Trails in this area run generally south-to-north, leading away from the central spine of the Chiwawa River Road like fish bones. Geographic challenges tend to drive most of the traffic into just a few localities. Destinations to the west usually involve a river crossing, which can be dangerous when early summer snow melt rushes down. Destinations to the east tend to feature bone-dry conditions and serious elevation gains. The area was once wide open to low-grade mining exploitation and sheep herders, and nature is doing its best to cover over the damage.
Access
Take Highway 2 east from Stevens Pass, or west from Leavenworth
Washington. At the Coles Corner junction with road 207, well marked, turn
north toward Lake Wenatchee. At another well-marked junction at 4 miles, take
the right fork, passing Fish Lake. At 8 miles, cross a low bridge to reach the
junction with the Chiwawa River Road. Go left, roughly northwest.
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At 13 miles from Highway 2, pass the Chikamin Ridge forest road heading up the hill to the right, toward Basalt Ridge access sites. At 17.5 miles, there is another small trailhead site for Basalt Ridge.
At 18 miles, pass the tiny trailhead lot for Schaefer Lake, clearly marked, on the left side.
At 20 miles, find the minimal but sufficient trailhead lot for Rock Creek on the right. A spacious and overbuilt horse/RV camp is located 1/2 mile further, just past Rock Creek. The Estes Butte trailhead lies just past the camp entrance.
At 24 miles, reach the tiny trailhead lot for Little Giant Pass, clearly marked, on the left side.
At 27 miles, the Phelps Creek road branches off to the right and up the hill for access to Spider Meadows and Carne Mountain.
At the end of the road, 27.5 miles, there is good parking with an access trail heading west across Phelps Creek to bypass the private Trinity industrial site.
Trails in this area
Name | Miles | Obscurity | Appeal |
---|---|---|---|
Schaefer Lake | 4.4 | low | very high |
Rock Creek | 8.1 to 11.7 | very high | medium |
Little Giant Pass | 5.0 | medium | high |
Chiwawa River Basin | 6.3 | medium high | medium |
Red Mountain | (5.3 +) 1.6 | very high | high |
Other trails not covered here
Name | Miles | Obscurity | Appeal |
---|---|---|---|
Basalt Ridge | 7.6 | high | medium high |
Estes Butte | 10.7 | max | medium |
Spider Meadows | 5.7 to 8.5 | low | high |
Carne Mtn High Route | 5.7 to 8.5 | low | high |
Buck Creek | (1.7 +) 8.0 | medium | medium high |
Massie Lake | (3.0 +) 1.4 | sky high | high, disregarding awful trail |