We took our breakfast to the sunny spot along the lake we visited the previous day and reveled in the solitude and beauty. If backpacking or in need of alonger day and bigger views keep on going. This may be a bit of a "slog" but is definitely worth the extra effort. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Pasayten Wilderness, Tonasket Ranger District (OWNF). The Pasayten contains more than one-half-million acres of designated wilderness. Unfortunately, sometimes the weather and other unforeseen circumstances may cause us to cancel or reschedule an event. At the very end of August, I spent 6 days backpacking over 80 miles inside the Pasayten, first completing a stunning solo backpack loop around Devil's Dome on its west side, then joining up with a friend to explore around the Hidden Lakes of the central Pasayten. 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. Roundtrip distance to Horseshoe Basin is 20 miles. Today we'll backpack out to Goodenough Trailhead, an approximate 10.5 mi | 5.5 hr journey, East Pasayten Wilderness Pack In Support, East Pasayten Wilderness: Goodenough Park to Haig Mountain Log Out and Maintenance, East Pasayten Wilderness: Horseshoe Basin to Teapot Dome Log Out and Maintenance, East Pasayten Wilderness Pack Out Support, Sullivan Lake Trails Annual Maintenance. But watch freezing levels, and go prepared for any kind of weather. If you to the Tungsten Mine cabins, I wouldn't recommend staying in them. I wasnt quite reorganized to hit the trail again early Saturday morning. From the paved Toats Coulee Rd drive a short 6 miles on a poorly maintained gravel road full of rocks, potholes, and cows (cattle are ranged throughout the area) come to the Irongate Trailhead at ELEV. First 3 miles of the trail were constant blow downs. But had we thought to check dates of hunting season for the Pasayten Wilderness, we'd have scheduled different dates. Attempted Eastern Pasayten loop on 6/23. Huh? I responded, convinced my ears were playing tricks on me. Horseshoe Basin Coveted by backpackers and strong hikers, Horseshoe Basin in the Pasayten Wilderness is a very strenuous 19.5 mile loop with 3,400 ft in elevation gain. Here, the trail spans the rainshadow of the Cascades, wending across the Cascade Crest, from the dry Pasayten Wilderness, to the lush temperate rainforests west of the massive range. Cougar Lake was peacefully beautiful in the light of day and the air was full of the tiny meeps of pika. A small meadow with a beautiful view of Windy Peak while wet your appetite before you hike back into the forest. Disappointment & Goodenough Trailheads. Want so spread even more good? Horseshoe Basin, Pasayten, WA Whether you have a day or a week to hike, one of the best places to visit in Washington is Horseshoe Basin in the North Cascades. Plenty of elk droppings along side the trail. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. We were in wildlife geek heaven and could barely contain our excitement. Happy SAFE trails, with mostly type A fun. 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. you can take at this route/place. Read More >, Local Forecast OfficeMore Local Wx3 Day HistoryMobile WeatherHourly Weather Forecast, Chance SnowShowers thenSlight ChanceRain/Snow, Zone Area Forecast for Upper Slopes of the Eastern Washington Cascades Crest, WA. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. 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. West wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Horseshoe Basin via Cascade Pass 18 miles round trip with 4,600 feet of elevation gain From the trailhead, climb the trail to Cascade Pass. Continue on this rough road for about 6 miles to the trailhead (6,160 ft). The views can be breathtaking. In 2 miles, turn left onto Forest Road 39 and stay on this road for about 14 miles. Even the elusive grizzly may roam here. We hike 7 miles in and reached Horseshoe Basin and camped here for the first night. Thanks for the support of Western Washington Honda Dealers and our other corporate sponsors. Day 6 Explored all of Horseshoe Mountain and dropped down into little Horseshoe Basin from a rocky trail at the NE backside of the mountain. Goodenough Trailhead (end of Fourteenmile Rd), 7:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. The two times I've been there there was always a stiff wind that kept them down, but the wind also made it pretty chilly, even on a midsummer day. This 10.5 mile hike from the Goodenough Trailhead takes about 7 hours on foot. , MSR / It is simply gorgeous. Very exciting! We heard it slogging through the water but it darted out of the lake and into the woods of Rock Mtn before we could get a photo. Louden Lake, Smith lake are pretty sweet too. Nice views over to Snowy protected area in Canada and of all the surrounding peaks. A great backpacking destination with several options for exploring. Some fire erosion had caused a few narrow spots, which for hikers isnt a problem, but Id certainly be a bit nervous with stock. Please select one of the following: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. The trail starts on an old mining road, but you are immediately surrounded by the wilderness. If moving on the trail soon leaves the meadows and heads back into the forest as you round a bend and head towards Haig Mountain. East wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. The MVFFLA has very exci, Spring showers and blooming balsamroot! 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. This is a short mile side trip and also a nice camp site. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Date: April 6 to 8, 2023 Location: Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile Distance: 39 miles one way Highest Elevation: 3280 feet One of Mother Earth's masterpiece, TDP National Park's W 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. Instead, there was only one other car, a forest service vehicle, and a mule train at the lower trailhead. Everyone we met was friendly, helpful, and obviously very careful with their weapons, so no problem there. 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. We had originally planned to camp here for the night but decided to push on a few more miles to Cougar Lake to see if we could find a safer and more private camp spot. Bright purple fireweed stands starkly against dark blackened trees. Get a good weather report before you go and be prepared for anything. Patagonia Provisions / It was down off the trail next to a creek, right? The whole walk from Upper Cathedral Basin to the Spanish Creek trail is just sublime. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. From our backcountry camp well work west, cutting logs along a 5 mile stretch of the PNT toward Teapot Dome. Please note, all work party projects are subject to change. I was ready for a relaxing evening at camp! Lead Dog has steered you right! Both of these trails can be included as loops as well - Check your map! Beginning at the Irongate Trailhead west of Loomis, hikers will head west, covering some of the most spectacular features of the wilderness area until eventually turning into the Castle Pass Trail, and descending out of the Pasayten Wilderness. | Download for iOS | Download for Android, At the easterly edge of the Pasayten Wilderness, almost touching the Canadian border, lies a truly unique and beautifully remote place. If you wish you can continue with a topo map to several lakes you can fish. Log in if you already have an account with us. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Toilets and trash facilities are present. Be sure to hike Armstrong and get a picture of yourself at the US/Canadian border marker. Once this section of corridor is clear, well turn our attention to tread work. Join me as I share my love of the PNW and beyond, especially the beautiful Valley I'm lucky to call home! New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. A chance of snow showers before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain showers. Pyramid Lake, Ladyslipper and Cathedral Rim Loop, Scout Mountain, Scout Lake and Diamond Trail Loop, Lake of the Woods, Goat Lake Trail and Lakeview Mountain, Lake of the Woods, Pyramid Lake, and Glacier Lake Loop, Haystack Lakes to Haystack Mountain Trail, Andrews Creek Trail 504, Peepsight Trail Loop. WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! Stay on FR 39 for about 14 miles, looking for a spur road signed for the Irongate Trailhead. Head up 1 mile to a 7700 ft shoulder and then traverse open slopes to the summit of Horseshoe Mountain. A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Eventually the trail all but disappeared and we picked the path of least resistance through the trees and debris, at last arriving at the shore of Big Hidden Lake, which stretched gorgeously far into the distance. Had to turn around. Interesting tidbit about your friend find out if he wants to team up for a mission to get back at those bushy-tailed wood rats! Despite rheumatoid arthritis I've spent over 20 years exploring the Washington State backcountry and I believe our connection with natureits land, water, sky, and wildlifemakes us whole. Trail: Boundary Trail (533) to Horseshoe Basin and beyond Area: Pasayten Wilderness, Okanogan NF, Loomis Access: Loomis, FS 39 (Toats Coulee Road) to FS (3900)500 to Iron Gate "Campground" Length: Up to 94 Miles, 7.2 mls to Louden Lake, 12 miles to Haig Mtn. And every time I visit the Pasayten it opens all of my senses in a way no other place does. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Spring average highs are 50-60F, and lows are 15-30F. Smith Lake is interesting as is Louden Lake. Full of gorgeous lakes, high alpine tundra, and nearly 150 peaks over 7,500 in elevation, the Pasaytens biodiversity is a marvel. As you enjoy a snack, enjoy your first sight of Horseshoe Basin, an area that begs further exploration. Make your next purchase through my affiliate links below at no cost to you. An easy grade, almost flat to the first creek, then gradual uphill most of the way to Sunny pass. Weather was partly cloudy and cool, in the 50s. On this backcountry trip our crew will backpack out to Fireplace Camp at the foot of Haig Mountain on the PNT/. From Sunny Pass the trail has long sections of deep snow. At the same time, beyond the scars, is beauty in the devastation. The blow downs open up closer to Sunny Pass. The fishing is also good in lower Cathedral. Instead, Laurel and I met for breakfast, then poured over maps while I dried my gear in the sun at Pearrgyin Lake State Park. Gawking is allowed, even encouraged. Chance of precipitation is 20%. A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 11am. Despite the scars, it was breathtakingly beautiful. Good news, the PNT trail crew, as of 6/24, had already cleared all of the blow downs up to Clutch Creek. We headed back to the trail and continued on, finally reaching the historic cabins between First and Middle Hidden Lakes at Stub Creek, which were wrapped and saved from the fire. Nearer Cougar Lake, the appropriately named Lost River disappears underground and is replaced by a spectacularly green marsh. . Partly sunny, with a high near 46. And 2, Where is the mine at Tungsten? 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. The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. I was post holing at times thigh deep. Packed up and moved camp to a Col half way up Horseshoe Mtn. 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. Sedro-Woolley, Washington 98284. Fire has opened up sweeping vistas previously hidden by forest and painted the landscape in a spectacular palette of deep earthy reds, oranges, and browns. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Meanwhile, the nearest taller peak, Jack Mountain, sits 15 miles away. Many loop hikes and backpacking trips can be done from this area as well. Depending on the time of year the meadow could be filled with lupine and Indian paintbrush as wells several other species of wildflowers. Distance: 7.3 miles | Elevation Gain: 1,270. Combined with North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area to the west, and the Canadian roadless areas to the north, the region has more than one million acres of wild lands. Snow showers, mainly after 11am. Panorama of the Pasayten from Horseshoe Basin in the east. Our favorite park in Canada, Cathedral Lakes, is just across the border and hoped Horseshoe basin would offer a similar experience. This is a short backpacking trip my buddy Adam and I did in Washington's Pasayten Wilderness a few weeks ago in June, 2019. A chance of rain and snow showers. so. Its a beautiful area. http://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/EID/vol3no2/adobe/jay.pdf. Chance of precipitation is 80%. The lake was low and completely cut off. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? You can improve or add to this guidebook entry! 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. East Pasayten Wilderness: Horseshoe Basin to Teapot Dome Log Out and Maintenance - 07/18/2023 . Helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Please try another search. There are high meadows, tarns, and mountains for a backdrop. Ive always believed that the more you look, the more you see. The eastern section of the trail is an easy trail for all hikers or horseback riders. The next junction to the right, the Long Draw Trail, heads to Arnold and Goodenough Peaks. Pass out of the burn area at 3.3 miles and continue onwards and upwards. You walk through forests with hints of aspen trees and wildflowers, after that it changes to walking through a very rocky and bouldery terrain and a burn area, and then you get up to the alpine looking terrain. App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead. Washington Trails Association Some thunder is also possible. Interestingly, Big Hidden Lake drains north to Canada while the rest of the lakes drain south to the Methow via Lost River. We were surprised to find ourselves sharing the basin with quite a few hunters (deer and bear were in season) on our trip. This side spurs do lead to some worthy destinations and could be incorporated into a longer or completely different trip. Overall, this area is beautiful and very impressive and there are very few people. At six miles you arrive at your destination; sublime Horseshoe Basin. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. The 6 mile spur dirt road signed Irongate Trailhead is a bit rough in a few sections but is not a problem if you have a high clearance vehicle. Laurel works full time with Conservation Northwest specializing in Conservation Restoration Ecology. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. I've only been there the one time, so this is all I know. Several campsites may be located in this area. From its eastern terminus it travels 13 miles on the Tonasket Ranger District before crossing over to the Methow Valley District to the west. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate NWHikers.net earns from qualifying purchases when you use our. Enjoy this 12.5-mile out-and-back trail near Tonasket, Washington. Windy Peak (8,334 ft): one of Washington's highest summits that can be accessed by a trail. Its clear there used to be scattered campsites and horse camps between the trailhead and Drake Creek, but most are now blackened and surrounded by scorched, unstable snags. Water in the creek at a mile and a half in. Tax ID: 27-3009280. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Day 2 Up Armstrong mtn to monuments 103 and 104. It wasnt clear if the mules were coming or going, but we were surprised and delighted for this much solitude on a holiday weekend! Partly sunny, with a high near 43. getting there From Tonasket, turn left onto the Loomis Highway. This trail is exceptionally beautiful and travels through the Pasayten Wilderness Area. Cool to watch them. This is my first trip report (and yes, I know very long) so be nice! Weather in Horseshoe Basin (Washington), . Nothing looks out of place. Turn right and in 0.1 mile turn onto the Albert Camp Trail. As we approached our camp at Cougar Lake, we heard a distinct slapping sound on the water. Castle Peak by Full Moon Rising rises in northwest Pasayten Wilderness. A group of horse riders set up at Cougar camp. Please explore responsibly! Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Colville National Forest, Tonasket Ranger District, Day Hiking: North Cascades (Romano - Mountaineers Books), Backpacking Washington (Romano - Mountaineers Books). The basin was snow free 6/29. It was sobering to see the charred landscape. I left my telephoto lens at the trailhead. I couldnt believe it! The wildness of the Pasayten is unparalleled in Washington and when you step inside its boundaries, its a place without time. (7), Climber's Log Entries View Armstrong Mountain Image Gallery - 7 Images. 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! Here, emerald green hillsides take over the vista in front of you, and scenic Sunny Pass beckons.Hike steadily uphill and reach the inviting pass at 4.8 miles. The reality? I was immensely relaxed, rejuvenated, and inspired by the wilderness and wildlife around me. 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. What an evening. Horseshoe Basin is one of the few places in the Lower 48 to contain alpine tundra and is home to bears, deer and bighorn sheep, if you know where to look. Along the way through the burnt trees there are 6 ft new growing pine trees helping to lush up the trail. Our favorite park in Canada, Cathedral Lakes, is just across the border https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2019-08-21.7241644122, https://www.wta.org/site_images/trip-reports/2019/tripreport.image.2019-08-21.7293004937/@@download/image/IMG_6109.JPG. Mountaineers Books is a registered trademark of The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. That said, I was thrilled to see a moose! When it was finally time to return to camp, we reluctantly gathered our gear, not really wanting to leave this magical place. Thank you for the info. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Tax ID: 27-3009280. We will be taking a scout troup up there from July 26-31 and are looking for all of our options in the area. Adult participantsmay backpack in/out of the backcountry camp on their own timeframe; however, unaccompanied minors must remain with the crew for the full duration of the trip. Thanks Lead Dog! Walked out to Smith lake and had dinner there. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Summer average highs are 70-80F, and lows are 35-45F. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Monument 78-83 Trail in Manning Park offers direct access to this remote mountain. (7), Comments Unbelievable views at the top! Night 2 - Teapot Lake. This trail is in the Pasayten Wilderness. This makes a perfect campsite for your first night or a good location to set up base camp to explore your immediate surroundings for a day or two. At 1.5 mi cross Clutch Creek. A chance of showers. In that cabin you could eat well for a month. Man, everyone raves about that place, and it looks gorgeous. The trail was in good condition all the way but after the cabins, it was a maze of fallen trees.