Cascade Pass Sahale Glacier

Shuttle to the trailhead: 3 hours Hiking Mileage: 7.4 miles Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet Elevation Loss: 2,300 feet This multi-day North Cascades National Park hiking trip begins with a pick up at your hotel in Seattle, and then a scenic drive into the North Cascades. When we arrive at the trailhead, we’ll get our packs and gear sorted out and start climbing. We’ve got a lot of elevation to gain, but we’ll take it switchback by switchback, slowly climbing out of the trees and getting spectacular views of jagged peaks and glaciers. We’ll take a well-deserved break at Cascade Pass, soaking in the view and the flowers, and then descend into Pelton Basin and the headwaters of the Stehekin River. We’ll make our camp at Basin Creek, soak our feet in the river, and eat a hearty dinner before turning in for the night.

Hiking Mileage: 4-6 miles Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet Elevation Loss: 1,000 feet Day 2 is our rest day, so we’ll share a leisurely breakfast before grabbing our daypacks and heading back up the trail for half a mile before turning north towards Horseshoe Basin. Another 1.5 miles will take us to the steep headwalls of Horseshoe Basin, festooned with flowers, waterfalls and steep granite walls. We’ll have a chance to explore the entrance to the historic Black Warrior Mine, search for wildlife, and take in the views, before turning back towards our camp for a restful evening.

Hiking Mileage: 6.4 miles Elevation Gain: 4,400 feet Day 3 is up, up and more up! We’ll pack up camp early and head back towards Cascade Pass, bidding farewell to the Stehekin River and keeping an eye out for bears and marmots as we go. Once we hit Cascade Pass, we’ll turn north and continue climbing to the base of the Sahale Glacier. This section has the most stunning views of the hike: dramatic vistas and overlooks of the Sahale Glacier and Doubtful Lake, ending in one of the most famous campsite in the North Cascades. Our campsite tonight is exposed and windy, surrounded by peaks, glaciers, and open sky. Determined campers have built substantial rock walls to block the wind, and it truly feels like another world up here. Our night might be a bit windy and chilly, but it’s well worth the payoff. Black bears are commonly sighted on the Sahale Glacier, as well as marmot, ptarmigans, and more, so we’ll keep our eyes peeled for wildlife. And if the night is clear, we’ll have some of the best stargazing in Washington.