CASCADE PASS & SAHALE ARM
One of the most stunning hikes I have ever been on! The glacier vistas, alpine lakes, wildlife, and endless peaks are nothing short of incredible. This is one of the most beautiful areas of Washington and should not be missed. It’s pretty popular, so try to get an early start or go on a weekday to gain some solitude!
Quick Facts:
Distance: 12 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 4300 feet
Location: Cascade Pass Trailhead, Cascade River Road, North Cascades National Park
Season: Mid-Summer to Fall
Dogs Allowed: No
Parking Pass: America the Beautiful Pass
Check the weather: mountain-forecast, weather.gov
Check for recent trip reports: WTA, AllTrails, North Cascades National Park trail conditions (scroll down to “Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm/Horseshoe Basin”)
Getting there:
Click here for the TH location on Google Maps
The directions to this trailhead are quite straightforward, so follow the Google Maps directions and you will be fine. Usually the road to the trailhead is gravel but any vehicle can make it. Do note that every year the road to the trailhead is closed as snow melts and the National Park Service repairs the road. Some years the road is closed 3 miles from the trailhead well into hiking season, so be sure to check the road status on the national park website (scroll down to “Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm/Horseshoe Basin”). If the last 3 miles of road are closed, you are usually able to hike this portion to access the trailhead but do note that it makes the hike significantly longer.
Sahale Mountain & Doubtful Lake, July 2018
Rocky scramble near Sahale Glacier Camp, July 2018
Goats on Sahale Arm, July 2018
Hike description:
You can tell this hike is going to be great just from the views in the trailhead. Wow! Already you can see amazing snowcapped peaks and maybe even hear distant avalanches and ice falls. Unfortunately you’ll lose those views very quickly as the trail almost immediately enters the forest and stays there for the first 2 miles. This is easily the worst part of the trail as you are switchbacking through the woods for 2 miles to gain 1500 feet in elevation with pretty much nothing to distract you. Push through, knowing that the climb will be more than worth it!
After the first couple of miles, the trail will flatten out a bit and you’ll begin a traverse across open meadows and talus slopes. The views really start to open up here, but be sure to pay attention to your footing if there is any snow left to cross, as there often is even into July.
At about 3.3 miles you’ll reach the first mind-blowing stop on the hike, Cascade Pass. The views down into the Stehekin Valley and of the surrounding peaks are truly spectacular. Take some time to stop here, eat a snack, and really take in this magnificent view, but don’t linger too long as some of the best on this hike is yet to come.
View of the trail from Sahale Arm, July 2018
Continue hiking to your left to reach a signed intersection where you’ll again take the left path marked Sahale Arm. After this junction the trail begins climbing quite steeply, gaining about 800 feet in the next mile, but the views both far and near are so distracting you’ll hardly notice. With every step, more and more mountains and nearby beautiful meadows come into view. Watch out for wildlife in this area, especially bears, marmots and mountain goats.
At about 4 miles you’ll reach an intersection with the trail to Doubtful Lake. Take a look down and you can see it far below, a brilliantly blue lake nestled in a bowl below. Keep to the left to stay on the Sahale Arm trail – you’re now nearly on the ridge that makes up Sahale Arm itself.
View of Stehekin valley from Cascade Pass, July 2018
Sahale Glacier camp near sunset, July 2018
The last 2 miles of the trail follow the ridge of Sahale Arm up to the base of Sahale Glacier. This starts out as a beautiful dirt singletrack before reaching a boulder field that you’ll have to calmber up to reach the Sahale Glacier camp. Although this part of the trail is far from flat, the area is so spectacular you won’t even question if it’s worth it to keep going. You can hardly look anywhere without seeing some of the most beautiful scenery Washington has to offer.
You’ll know you’ve reached the end of the hiking trail when you encounter rock walls constructed as windshields for the campsites at Sahale Arm. Take a break up here and really take it all in – the nearly endless snowcapped mountains and beautiful lush meadows as far as the eye can see are almost unreal. Stay up here as long as you possibly can (or overnight if you’ve gotten one of the coveted Sahale Glacier camp permits) before heading back down the way you came. I just don’t know what else I can say – you absolutely HAVE to do this hike!
View from near the end of the trail, July 2018