The trail starts high and stays high with up to 7,600 ft elevation. Very exciting! We took our breakfast to the sunny spot along the lake we visited the previous day and reveled in the solitude and beauty. And best find of all, a large bull moose between Snehumption Gap and the South shoulder of Arnold. This side spurs do lead to some worthy destinations and could be incorporated into a longer or completely different trip. A relatively short and level trail leads to some of the most beautiful meadows in Washington state. From your camp you can hike North crosscountry about 5 miles over a small mountain-easy to the border marker. Log in if you already have an account with us. 12 miles in and barely a mile from camp and my shoes and pants were soaked through in no time. From the trailhead all the way to Cougar Lake, the trail had been in surprisingly good condition. From Sunny Pass the trail has long sections of deep snow. PNTA sawyers can also use volunteer swampers to help remove freshly cut branches and logs from the trail. Not sure what they were after but there were no mice or prairie dogs around this area. If I go back I'd like to see the tunnels if they are still open. Coming from Vancouver Island this is a 6 hour drive plus the ferry ride. Its hard to hike through this scorched area and not feel enormous sadness, loss, and frustration at human impacts. Thanks Lead Dog! Needless to say, I didn't sleep in or near the cabins again. Great little hike with some awesome waterfalls at the end. We passed 3 sets of people leaving so it was just us, the ranger, and the Geo Metro. A chance of showers. Aside from a couple we passed back near the historic cabins, Laurel and I had seen no one else all weekend. But probably buggier. It was all these feelings, along with surprising solitude and an astounding variety of animal tracks, that made the 3 days I spent with my friend near Hidden Lakes a trip I wont soon forget. Went there only to find it snowing hard so we turned around. Day 4 Return trip to Haig Mtn. Log in and send us Meanwhile, the nearest taller peak, Jack Mountain, sits 15 miles away. Wandering this country gives you a glimpse of what frontier life might have been like. The bridge at Drake Creek was burned out in the fire but the water was low enough that the crossing only required a few acrobatic hops across some logs and rocks. If you really need to go further, by all means, go further. That said, I was thrilled to see a moose! Every stand of trees, rock outcropping, and flower display has a special feel, like it was all painstakingly handcrafted. Continue on this rough road for about 6 miles to the trailhead (6,160 ft). Water in the creek at a mile and a half in. & Four Point Lake. The trail is super easy this way. Enjoy this 12.5-mile out-and-back trail near Tonasket, Washington. Most of the forested slopes were burnt to a crisp, but pockets of green trees still remained here and there. I was happy to give my legs a break and since it was only 3 miles to the upper lake, wed have all day to explore. Consistent snow from Remmel Lake north, up to four feet; we often postholed up to our thighs in the deep areas. Drive on Forest Service Road #39 for 20 miles to junction of Forest Service Road #39 and Forest Service Road #3900-300. Date(s): 07/18/2023 - 07/25/2023All Day, Location Horseshoe Basin North Cascades > Pasayten 48.9086, -119.9041 Map & Directions Length 12.0 miles, roundtrip Elevation Gain 1,550 feet Highest Point 7,200 feet Calculated Difficulty Moderate/Hard Photo by trip reporter Wild Side. From the sound of it, there was a pretty healthy pika population living in the surrounding talus fields that had survived the fire just fine! It was perfect moose and beaver habitat. Castle Peak by Full Moon Rising rises in northwest Pasayten Wilderness. Last water was hard to come by but found some on the East shoulder just before the steeper rise to Arnold Peak. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. The cabins are full of rodents however. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. If you to the Tungsten Mine cabins, I wouldn't recommend staying in them. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. As an added bonus a bear came running down to the lake while we were cleaning up from our hike.but he promptly left once he heard our whistle. Horseshoe Basin is one of the few places in the Lower 48 to contain arctic tundra and is home to bears, deer and pronghorn sheep, if you know where to look. Both of these trails can be included as loops as well - Check your map! Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting. Plenty of elk droppings along side the trail. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Both of these trails can be included as loops as well - Check your map! Windy Peak (8,334 ft): one of Washington's highest summits that can be accessed by a trail. Water again at Sunny camp. Friday In 2 miles, turn left onto Forest Road 39 and stay on this road for about 14 miles. Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. Find a spur road signed for the Irongate Trailhead. Ill only say this about our 13 mile return hike: boy that climb from Diamond Creek all the way back up to Lucky Pass is a beast! Continue on the spur road for nearly six miles until you arrive at the trailhead. Pacific Northwest Trail Association I recommend starting at the Chewuch Trailhead, which is accessed by Remmel Mountain (8685 ft), the former site of a fire lookout, is a massive pile of granite and a wonderful destination for panoramic views of the rugged Pasayten Wilderness. Roundtrip distance to Horseshoe Basin is 20 miles. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. so. Ruffwear / Continue to Sunny Pass at trail mile 5, elevation 7200 ft. At the pass, Pick Peak is toyour left as well as the Windy Peak trail. Returning via the Boundary Trail adds about a mile to the walk. I got caught a bit unprepared by weather on Devils Dome my last night and hiked out hours later than expected with completely soaked gear. The Horseshoe Basin area provides almost unlimited campsites to the climber and backpacker. Middle Hidden turned up even more critters that included coyote, otter, and possibly even mink. This may be a bit of a "slog" but is definitely worth the extra effort. (7), Climber's Log Entries Distance: 13.9 miles | Elevation Gain: 3,745. Water is scarce along this section of trail and in the heat of summer this area can be a scorcher due to the lack of tree cover. The trail drops down to the junction at Cougar camp, just past the right turn for Smith lakeleft for Louden lake, right for Goodenough peak. Melting snowbanks usually provide water through mid-summer. I was soggy and cold as we unpackeded camp, then Laurel asked, would you like a margarita?. This includes side trips, extensions Log in and send us A slight chance of rain showers, mixing with snow after 8pm, then gradually ending. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Weather in Horseshoe Basin (Washington), . Packpup and I have also encountered a good little snowstorm 7/2/99 and occasional snow during our trip 7/1/00 7/3/00. After Lucky Pass, the trail has a few small rollers before making a big descent 1,500 over the next 3.5 miles to Diamond Creek, just past the 9 mile mark. There are also campsites on a hill just West of Louden Lake on the lower NE corner of Rock Mountain, and an a site with excellent views at Sunny Pass. DAY ONE: 5-ish miles to a wide enough spot in the trail to place a tent. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/horseshoe-basin-pasayten, https://www.wta.org/site_images/hikes/horseshoe-basin_lets-go-bobby.jpg/@@download/image/Horseshoe Basin. This side spurs do lead to some worthy destinations and could be incorporated into a longer or completely different trip. All Rights Reserved. I was there in the fall of '01, and the rats had full run of the place, day and night. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Even the elusive grizzly may roam here. The shortest route to get Cathedral Lakes (not coming from Canada) is roughly 19 miles. We camped overnight at the Iron Gate trailhead and our plan was to make our way to Louden lake to set up base camp. Day 3 - Sunday, September 3. Night 2 - Teapot Lake. By now they have probably made it all the way to Sunny Pass. Pasayten Wilderness, Tonasket Ranger District (OWNF). Theyve clearly been burned away. Night 1 - Trail #534 by Cinch Creek. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! On this backcountry trip our crew will backpack out to Fireplace Camp at the foot of Haig Mountain on the PNT/ Boundary TR 533. Cool to watch them. Happy trails! A chance of snow showers before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain showers. There was no sign of any of the intersecting trails leading up Stub Creek or to Tatoosh Buttes. Helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. 5 cars in the lot, one park ranger truck, 3 SUVs and a banged up Geo Metro with a note saying they were in the backcountry UNTIL SEPT 26! Tax ID: 27-3009280. Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Tips: You can skip the nasty road to the Iron Gate TH, and hike a little farther instead, by parking at Toats Coulee Creek. My husband and I chose this hike looking for solitude, high alpine, and a region we could day trip from a central base camp. Bring plenty of water with you. I didn't have time to look for it when I was there. We were surprised to find ourselves sharing the basin with quite a few hunters (deer and bear were in season) on our trip. Sponsorship funds, in part, programs that enhance the trail system, bring new opportunities to trailside communities and provide summer jobs for local youth through our trail stewardship programs. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 23 min to complete. Without hesitation Laurel and I climbed down the rocky slope to get a closer look. Hiking season: year-round The best season: July through September The highest temperatures: 70-80F The lowest temperatures: 10-15F Winter average highs are 30-35F, and lows are 10-15F. East wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Directions: From the town of Loomis, travel north on County road #9425 for 2 miles to junction of #9425 and County road #4066. A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Horseshoe Basin is one of the few places in the Lower 48 to contain alpine tundra and is home to bears, deer and pronghorn sheep, if you know where to look. This 7 day trip was exactly what we had hoped for. A huge fire lookout geek, I've visited every historic fire lookout in Washington, staff the Goat Peak lookout near my home in the Methow Valley, and help to research and preserve these historic structures. You don't do it on a regular weekend, but since it's so far you're safe doing it on a 3 day weekend like Labor Day without having to worry about crowds. Distance: 6+ miles Elevation: 1000+ feet Highest Point: 6900 feet The notorious Hart Pass Road (FR 5400) to Slate peak is the highest public road in Washington state, and likely the most spine chilling; however, it provides gateway to several highly acclaimed trails including Windy Pass. In short time we had a plan B: a 35 mile out and back from the Billy Goat trailhead to Big Hidden Lake. away. The Diamond Creek bridge was protected during the fire and is surprisingly still intact. Once this section of corridor is clear, well turn our attention to tread work. A chance of showers. The only knock I can say compared to Cathedral Lakes is the lack of mountain goats. It wasnt clear if the mules were coming or going, but we were surprised and delighted for this much solitude on a holiday weekend! The trail to begin with was pretty flat for about a mile and then begins to ascend higher and higher making for a bit of a workout. 436 Emett Smith ranching family at Horseshoe Basin, Pasayten Wilderness 8-1968 (36209094675).jpg 5,324 3,588; 15.64 MB 570 Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest, Horseshoe Basin, Pasayten Wilderness (36209064235).jpg 5,312 3,600; 12.92 MB Aerial View of Horseshoe Basin-Okanogan Wenatchee (23300790324).jpg 1,600 1,067; 1.59 MB Elevation gain: 1200 ft to Horseshoe Basin Trail-head elevation: 6100ft My dad and I left Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. My recommendation is to push on a little further. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Day 2 - Saturday, September 2. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Most of us are so consumed with getting from point A to point B and marveling at the big grand vistas when were outside that we miss all of these tiny, magical moments that truly make nature a gift. This is your last chance to refill water bottles, so take the time to do so here. Date/Time I had to cut my 5 day trip short and head back in the morning. Day 1 - Friday, September 1. A group of horse riders set up at Cougar camp. Instead, Laurel and I met for breakfast, then poured over maps while I dried my gear in the sun at Pearrgyin Lake State Park. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Many loop hikes and backpacking trips can be done from this area as well. The unmarked horse trail made for a nice grade into a smaller basin with wildflowers and saw a pair of bucks just before the burned area. Interestingly, Big Hidden Lake drains north to Canada while the rest of the lakes drain south to the Methow via Lost River. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain. fewer flies (highly annoying in summer), smaller crowds. 1am PDT Apr 18, 2023-6pm PDT Apr 24, 2023, Excessive Rainfall and Winter Weather Forecasts, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I've only been there the one time, so this is all I know. Nearer Cougar Lake, the appropriately named Lost River disappears underground and is replaced by a spectacularly green marsh. Theres a small camping area right off the trail with easy access to water, but its surrounded by a lot of soot and burned, unstable trees. The South shoulder of Arnold find it snowing hard so we turned around surprisingly still intact have an account us! Canada ) is roughly 19 miles Canada ) is roughly 19 miles stand. Rough road for about 14 miles hour drive plus the ferry ride feel, like it was us... 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