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Glacier Peak Wilderness

Best Hiking Trails in Glacier Peak Wilderness

79 reviews


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Overview

Glacier Peak Wilderness is a hiker and climber's mecca, with more active glaciers than anywhere else in the lower 48 states. This rugged mountain area boasts hundreds of lakes, valleys and alpine meadows with 450 miles of hiking trails in Washington state's Okanogan-Wenatchee and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests. Located in the Cascade Mountains near North Cascades National Park, the area is surrounded by protected lands and is home to Glacier Peak at 10,541 feet, the most remote major volcanic peak in the Cascades. It's also home to climbing routes on over 140 peaks and faces, with surrounding slopes offering habitat to bears, mountain goats, elk, cougars, and lynxes.

Getting Started

The closest main towns are Leavenworth and Darrington, though the area can be accessed from various points. The Suiattle River Trail is a great place to start from the west, and joins the Pacific Crest Scenic Trail (PCT), which extends roughly 60 miles through the wilderness area.

Learn more about the area, here, or give the Darrington Ranger District a call at (360) 436-1155 for further questions.

When to Go

Accessing the area is dependent on snow melt, though mid-July through mid-September are your best bet.

Permits

Some trailhead parking lots require a recreation pass. Check out the Recreation Passes and Permits page for details. Backcountry permits are required to enter the wilderness area via the self-serve trailhead permit boxes.

Dog Info

Dogs are allowed in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, though are not allowed in the adjoining North Cascades National Park except via the Pacific Crest Trail.


Resources

  • wikipedia

  • Hiking Trails (126)
  • Reviews (79)
  1. 1
    Dishpan Gap Loop via North Fork Sauk Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 36.8 mi
  2. 2
    Green Mountain
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 3.9 mi
  3. 3
    Pacific Crest Trail section K (Stevens Pass to North Cascades Hwy)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 127.0 mi
  4. 4
    Red Mountain Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 2.1 mi
  5. 5
    Disappointment Peak via North Fork Sauk Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 16.0 mi
  6. 6
    Buck Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 8.4 mi
  7. 7
    Cub Lake via Ptarmigan Traverse
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 29.4 mi
  8. 8
    Carne Mountain Loop via Carne High Traverse
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 13.4 mi
  9. 9
    Bebeland Goes to Spider Gap
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 6.9 mi
  10. 10
    White Pass Camp via North Fork Sauk Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 9.4 mi
    user_profile
    dandenault 8 months, 2 weeks ago
    Fortress Mou #2
    FRV button F Dr. RTy byntbbb Y FB
    ★ ★ ★

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    davidmanzanares 10 months ago
    D4 Spider Gap
    Hard to judge this section of trail. I was too focused on my sore ankle to really enjoy it. The mountain rivers and waterfalls to the west of Buck Creek are pretty. It looks like we were about two weeks early for the flowers on Flower Dome, but it was still pretty. A trail maintenance crew had cleared a section of the trail near the end, so that section of the trail was not as difficult to navigate as the first part of the loop. The trail dust on the miles of burned section of the trail was not fun. It made me wish for a mask, especially being 6th in our procession.
    ★ ★ ★

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    davidmanzanares 10 months ago
    D3 Spider Gap
    I don’t recommend this particular route. It was an out and back that got us to 50+ miles on our adventure. We ended up traversing the same section of trail three times during the trip. The view from Lyman ridge is great. I recommend doing it on the way through Cloudy Pass. You get a fantastic view of Lyman Lakes and Spider Gap.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    davidmanzanares 10 months ago
    D2 Spider Gap loop
    Seeing Spider Gap that we had come through the day before from the Cloudy Pass was very rewarding. The rocky trail from Cloudy Pass to Suiattle Pass is neat, and the scenery is beautiful. There are great views of Glacier Peak from the trail to Image Lake. Image Lake is very pretty, and the views from Miners Ridge Fire Lookout are vast. Russ, the lookout, was very welcoming, and we had a nice visit while he showed us his equipment and quarters. If you stop at the old miner’s cabin make sure you explore the area before setting up your tent. There are some tent sites a little higher above the ruined cabin that are better than right at the cabin.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    tfreism 11 months, 3 weeks ago
    Glacier Peak Wilderness Hike
    Currently this is a very difficult trail only because of blow-downs. Counted over thirty from White River trailhead to Boulder Creek trail. Some were massive and challenging with a heavier pack.
    ★ ★

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    tetsuyas 1 year, 7 months ago
    Carne Mountain
    On the way to the TH, I encountered a Moose, and on the trail I sighted a Pacific Marten. This was my second time being Golden Larches. This is unforgettable views.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Brian 1 year, 8 months ago
    Spider Glacier via Phelps Creek Trail
    Rough , steep and exposed up from spider meadows to base of spider glacier. North side of spider gap is scree and very steep.
    ★

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    rsse2015 1 year, 8 months ago
    Track (8/27/20, 6:50:06PM)
    An absolute barn burner to try and do in one day. Doable, but not recommended. This area is too beautiful to be sprinted though in less than 2-3 days. Plus, many areas on the “trail” once you enter the volcanic rock/glaciated section of the mountain are just loose rock and talus. Slow going when you’re already exhausted!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    a3rochelle 1 year, 9 months ago
    Spider Meadows via Phelps Creek Trail
    This hike is awesome. The elevation to the meadows isn’t too hard and the Meadow is a beautiful place to camp in. We continued up to Spider Gap. The elevation gain in the first bit is hard but worth it. We hiked up the glacier with just regular boots and trekking poles. Micro spikes would have been nice, but do-able with out.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    everest.ryan14 1 year, 9 months ago
    Massie lake
    Trail is very hard to follow after the cutoff and crossing to the lake. Be prepared for steep bushwhacking. The lake is beautiful and the Rainbow Trout are big. Not recommended for anyone with full backpacking setup. Trail is easier to find coming down. When in doubt, go farther to the Southwest side of the hill when going up to the lake. Good luck!
    ★ ★

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    nhtrydr22 1 year, 10 months ago
    Spider Meadows via Phelps Creek Trail
    Fantastic! Bring bug spray. Most campsites are just starting to melt out.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Kyle 1 year, 10 months ago
    Unrelenting punishment
    Talk about a burner. The trail to white pass is absolutely amazing. Super large Fir, Cedar, and Spruce. Lots of snow still at the top but the avalanche Lily’s were blooming. I left camp, summited in 6 hrs and was back in 11. Decided to head for car. It took me 4.5 hrs to get back.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    katbferg 1 year, 11 months ago
    Mackinaw Shelter via North Fork Sauk Trail
    For what it is it's great! It well formed trail meandering beside a river, mostly under canopy cover (making it a good drizzly/rainy day hike) sometimes in view, most often in earshot, peek-a-boo views of Sauk mountain and other peeks in the distance. Good est. campsites for backpackers, one even had a privy. Did see a black bear so be food aware!
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    josie.brunick 2 years, 8 months ago
    Day 7 white river valley to reflection pond
    The White river valley trail is un-maintained. In glacier peak wilderness that means an abundance of brush overgrowth and loss of the trail. Although the trail can be followed fairly easily up to thunder basin, only remnants of the trail can be found beyond that. In most places the brush is so high it’s over your head. You will be pushing through all sorts of vegetation including thistles. Early on in the trail not much beyond the junction with the buck creek trail you can get a taste of minor brushy-ness where the trail is still very visible. However, remember this is only minor compared to what’s past thunder basin. Also, after the last stream crossing as you start to climb, the trail becomes slightly more visible, but it is still hard to follow. We were able to follow it up until a sharp switch back that occurs near a gorge. We couldn’t find that switch so we ended up climbing up the gorge which I’m sure would be a waterfall earlier in the year. It did require minor rock climbing. We ended up exiting the gorge when things became too vertical and continued our climb pulling ourselves up the rest of the way using the densely packed brush. This was the only time I was thankful for the brush. We eventually intersected the trail once again. From that point on until the intersection with the pct it was fairly easy to follow with only a couple narrow and slick washouts on slopes. I and my husband were able to make our way through, but it was one of the most miserable hikes we’re ever had, and one of the most exhausting even compared to our days of 15+ miles with two 2,500+ passes.
    ★

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    tmdeprey 2 years, 9 months ago
    Track (7/27/19, 9:37:09AM)
    Great scramble with Kelly Chris Michael and Amy
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jodyrutl 7 months, 1 week ago
    Carne Mountain
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    tgaero 7 months, 1 week ago
    Mount Maude Loop via Phelps Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    wlboston 7 months, 2 weeks ago
    Buck - Fortress - Chiwawa Loop
    ★

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    paulgilara 7 months, 2 weeks ago
    Carne Mountain
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    erik_brauner 7 months, 3 weeks ago
    Track (9/23/21, 6:31:41AM)
    ★

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    barbhyatt 7 months, 3 weeks ago
    Carne Mountain
    ★ ★

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    banderson7157 7 months, 3 weeks ago
    Buck Creek Trail
    ★ ★

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    dieterhertling 8 months, 2 weeks ago
    Track (9/5/21, 11:39:52AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    robert.j.hollingsworth 8 months, 3 weeks ago
    Seven Finger Jack, Fernow (Attempt), Maude Traverse
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    guttinga 9 months, 2 weeks ago
    Spider Meadows Ascent
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    andreaf 9 months, 2 weeks ago
    Glacier Peak (8/1/21, 7:32:46AM)
    ★ ★ ★

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    Npdogg 9 months, 3 weeks ago
    Slide Lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    davidmanzanares 10 months ago
    D1 Spider Gap w Teachers
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    adam.usner 10 months ago
    Spider Meadow
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    adam.usner 10 months ago
    Spider Gap
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    adam.usner 10 months ago
    Spider Meadow to Trailhead
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    j.cross1416 10 months ago
    Ptarmigan Traverse
    ★

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    hrbowman 10 months, 2 weeks ago
    Buck Creek Pass via Buck Creek Trail
    ★ ★

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    cjcnance 10 months, 2 weeks ago
    Spider Glacier via Buck Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    renee.schmetzer 10 months, 2 weeks ago
    Lake Sally Ann via Pacific Crest Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    michelle.vona 10 months, 4 weeks ago
    Dishpan Gap Loop via North Fork Sauk Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    junichiroise 11 months, 2 weeks ago
    Morel hunting
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    alan.chalfant 11 months, 3 weeks ago
    Track (5/31/21, 09:45:48)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    kensturtz 1 year, 1 month ago
    White Pass Camp via North Fork Sauk Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    medmorocco1 1 year, 2 months ago
    Itswoot Lake via Downey Creek Trail #768 and Ptarmigan Traverse
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Susan 1 year, 3 months ago
    Lake Sally Ann via Pacific Crest Trail
    ★

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    Olympia, Wa 1 year, 3 months ago
    Glacier peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Miles 1 year, 4 months ago
    21/01/16: Cascade River Trails
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    mjantackett 1 year, 5 months ago
    Track (9/22/19, 8:41:13AM)
    ★ ★ ★

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    mei.slogar 1 year, 7 months ago
    Mount Maude via Phelps Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★

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    gabepolsky 1 year, 8 months ago
    Track (9/9/20, 8:30:48AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    billevonuk 1 year, 8 months ago
    Indian creek trail - white river
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    arson51 1 year, 8 months ago
    Track (8/9/20, 4:12:08AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    emmadgilbert 1 year, 8 months ago
    White pass loop
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    michaelmc 1 year, 8 months ago
    Track (7/27/17, 6:54:08PM)
    ★

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    fredhb 1 year, 9 months ago
    Phelps Basin(8/25/20, 10:37:4)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    pw0329 1 year, 9 months ago
    White Rivet Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Noah Brenowitz 1 year, 9 months ago
    Track (8/22/20, 10:09:18AM)
    ★ ★ ★

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    ntdoering 1 year, 9 months ago
    Lake Sally Ann via Pacific Crest Trail
    ★ ★

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    stepheshle 1 year, 9 months ago
    Pilot Ridge
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ruzooh 1 year, 9 months ago
    Dishpan Gap Loop via North Fork Sauk Trail
    ★

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    fj40shawn 1 year, 9 months ago
    Green Mountain
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    dmfroehling 1 year, 9 months ago
    Spider Glacier via Buck Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    wlboston 1 year, 9 months ago
    Buck Mtn (7/20/18, 08:44:54)
    ★

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    medmorocco1 1 year, 10 months ago
    Image Lake via Miner's Ridge Trail #785
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    billevonuk 1 year, 10 months ago
    Indian creek trail - white river
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    billevonuk 1 year, 10 months ago
    Indian creek trail - white river
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    mcdonalde1998 1 year, 10 months ago
    Mount David
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    renaudr 1 year, 10 months ago
    Track (7/8/20, 1:04:36PM)
    ★

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    ihoyer820 1 year, 10 months ago
    Green Mountain
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    medmorocco1 1 year, 11 months ago
    Disappointment Peak via North Fork Sauk Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    klorida 2 years, 7 months ago
    Mount Maude Loop via Phelps Creek Trail
    ★ ★

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    ohjala 2 years, 8 months ago
    Little giant/high/buckcreek (9/21/19, 06:18:47)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    lokiski1 2 years, 8 months ago
    Mt. Maude
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    abigailmfranzwa 2 years, 8 months ago
    Glacier peak wilderness
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    samhindman15 2 years, 8 months ago
    Dishpan Gap Loop,
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Susan 2 years, 8 months ago
    White Pass Camp via North Fork Sauk Trail
    ★

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    Hunter 2 years, 9 months ago
    Spider Glacier via Lyman Lakes Trail #1256B and Phelps Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    tdoherty89 2 years, 9 months ago
    Hardtack Lake via Lost Creek Ridge Trail
    ★

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    aaronmrasmussen 2 years, 9 months ago
    Disappointment Peak via Gerdine-Cool Glacier Route
    ★

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    richard.j.crabtree 2 years, 9 months ago
    Glacier Peak 7/22/19
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Misty 2 years, 9 months ago
    Track (7/27/19, 8:39:15AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Mike 2 years, 10 months ago
    Itswoot Lake via Downey Creek Trail #768 and Ptarmigan Traverse
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    lparagin 2 years, 10 months ago
    Track (6/29/19, 10:05:28AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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