Bean Creek Basin

getting there

From SR-970 turn onto Teanaway River Road bearing right as it becomes North Fork Teanaway River Road. Just past 29 Pines Campground, it becomes a dirt road, Forest Road 9737.  Just before the bridge over Beverly Creek, turn right on Forest Road 9737-112, and drive 1.4 mi to the Beverly Creek Trailhead at the road's end (3,600 ft).

on the trail

bean creek basin (5,300 ft)

5 miles round trip, 2,000 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: moderate

Cross the bridge over Beverly Creek and climb along the side of the creek.  At 0.5 mi turn right at the first trail junction and head up the Bean Creek valley. Climb steeply, crossing the creek and coming out into Bean Creek Basin at 2 miles into a vast, flower-filled meadow with the possibility of  further explorations, and with Earl, Stuart and Iron Peak towering above. You can make a loop trip by leaving a car at the Standup Creek trailhead, climbing east over the ridge on a trail that connects Bean and Standup Creeks and hiking down the Standup Creek Trail.

bean creek basin (5,300 ft) & navaho pass (6,000 ft)

18.6 miles round trip, 3,600 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: strenuous

Hike 0.5 mi to and turn right onto the Bean Creek Trail (No. 1391.1).  Turn right again in 1.5 mi below Bean Basin to saty on Trail 1391.1. Views expand exponentially as you climb to a ridge at 6,200 ft below 7,036 ft Earl Peak. In another 1.5 mi continue east on the Standup Creek Trail (No. 1369) across the open slopes to dramatic views of Mount Stuart and The Enchantments. Descend steeply past red rock formations to the junction of Stafford Creek Trail (No. 1359). Ascend north switchbacking up to camps in a broad meadow below Navaho Pass at 5,600 ft in about 1 mi. Navaho Pass at 6,000 ft is another 0.5 mi hike up a bare serpentine rock slope to more immense views of the Stuart Range. Return the way you came or down the Stafford Creek Trail (No. 1359) or the Standup Creek Trail (No. 1369). Leave a car at one of the latter trailheads for the necessary car shuttle.

Beverly Creek Basin and Volcanic Neck

8.6 miles, 2,777 feet of elevation gain, 6,450 ft high point, difficulty: moderate

Hike the Beverly Turnpike Trail (#1391) following Beverly Creek. About 2 miles from the trailhead, cross a massive rock slide made up of 150 million year old serpentinite (greenish rock with waxy feel). The ridge's rock face glistens, not from water, but from the sunlight reflecting off the serpentinite. At 2.7 miles, the junction with Fourth Creek Trail (#1219, 5,200 ft) and a few campsites for 4-5 tents. The campsites are surrounded by Bills Peak the north, Teanaway Peak to the northwest, Iron Peak to the southwest and Mary's/Judi's Peak to the southeast. For an especially good day trip from camp, hike the Fourth Creek Trail to the saddle (5,600 ft)  between Bills and Mary's Peaks for a view of the eastern Stuart Range peaks. From the saddle take the right fork on Country Line Trail (#1226.1) and continue a 1.3-mile traverse with sparse trees and several small creeks and finally ascends to the saddle between Bean Peak and Volcanic Neck (6,450 ft) and a superb view of Mount Stuart. Other day hikes from camp include Fourth Creek to Ingalls Creek, Beverly Turnpike to Ingalls Creek, and the Iron Peak Trail.

approach & ascent

bean peak (6,743 ft)

8 miles round trip, 3,300 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: strenuous 3, technical 2

Hike the Beverly Turnpike Trail No. 1391 to the first junction (1.2 mi) and take the right branch (Bean Creek Trail No. 1391.1). Leave the trail at the second creek crossing (5,100 ft) and continue into Bean Basin. Several routes can be done. The easiest is to scramble up and approach the summit from the left. Approaching from the Earl-Bean ridge involves good rock scrambling.

bean peak (6,743 ft) & volcanic neck (6,604 ft)

10 miles round trip, 3,900 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: strenuous 4, technical 5

Earl Peak (7,036 ft)

7 miles round trip, 3,600 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: strenuous 3, technical 2

Earl Peak is the prominent mountain in front of Mount Stuart as you drive up the Teanaway River Road. As the highest point in the Bean Basin area and being accessible from many different directions it is worth scrambling many times. Options include:

• The Southwest Ridge from the confluence of Bean Creek and Beverly Creek. It is the most interesting and technical route because of  the long ridge.
• West slopes up the trail from Bean basin. It is the easiest route, because it is mostly on trail.
• The Northwest Ridge from Bean Peak. It's the best two-peak option.
• South slopes or ridges from Standup Creek. It's the best early and late season route.
• The Southeast Ridge from Stafford Creek. It's the longest route.

bean peak  (6,743 ft) & Earl Peak (7,036 ft)

9 miles round trip, 3,900 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: strenuous 3, technical 3

Bills Peak (6,917 ft)

8 miles round trip, 3,500 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: strenuous 3, technical 4

Approach from the roads end, by following the Beverly Creek trail #1391 to the junction with Fourth Creek Trail #1218. Follow Fourth Creek Trail to the saddle at 5500' and down the other side a short distance to the scree slope to the northwest. Contour across the scree slope to the east ridge. Scramble the ridge to a small basin. Traverse through the basin to the right and to the gully which leads to the northeast ridge. Traverse the ridge to the left and scramble the chimney to the summit. Descend via the same route.
Alternative 1: From the saddle, scramble southeast ridge a few hundred feet and then contour north across scree slope to the small basin. Ascend via the standard route.
Alternative 2: From the saddle at 5,500 ft on Fourth Creek Trail, go directly uphill (grassy slope) then traverse across scree to trees. Work way up trees and boulders, bearing up wide open gully towards right (towards large many-branched tree) just below summit block. Traverse left towards summit. First gully encountered is steep, easier gully to the south (left if facing summit block).
Notes: The trip can be done on snow or a combination of snow and rock, so its technical rating varies. This peak can also be done in combination with Bean and Volcanic Neck. Some resources call this Bill's Peak (with an apostrophe).

Earl, Bean & Bills Peaks

12 miles round trip, 4,600 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: M2 Mountain 2 Ski

As well as spring/summer/fall scramble destinations, these three peaks are part of a 12+ mile strenuous mountain ski tour with 4,600 ft of elevation gain. Bean Creek leads into the area to the southwest of Earl Peak. From the top of Earl Peak a saddle ridge leads to Bean Peak to the northwest.

Judi's Peak (6,600)

From the Beverly Creek trailhead, cross Beverly Creek on a bridge and hike half a mile to the junction with the Bean Creek Trail. From here, several different routes lead to the summit. The most direct route crosses Bean Creek with varying levels of difficulty depending on the season. There are many options. Mary's Peak can be reached by continuing on the Beverly Turnpike trail from the trail junction (which requires a usually benign crossing of lower Bean Creek not far above its junction with Beverly Creek).  A couple of miles up the Beverly trail, a trail branches off to the right (north) which shortly reaches the Bills-Mary saddle at the wilderness boundary.  From here, turn right (east) up the ridge to reach Mary's Peak.  The various gullies running off the "back" (or non-Bean Basin aspects) of Mary's and Judi's  Peaks down into the Beverly Creek scree fields tend to be loose and unstable.  These should be attempted only when well covered in snow (be on guard for water running under the snow). 

Mary's Peak (6,700 ft)

From the Beverly Creek trailhead, cross Beverly Creek on a bridge and hike half a mile to the junction with the Bean Creek Trail. From here, several different routes lead to the summit. The most direct route crosses Bean Creek with varying levels of difficulty depending on the season. There are many options. The south ridge of Judi Peak can also be accessed from the continuation of the Beverly trail (but not past the point where all that can be seen above are the loose scree-filled gullies).  The furthest practical access to Judi's south spur occurs where the trail emerges from the forest, opposite a distinct "open book" feature in the opposite cliff (i.e. on the long "cliffy" spur across Beverly Creek that descends from Iron Peak toward the Beverly Creek trailhead).  One head up to Judi's south spur at various other points in the forest from shortly after crossing Bean Creek to the first extensive area of rockfall (still in the forest and short of the "opposite the open book" option mentioned above).  Almost all of these options include steep, brushy dirt and scree in a forest setting.  Most will lead up to or near a series of rocky pinnacles once the ridge of the spur is achieved.  Some of these are loose and friable, others allow for enjoyable rock-skills practice. Test your hand and foot holds! Judi's can also be accessed up steep meadows or via avalanche gullies/rocky couloirs after crossing Bean Creek but before reaching the steep and loose cliffs at the end of Judi's east spur.

Judi's Peak (6,600) & Mary's Peak (6,700 ft)

6 miles round trip, 3,900 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: strenuous 3, technical 1

Both Judi's and Mary's can be reached by taking the Bean Creek trail up into Bean Basin, as noted first above.  Wrap into the basin past the "cliffy" end of Judi's eastern spur and then take any of a varieties of paths upward to either peak (snow cornices may need to be avoided east of Judi's summit during winter and spring).  The basin routes all require a crossing of upper Bean Creek, which can be challenging during spring snow melt (and more difficult later on a warm day than in the morning).

• The ridge between Judi's and Mary's can be snow-covered or clear, depending on season.  When mostly snow-covered, the ridge is fairly straightforward.  When the snow has melted back enough, there is a walkable ridgetop waytrail (minimum scrambling) just basin-ward of the very crest.  The crest itself allows for some optional but sporty scrambling among and over minor pinnacles.
• In short, Judi's and Mary's can be approached mostly on trail and with a minimum of technical challenge.  Alternatively, however, routes may be crafted that involve steep forest and meadow travel, liberal doses of steep, loose scree, and opportunities to practice rock skills on outcrops and pinnacles as the forest and scree gives way to the ridge top itself.  There is a good view of the south spur of Judi as one drives in on the Teanaway River and North Fork roads, which can be informative regarding the degree of snow to be expected on the ridge and its various approaches.
• Judi's & Mary's peaks may be paired with a trip to Bill's Peak (across the Bill's - Mary saddle to the west) or to Bean Peak (reached by dropping slightly into the upper Bean Basin or by traversing the Mary's - Bean ridge directly, adding a good deal of technical difficulty).

Devil's Head (6,666 ft)

8 miles round trip, 3,400 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: moderate/strenuous

From the Beverly Creek trailhead, hike about 1/4 mile to a junction, turn right up Bean Creek. Hike about 3 miles to Bean Creek Basin and head up the basin. Aim for the right shoulder of Bean Peak. On the other side of Bean, drop into the basin separating Bean Peak and Volcanic Neck.  Follow the ridge past the right shoulder of Volcanic Neck to the summit of Devils Head.

Information for leaders

SCHEDULING & permits

• If you are scheduling this as a non-course related activity, please limit your group size to the default party size. The maximum party size is for use by course field trips only, and includes both students and instructors. Group size maximums do not reflect how course field trips are run (in smaller groups of students and instructors), but allow for course leaders to register the course in our system.
• This route allows multiple bookings. Please check scheduled trips listed below in the "Activities" tab to see if there is another group already booked on the same day. If so, please coordinate with them to ensure you are carpooling and teaching at different areas.
• If you are scheduling a course field trip, please contact our Member Services Team to confirm the field trip and any permitting regulations.
  

• Suitable Activities: Backcountry Skiing, Backpacking, Day Hiking, Scrambling
• Seasons: June, July, August, September, October
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Strenuous 3, M2 Advanced Ski, *Varies*, Technical 2, Technical 3, Technical 1, Strenuous, Technical 4, Moderate
• Length: 5.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 2,000 ft
• High Point: 5,300 ft

• Land Manager: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests
  Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Cle Elum Ranger District (OWNF)
• Parking Permit Required: Northwest Forest Pass
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 100
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 100