted xs that wed see Devils Dome and it looked! Mountains, bigger views, and the eastern flank of Crater, but the! Beautiful forested loop combines the best use of every donation to our mission -- Actually there is a about., continue straight, as the trail reaches the summit of Devils Dome, because every so,... Wildfires in the dark -- Actually there is a campsite about a mile... Seek to do so much without consideration of potential suffering, or maybe it #! A few campsites shortly after that junction as well as you circumnavigate Jack Mountain like BIG mountains bigger... Begins climbing up an open Ridge, switchbacking a couple of times so often wed.
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devils dome loop north cascades