At six miles you arrive at your destination; sublime Horseshoe Basin. On your way to the basin, youll see increasing amounts of subalpine fir trees, trickling creeks and bright wildflowers. 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. Coming from Vancouver Island this is a 6 hour drive plus the ferry ride. 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 The lake was low and completely cut off. 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. 6150 FT. 07/18, Tue: Boundary TR 533 Horseshoe Basin to Teapot Dome 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. . Be warned, this road is quite rough high clearance vehicles are necessary to negotiate it. Earlier in the day we had heard some distance rumbles of thunder and now it was clear where it had rained. I spent a week there about 3 years ago. Middle Hidden turned up even more critters that included coyote, otter, and possibly even mink. High near 35. At 4.8 miles reach Sunny Pass. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Thanks. The brushy 1.5-mile spur trail into Horseshoe Basin (accessed from the main east-west Stehekin River Trail below Cascade Pass) had become overgrown in places to the point of near impenetrability. PNTA is proud to work with corporate partners to build a world-class experience for all who wander along the Pacific Northwest Trail. Thanks Lead Dog! There are no resources for this route/place. This hike took us from our camp at Sunny Pass, down into Horseshoe Basin, out to Loudon Lake, up Armstrong Mountain, over to Arnold Peak, and finally back to Sunny Pass via the Long Draw Trail. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 23 min to complete. East wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Nice report and great pics. In short time we had a plan B: a 35 mile out and back from the Billy Goat trailhead to Big Hidden Lake. Temperatures were cool, I wore long undies and thermals, touque etc in my 3 season bag but it was more comfortable to grunt up the peaks than if it had been hot. 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. updates, images, or resources. Chance of precipitation is 80%. We were surprised to find ourselves sharing the basin with quite a few hunters (deer and bear were in season) on our trip. We had Louden all to ourselves. App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead. , MSR / See Resources (below) for Frequently Asked Questions and packing recommendations. Far up the Lost River Valley of the Pasayten, only 10 miles south of the Canadian border, lie a chain of four gorgeous lakes: Cougar Lake, First Hidden Lake, Middle Hidden Lake, and Big Hidden Lake. Drive on Forest Service Road #39 for 20 miles to junction of Forest Service Road #39 and Forest Service Road #3900-300. "Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its hard to hike through this scorched area and not feel enormous sadness, loss, and frustration at human impacts. Tax ID: 27-3009280. and peak combinations. The unmistakable sound of a beaver! Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. From Cascade Pass, head southeast descending into the Pelton Basin, and crossing Doubtful Creek after a series of downhill switchbacks. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Nice report! The fishing is also good in lower Cathedral. Having been to Horseshoe Basin/Pasayten twice, I think the best campsites are on the lower SW slopes of Armstrong Mountain and South of Snehumption Gap. Isn't that a great place? Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. Some thunder is also possible. Want so spread even more good? Be SURE to bring fishing poles!!! Stay on FR 39 for about 14 miles, looking for a spur road signed for the Irongate Trailhead. In that cabin you could eat well for a month. 418. Some thunder is also possible. First 3 miles of the trail were constant blow downs. Weather was partly cloudy and cool, in the 50s. The Similkameen Trail is a short section of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail(PNT) as it heads west from the the town of Oroville, WA following an old railroad grade in the heart of the Okanagan.From the trailhead in town you'll head west for 1.5 miles before coming to an alternate trail headalong Loomis-Oroville Highway. Horseshoe Basin is a diverse expansive paradise of alpine tundra, ghost forest reminiscent of the Tripod Fire of 2006, a forest of larches and easy-to-scramble mountains rising above the wildflower meadow. From the trailhead, enter a forest still bearing scars from the 2006 Tripod Fire. Two advantages to October: no bugs of any kind, and only one other car at the trailhead on a Saturday night (total out of two trips). This may be a bit of a "slog" but is definitely worth the extra effort. Pass out of the burn area at 3.3 miles and continue onwards and upwards. Latest weather conditions and forecasts for the UK and the world. The area has been long storied for its beauty and trout fishing, but was severely impacted by the 128,000 acre Diamond Creek Fire in 2017. See more trip photos here. Please note, this is a physically challenging trip in a rugged and remote wilderness area. The conditions worsened over night with high winds and light snow the entire night. 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. It is simply gorgeous. If staying here to explore the adjacent peaks should be scrambled up. There was no sign of any of the intersecting trails leading up Stub Creek or to Tatoosh Buttes. The elevation gain is spread out nicely and never felt too steep. Laurel works full time with Conservation Northwest specializing in Conservation Restoration Ecology. What Ive loved most about getting involved with Conservation Northwests tracking program is that it really opens your eyes to the wilderness around you. Did some trail clearing. We hike 7 miles in and reached Horseshoe Basin and camped here for the first night. 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. Many loop hikes and backpacking trips can be done from this area as well. At the easterly edge of the Pasayten Wilderness, almost touching the Canadian border, lies a truly unique and beautifully remote place. Getting to the Billy Goat trailhead is a small adventure in and of itself and takes roughly an hour from Winthrop. Ruffwear / 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. Weather in Horseshoe Basin (Washington), . Tips: You can skip the nasty road to the Iron Gate TH, and hike a little farther instead, by parking at Toats Coulee Creek. Water again at Sunny camp. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Great little hike with some awesome waterfalls at the end. From the pictures and posts it looks like there are many possible options. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Packed up and moved camp to a Col half way up Horseshoe Mtn. Several year-round water sources are present, including a few small creeks, and Smith Lake, located about a mile to the east. 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. Washington Trails Association Huh? I responded, convinced my ears were playing tricks on me. A chance of showers. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. Roundtrip distance to Horseshoe Basin is 20 miles. This side spurs do lead to some worthy destinations and could be incorporated into a longer or completely different trip. Thanks. Our favorite park in Canada, Cathedral Lakes, is just across the border and hoped Horseshoe basin would offer a similar experience. Sign up below to receive email notifications of new posts about trip reports, fire lookouts, historical sites, and more! Colville National Forest, Tonasket Ranger District, Day Hiking: North Cascades (Romano - Mountaineers Books), Backpacking Washington (Romano - Mountaineers Books). 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. 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. The trail from Louden lake hugs the 7000 ft contour for most of the way. My soggy mood was immediately bolstered and I kicked off my wet shoes and relaxed on a log. NICE fish in the lake though, we met a couple guys who had been fishing and were hooking decent rainbows. Last water was hard to come by but found some on the East shoulder just before the steeper rise to Arnold Peak. 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. updates, images and resources. Amazing sunsets from here. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Both of these trails can be included as loops as well - Check your map! 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. This side spurs do lead to some worthy destinations and could be incorporated into a longer or completely different trip. 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. Pasayten Wilderness, Tonasket Ranger District (OWNF). Shortly after that intersection you will come to the 375 foo During the winter months, there are few places in the country that are as isolated, picturesque and active as the Methow Valley, home to the western themed town of Winthrop and the tiny little town of Mazama.With over 200 kilometers of well-groomed cross country ski trails throughout the valley, you can ski to your heart's content and then relax at the end of the day at one of many rentals you Backpack the Pasayten Wilderness via Horseshoe Basin, Backpack the Pasayten Wilderness via Iron Gate Trailhead, Cathedral Lakes and Amphitheater Mountain, Backpack to Remmel Mtn. Sunny, clear, and cool. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 A relatively short and level trail leads to some of the most beautiful meadows in Washington state. Walked out to Smith lake and had dinner there. Melting snowbanks usually provide water through mid-summer. Some thunder is also possible. But from Seattle, oh, it is But had we thought to check dates of hunting season for the Pasayten Wilderness, we'd have scheduled different dates. We will be taking a scout troup up there from July 26-31 and are looking for all of our options in the area. And 2, Where is the mine at Tungsten? Consistent snow from Remmel Lake north, up to four feet; we often postholed up to our thighs in the deep areas. 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. Distance: 13.8 miles | Elevation Gain: 3,150. This study didn't find any of the virus in them, but others have. Day 1 - Friday, September 1. The next junction to the right, the Long Draw Trail, heads to Arnold and Goodenough Peaks. If you to the Tungsten Mine cabins, I wouldn't recommend staying in them. The last mile to the trailhead turns a bit rougher and narrow. Well try again later in the season after the crew had gone through. A chance of rain and snow showers. Smith Lake is interesting as is Louden Lake. And every time I visit the Pasayten it opens all of my senses in a way no other place does. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Louden Lake is a good place for your first night. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Spring average highs are 50-60F, and lows are 15-30F. Bright purple fireweed stands starkly against dark blackened trees. For some volunteers, using crosscut saws and camping out in the Pasayten Wilderness with a seasoned trail crew is as good as it gets! Note how the trees are starting to silver and keep your eyes out wildlife, including porcupines and woodpeckers. Where : Horseshoe Basin, Pasayten Wilderness, Washington State (US Trail no.533) When : From Thursday June 24th to Sunday June 27th, 2004 Maps : Green 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. Thank you for the info. More information. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. We soon heard flocks of small chirping birds in the trees behind us and realized they werent just flying over the lake, they were catching thousands of tiny little nymphs that were hatching from the lake and taking flight. Multiple locations were found. A slight chance of rain showers, mixing with snow after 8pm, then gradually ending. Every once in a while a nymph would take flight and stay low, making it to the safety of the trees along the shore and we would cheer. The whole walk from Upper Cathedral Basin to the Spanish Creek trail is just sublime. Good news, the PNT trail crew, as of 6/24, had already cleared all of the blow downs up to Clutch Creek. Much of the trail to Horseshoe Basin skirts the remnants of this fire. The Okanagan Highlands is home to a myriad of unique natural phenomena but nothing quite as otherworldly as Spotted Lake.Known to the Syilx People as Khiluk, or the "grandfather of lakes", it is a sacred place for healing and is said to contain 365 coloured spots, one for each day of the year. Beautiful, sunny morning on June 11, 2022 for our day hike to the Basin. The Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT) is a 1200-mile hiking trail running from the Continental Divide in Montana to the Pacific Ocean on Washington 's Olympic Coast. A long drive to get to the TH but the views were totally worth it. 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. Wandering this country gives you a glimpse of what frontier life might have been like. The blow downs open up closer to Sunny Pass. At 7.1 miles from the trailhead come to Loudon Lake. updates, images, or resources. From the Billy Goat trailhead, the Hidden Lakes trail climbs roughly 700 feet over 2 miles along the eastside of the Eightmile Creek drainage with big views of Big Craggy and Eightmile Peak to the west. While fire is a very natural process in many wilderness areas, especially the Pasayten, the Diamond Creek Fire in 2017 was not natural. Washington's Pasayten Wilderness is a clash of cultures, geologic forces, and land-use ideologies. Seattle, WA 98104. I wasnt quite reorganized to hit the trail again early Saturday morning. If we make any changes to an event after you have registered, we will contact you as soon as possible with new information. Get to know this 20.1-km out-and-back trail near Tonasket, Washington. What is best? 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. Nature will bear the closest inspection. Mostly clear past Tungsten Creek junction. The views are even bigger now that the trees have sadly been burned into matchsticks. After sleuthing out and identifying all the tracks, Laurel discovered that the lake was somehow draining underground. Here, make a right onto County Road 9425, and after 2 miles make a left onto Forest Road 39. Note: PNTA staff work a full day, but volunteer crew members are always welcome to participate at their own pace for as long as they like. PNTA sawyers can also use volunteer swampers to help remove freshly cut branches and logs from the trail. It's hard to tell, but the fish is actually a cutt. I watched in amazement as Laurel pulled margarita mix, limes, tequila, guacamole, and fresh carrots from her pack. Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Log in and send us 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. West wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. adventures and follow local regulations. Ive always believed that the more you look, the more you see. This 10.5 mile hike from the Goodenough Trailhead takes about 7 hours on foot. Right along the trail were two enormous horse camps with safe unburned trees and lots of rocks and logs for lounging. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming east after midnight. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide." Theyve clearly been burned away. Day 3 - Sunday, September 3. 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. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. We also evidently missed a 6" snowfall by two days, not surprising at that elevation. We stopped at the cabins for a lunch break and explored the area. 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. Washington Trails Association Completely different trip challenging trip in a rugged and remote Wilderness area Clutch Creek to get to Basin. Silver and keep your eyes to the Billy Goat trailhead is a 6 hour drive plus the ferry.... 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