2015 National Park. On the other side, if there is any question on how many switchbacks it takes to ascend into Devils Park, its 68. . If not using one you should absolutely hang your food properly. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an . Sir Hikes A Lot joined for what was mostly a great day (one navigation issue noted below). Continue Reading. For me, it isnt counting every half mile Ive done, but just keep hiking till the next bend or ridge. I had to drag them slowly up each switch back to the top of the dome where Cleo was waiting for me. There is a lot of climbing (3300' of total climbing). Devil's Lake State Park- Baraboo.Map S5975 Park Rd. 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. National Parks: North Cascades Come for the sheer, glaciated peaks, but be mesmerized by rain-fed waterfalls that pour down on all sides. Trip Report By. Devil's Dome Loop passes through two of the area's prettiest wildernesses: Ross Lake National Rec Area and the Pasaytan Wilderness. But arguably this backpacking trip was worth it. At the bottom of this descent you open out into a clearing and the North Fork of Devils Creek. Plus Cleo wanted a redemption hike after completing it in 4 days a few years . All in all, this loop is absolutely stunning. If for no other reason, this section of the trail is a huge reason for taking the trail counter clockwise as I can imagine that while steep and annoying downhill, the overgrown brush would have been miserable with a 5000 climb added. 22.0 - The trail passes an unsigned trail that leads off to the right, stay left and continue to Dry Creek Pass. I didn't want to wake up but am glad I did since the sunrise was one of the best I've ever seen. It was only a couple hundred feet of scramble, with one slightly looser section. We were again putting in about an 8 mile day planning to camp just before the final descent down to the Devils Park Trail which would take us back to our East Bank Trailhead parking lot. Menu Find A Route; Contact Us As of summer 2019 (and still in 2020) the bridge leading to Jackita Ridge Trail was damaged, making this trailhead only practical for Devils Dome loop during late summer or fall when the creek can be safely forded. Well, we only found one campsite barely large enough for two tents which was just south of the creek as you enter the trees. Sep 7. 0.2 miles later we were crossing a bridge over the crystal clear, aqua Ruby Creek. Thanks for reading! Beyond the summit, the trail drops slightly, crosses some permanent snow (nothing too treacherous here), and continues to descend encountering a small stream. This quintessential Northern Cascades hike offers all the beauty this majestic area has to offer. Next the trail plunges downhill through some very thick brush mixed with fields of lupine. We were again surprised that campsites were not more plentiful except for 2 to 3 miles up from the start of the descent. So I largely jogged down the mountain, and jogged through the flat. North Cascades -- North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20 . Snow has started to accumulate at high elevations in the park, be prepared if you plan to venture out. Rating. Total mileage from State Route 20: 31.5 miles (51 km) This lower elevation trail is usually snowfree by mid- to late-June. I am in awe of your stamina. This high elevation trail often holds the snow until well into the summer months--check USFS trail conditions before heading out. 6.5 - The trail crosses Nickol Creek, which was mostly dry for our Sept 3 crossing. Reservations are required and the per-boat fee makes more sense if hiking in a group. 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. He mentioned going up to the summit earlier and he looked so peaceful lounging in solitude. It quickly meets a trail intersection, continue straight, ignoring the trail to the right. This ascent is almost 1000 but once you reach the meadow just underneath Anacortes Crossing, you are treated to a gorgeous view once again of Jack and Crater Mountains. The gold leaf dome of the Capitol building is a favourite with sightseers and Des Moines is an important city in presidential politics as it is here that the first caucuses of the presidential primary cycle take place. You wonder how in the world youll make it all the way yonder and wonder how you did make it after all. Going the other direction isnt much better. And thus begins the slow slog of 15 more miles to Devils Dome. Can be purchased at local vendors, from a machine at the trailhead (apparently I dont remember seeing this), or if you want to be safe. 608-356-3381. (LogOut/ Add a day to explore some cross-country (off-trail) areas, especially around McAlester Pass, or to fish. Follow USFS Jackita Ridge Trail #738, to USFS Devils Ridge Trail #752, and finally return on the East Bank Trail. My friend Mike Chastain and I ran the Devil's Dome Loop in the Pasayten Wilderness on Saturday, circumnavigating the 9000+ foot Jack Mountain, and finishing up on the East Bank Trailhead on Ross Lake. Road Road suitable for all vehicles. 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. My common backpacking partner, Bryce, was gonna be challenged with getting there at a reasonable time on September 1st so I opted for a campsite halfway along the East Bank Trail at Roland Creek. Trip Report By. The next day required another 1000 climb up to Devils Dome which lived up to the hype for a fabulous 360 view of the North Cascades looking into Canada. Go Hiking Trip Reports Devils Dome Loop Trip Report. Trailhead 3000', ridge above lake is 5000', Thornton Lake 4500'. We hiked about 6 mile to Devils Creek Landing on Ross Lake where we had lunch and a rest before the big climb. I researched this route, hiked it, and reviewed a number of other trip reports as part of writing this guide. What permit or permits do you need for Devils Dome Loop and how do you reserve campsites? Bring camp shoes to let your feet relax from your hiking shoes! 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. The flowers kept me occupied and I spotted only one patch of elephants head this whole trip! 31.75 - Trail crosses May Creek, a rock hop late in the season. See this guide to using bear cans to learn more. This video captures my gratitude. Though challenging for sure, these sections are worthwhile in their own right, filled with green foliage and the occasional black bear sighting. At the northern end of the bridge, immediately turn right at the fork. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. 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. Choose the other campsite and adjust your itinerary. We were carrying enough water to make it to Granite Creek, which turned out to be our choice for a campsite after about an eight mile day. It took us longer than expected because of the route finding and overgrowth/blowdown. It is . 42.5 Trailhead and the end of the hike. North Cascades. COVID Update: As of July 2020 the Marblemount station is closed but rangers are processing permit applications in the parking lot. . Beyond the creek crossing, the trail gradually climbs higher through the trees as it reaches the modest Hidden Hand Pass. This hike offers so many extraordinary vistas that can create amazing panoramic shots. Theres room for 2 tents to fit comfortably, possibly three 2-person tents could be made to work. Between Ross Lake and the high elevation views, hikers will face several thousand feet of steep climbing and descending on forested slopes. WA Again, I liked being able to park between the eastbound and westbound lanes, instead of having to get on the Historic Hwy. 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. Pictures are from my own hike, which unfortunately was affected by wildfires in the area. From Crater, we could already see how far wed have to walk and it just seemed impossible. Well this is one of the best loop hikes I have done. The scenery was amazing and the solitude was awesome. 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. (Andy Porter)'. 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. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Devil's Dome Loop. Learn how your comment data is processed. Significant flooding from November 2021 has damaged the road, there is no current access to Ross Lake or the Hozomeen campground via Canada. The Ultimate Roommate Compatibility Test: Backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail, 9 Hiking Adventures to Make Your Spring Pure Gold, 9 Spectacular Early Spring Backpacking Trips You Can Do Right Now, The 10 Best Loop Hikes in the United States, Bad News for Pacific Crest Trail Hikers: The Northern Terminus Is Closed Due to Wildfires, Grizzly Fatally Mauled Woman In Rare Predatory Attack, This Hiker Just Completed the 6,800-Mile Great Western Loop in Less than 200 Days. Go Hiking Trip Reports Devils Dome Loop Trip Report. That said, fit hikers or those willing to take it slow and steady will likely manage fine. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. We clearly have different strengths in hiking and hers is definitely long distance. The last couple hundred feet of the climb consisted of a straightforward trail to the summit. Bear canisters arent required on this route but arent a bad idea anyway. 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. 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. After Anacortes Crossing we soldiered on to Devils Pass, a little over 2 miles away, traversing another ridge on our right, more patches of lupine with indian paint brush and columbine intermixed and more views of Jack Mountain. I love solitude, big views, and a good lightweight gear setup. We have not gone backpacking in a long time so this 43 miles and 11,5. Its total mileage is about 40 miles with considerable elevation gain and loss. Camp with full hookups and wifi at seasonal or primitive Campgrounds.Find exactly what you need to fit your vacation style! Profiles, biographies, member histories. Onslow S. Rolfe, who had developed mountain warfare techniques as . My knees hurt just reading this post! When to hike: Parts of the trail can hold snow until fairly late in the summer. Bridge Creek Trail/PCT- The temporary bridge at North Fork and Maple Creek will be removed for the season on Nov 1st, 2022. I highly recommend this trip, even if Id only do this once. Lookout is at 5968'Hiker only. Yes please! Our goal was to finish in 3 days. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. 360-degree views of rugged mountainous terrain is seen from the top of this beauty. I didnt realize that Devils Dome had such a nice view of Jack and Crater. 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. We did have a nice campsite just off trail toward the cabin. Check out this 23.7-mile out-and-back trail near Marblemount, Washington. North Cascades. Since that portion lies within North Cascades National Park, you must check in with the ranger station to reserve your campsites in advance. I couldnt have been more delight to see our final bridge to cross Ruby Creek at the end. Gary Zink. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Devils Dome is the ultimate objective in this hike, and its absolutely worth the efforts to get there, placing you on top of a 7000 broad dome with breathtaking views of the Northern Cascades in every direction. With all the wild flowers in bloom there was a clear hum of bumblebees around throughout this descent, which created a cool effect. He looked so peaceful lounging in solitude in hiking and hers is definitely long.!, exclusive content, events, mapping, and finally return on the East Bank.... How do you reserve campsites be prepared if you plan to venture out longer than expected because of the finding! 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