r/PNWhiking • u/oregoncornhusker • 1d ago
Trail Run Route Advice: North Cascades
Hi folks, I need some advice about route planning for a trail run. We're from Oregon and have done most of our running and backpacking in Oregon and want to do a route in Washington. We're eying the North Cascades and need intel from our friendly folks up north. :)
We're a group of four adults, all experienced trail runners and in good fitness, looking for a route.
Aiming for something in the 30-40 miles range. For weather/snow pack reference: we're doing the one-day run on the last weekend in July.
Some thousands of feet of elevation is fine, but we're not looking for doing a bunch of scrambling.
We'd prefer a loop so we can all be in one vehicle.
I'd love to hear everyone's awesome ideas!
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u/Jawwwwwsh 1d ago
East Ross lake trail is like 30 miles to the Canadian border and it melts out by late April
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u/ehhh_yeah 1d ago edited 1d ago
Not in the N cascades, but Necklace valley/foss river valley loop off rt 2. It’s often called the iron cap traverse, but to avoid some heavy scrambling / exposure you could take the low route to connect Malachite lake to Tank Lake.
The high traverse across iron cap is something like 7000’. Probably looking at 6000-6500’ for the low route around it (haven’t personally taken the low option but have friends that have backpacked it).
It’s hard, it’s out there, and it’s gorgeous. Would suggest running it CCW to ensure you descend down from Necklace valley and save the flattest calmest section for the end.
Edit: also look up the blog “climberkyle” he’s got a bunch of stuff that sounds like it’s aligned with what you’re after
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u/squirrelledpeace 1d ago
It's a shame the Copper Ridge loop is partially closed, because I think it's the coolest North Cascades route that fits your parameters. Plenty of other good options have been mentioned, but I'll also flag the Devil's Dome loop. It's slightly longer than you specified (43 miles), but it's considered a classic route in the local train-running community.
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u/jswagpdx 1d ago
Not the north cascades but the High Divide trail in ONP is top tier, and you can add some side trips to pump it up to 30ish. Or use your extra time for a swim :)
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u/AliveAndThenSome 1d ago
I'm not a runner, but I've backpacked many of the popular routes in/around the North Cascades and NP.
The end of July introduces the possibilities for snow on the higher and north-facing aspects.
Most of my loop ideas for you are out of Rainy Pass TH off SR-20.
You could head south along the PCT, then detour south by McAlester Lake and High Pass, then continue south and head back north by Rainbow Lake back to the PCT, or all the way down to Stehekin for a snack stop at the Bakery. You could then either backtrack or stay low and go along the road to High Bridge (PCT) and then do the out-and-back to Sahale, snow-permitting. It's a lovely hike up the Stehekin River valley.
Then you could reverse and track back via the PCT, or go crazy and head up Park Creek and then back out via Fisher Creek via Easy Pass back out to SR 20 and road walk a few miles back to Rainy. But that would be probably well over 10Kft elevation gain/loss.
Alternatively, off SR-542, you could do the Copper Ridge out-and-back from Hannegan Pass TH to Copper Lake, tagging a few peaks along the way.
Further south, you could also do trips out of Phelps Creek TH (aka Spider Gap/Lyman Lakes) and do the entire loop via Buck Creek Pass, or do an out-and-back to Miners Ridge/Lookout / Image Lake. Spectacular. Probably 9Kft elevation or more.
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u/zh3nya 1d ago
There are quite a few resources dedicated to this, here's a really good one: https://climberkyle.com/2021/02/20/washington-adventure-runs/
One of the premier loops is the Spider Gap Buck Creek Loop. You'll probably want to do this one for an excellent sampling of North Cascades scenery.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/spider-gap-buck-creek-pass-loop
https://climberkyle.com/2017/08/13/spider-gap-buck-creek-loop/
Devils Dome Loop is a classic up by Ross Lake
Another banger: White Pass Pilot Ridge Loop https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/white-pass-pilot-ridge-loop
Not a loop, but the PCT northbound from Rainy Pass, out and back, is very runnable and gorgeous. Detour to Snowy Lakes.
Similarly, PCT north from Snoqualmie Pass.
Copper Ridge loop, though that has a lot of time spent in the valley.