Pacific Crest Trail: White Pass to Chinook Pass

getting there

Drive to the White Pass Campground and Pacific Crest Trail Trailhead on SR-12. If hiking thru to Chinook Pass, leave one car here. It is approximately 45 minutes drive to the White Pass Campground from Chinook Pass.

on the trail

"Figure 8/Pretzel" Loop Hike (27 miles, 1,900 feet)

Head north on the Pacific Crest Trail, hiking along the ridges for 11 mi to just past Snow Lake. Then hike east for 1.8 mi to Twin Sister Lakes.  Return to White Pass via trails to the east that take you south past Tumac Mountain and Dumbell Lake.

Thru Hike White pass to Chinook Pass (28 miles, 2,220 feet)

Why hike south to north?

• The scenery unfolds and becomes more spectacular each day. Initially wildflower meadows, bug ponds and small lakes evolve into beautiful crest vistas of the Goat Rocks, Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainer. Going southbound will have you wanting the car as opposed to enjoying the last day’s majestic views.
• The sun won’t be in your eyes.
• The climbs, such as there are, are on Day 3 and Day 4.

Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1 - Hike White Pass to Sand Lake 3 mi or Pipe Lake 7.5 mi. Buesch Lake is at 6 mi and recommended in the guidebook, but we found the bugs intolerable.
Day 2 - Camp at Fish Lake or Crag Lake.
Day 3 - Camp at American Lake or Cougar Lake.
Day 4 - Hike out via Dewey Lake, to Chinook Pass.

Notes

• Book Reference: Hike #24 in the now out-of-print Mountaineers Book, Best of the Pacific Crest Trail Washington.
• Experienced hikers with a high level of conditioning may also attempt this route as a very challenging day hike.
• This is a great introduction to backpacking: hike four days of 7 to 8 miles per day of “relatively” flat backpacking, the trail is well marked, there are abundant camp sites, and many stopping points along the way.
• See our Dewey Lake, Naches Peak Loop & Pacific Crest Trail route/place for great trips staring at Chinook Pass heading south on the PCT.

• Suitable Activities: Day Hiking
• Seasons: July, August, September, October
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Length: 28.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 2,200 ft
• High Point: 6,340 ft

• Land Manager: Gifford Pinchot National Forest
  William O Douglas Wilderness, Cowlitz Valley Ranger District (GPNF)
• Parking Permit Required: Northwest Forest Pass
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12