Chinook Pass to Crystal Lakes: one-way hike
Details
Chinook Pass to Crystal Lakes: one-way hike with a car shuttle. Starting at Chinook Pass, we’ll follow the PCT to Sheep Lake; then, Sourdough Gap. Once at the gap, the scenery is postcard beautiful with Sheep Lake and Mount Adams to the south; to the north, Placer Lake and Norse Peak and to the west, the Crystal Lakes in the basin below. From Sourdough Gap, we’ll follow the Crystal Lakes trail for a downhill route ending at the Crystal Lakes trailhead on SR410 where we left our shuttle vehicles.
For those so inclined, there’s swimming/wading opportunities both at Sheep Lake and Crystal Lake. The descending trail is well-trod, many switchbacks and worth not going too fast in order to save knees and toes from jamming the front of our boots.
- 8 miles, 1200' gain (3000’ descent)
- Meet @ 9:00AM, Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap Trailhead at Chinook Pass on SR410 (google map link). Then shuttle vehicle(s) to the other end of our trail: Crystal Lakes TH. Shuttle is ~15 driving miles, roundtrip. Anticipate start hiking ~9:30AM
- Hike profile/route - https://caltopo.com/m/FSUB13D#
- Wildfire smoke or other hazards will cause cancellation
- In event of cancellation, possible alternate hike: Tunnel Creek to 5050 Pass, 10 mi/2450’ gain (Buckthorn Wilderness, Hood Canal). WTA - https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/tunnel-creek-olympic. Tunnel Creek route - https://caltopo.com/m/T99Q709#
Optional post-hike social: Wapiti Outdoors (formerly Wapiti Woolies) in Greenwater for their famous huckleberry milkshakes, coffee, ice cream or snacks.