 Transportation, Maps & Directions |
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Hard Hikes in the Stehekin Valley
Horseshoe Basin-Cascade
Pass Trails start out on a common trailhead at Cottonwood Camp,
2.7 miles from the end of the Stehekin Valley Road. The trail starts
out gradually and does not gain much elevation until after you
cross Basin Creek on a suspension bride approximately 1.2 miles
from Cottonwood Camp. Here the trail starts upward and leaves the
valley floor. Eight-tenths of a mile from Basin Creek brings you
to the junction of the two trials.
Horseshoe Basin Trail takes off to the right and you stay on what
was once a mine-to-market road. Another mile will take you steeply uphill
on a rather wet and rocky trail to the lower part of the basin. Due to tall
brush, the view will not be all that great until you break out into the open
a few hundred feet further. The trail switchbacks another halfmile up to
Black Warrior Mine. Be sure to bring your flashlight to explore because the
mine is open to the public. It is a total of 3.7 miles from Cottonwood Camp,
or 6.4 miles from the end of the Stehekin Road to the Black Warrior Mine.
This is truly a horseshoe basin with practically vertical granite walls.
In the summer, you can count as many as 19 waterfalls cascading over the
edge from the upper basin. Elevation gain is 2,200 feet.
Cascade Pass Trail - Keeping left at the junction with Horseshoe Basin
Trail takes you across a talus slope and gradually upward to a crossing of
Doubtful Creek. There are a dozen switchbacks here before you reach a path
through timber above Pelton Basin. The next section, almost a half mile,
is on a very gradual upward slope before breaking out of the timber and switchbacking
up to the pass. The total one-way distance is 8.1 miles from the end of the
Stehekin Road with an elevation gain of 2,600 feet. The trail is a hard hike
for the out-ofshape because of the distance and also because you are not
left with a lot of time between shuttle buses to do the hike. A person in
fair condition can make it and a person in good condition may even have some
extra time to go up Sahale Arm which takes off to the right before you reach
the pass.
As this trail starts up on the side hill, you start getting beautiful views
that continue to get better as you climb. Don't get discouraged if you must
turn back before you reach the pass as it is a beautiful hike -even if you
only go half-way!
McGregor Mountain is a fine choice if you desire to gain some elevation for a grand view. This 8149' mountain had a fire lookout at one time and you can be sure that wherever you find an old lookout site you will find a magnificent 360 degree view. It is 6.8 miles to Heaton Camp from High Bridge which is the only campsite on the mountain. From here the trail takes you about another quarter mile to where the trail ends and a rock scramble begins. While this is not a technical climb it does have a high degree of exposure so use good judgment on whether or not you want to continue from this point. If you do decide to continue do not head straight toward the peak which has the repeater antenna on it. Start out on the right side of the scree slope and angle to your left toward the solid rock and you should start seeing painted blazes to mark the route. The route will take you through a notch a couple hundred yards to the left of the summit and from there you will gain the peak from the backside. For other options see the section under easy hikes on Coon Lake and McGregor Mountain.
Purple Creek Trail. This trail starts at the Stehekin Landing just pass the Golden West Lodge. Like many of the trails in the area you go as far as you would like to and return since this is not a loop trail. Good views of the lake and the lower valley begin at about 3 miles. For those more ambitious start early and hike 8 miles to 6800' Purple Pass. If you still have some energy left go approximately one-half mile, further to Boulder Butte, there is a former fire lookout site with a supreme view. Goode Ridge Trail. This trail takes you five miles with an elevation gain of 4400' to the brow of Goode Ridge, an old Forest Service fire lookout location. Although the trail is somewhat relentless in its pursuit of the ridge, it is a good trail with decent tread and grade. If you desire to work for a superb nearly 360 degree view, this is the trail to take as it is very possible to do between shuttle buses for anybody in reasonably good condition. On a hot day bring lots of water and be prepared to jump into a marvelous (but cold) swimming hole when you arrive back at Bridge Creek. |
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Park Creek Trail. This trail takes off above where Park Creek crosses the Stehekin Road. The first part of this trail leads you steeply upward for a couple of miles and then becomes quite gentle until you arrive at Five Mile Camp where you break out of the timber for a glorious view of Buckner Mountain. Three miles farther would bring you to Park Creek Pass but it is not practical to go that far because of the time limitations in between shuttle buses.