Access from Stehekin: From Stehekin, take the bus or walk to the Rainbow Loop Trailhead. 
The trail is on the south side of the highway. Typical hiking time is 4 days. We wandered through heather meadows decorated with white boulders and green larches. Trail Map, Lake Chelan National Rec. Meanwhile, Eileen and I traversed over to the mountains east ridge and teased out a Class 2-3 route up to the blocky little summit. Head back up to 6,000 feet over the next four miles to McAlester Pass, a sprawling subalpine hemlock and larch meadow strewn with chirping pika. Have you camped here? US-Parks.com Inc. All Rights Reserved. She was quickly followed by Dave Creeden (solo) and Beth Blattenbergers large party that same season. Crazy hard but beautiful backpacking trip. Eastern Egg Rock in the midcoast region, Seal Island and Matinicus Rock at the mouth of Penobscot Bay, and Machias Seal Island and Petit Manan Island off the downeast coast provide habitat for more than 4,000 puffins each summer. The first portion of this trail is on the Pacific Crest Trail. Unfortunately, constantly changing Price subject to change | Available through Backcountry.com, North Cascades National Park Rainbow Creek Trail, Smith I/O MAG Goggles Replacement Lens - 2020+. Just a few tucked away spots for individuals, couples, etc but no group sites. Primarily, it is part of the popular Rainbow-McAlester Lakes loop, and makes a beautiful fall destination for rugged hikers, or for those who enjoy getting away from it all and fishing. Backpacked with my wife, our second multi-day loop of the summer. 9,095' Up Portlanders can go through Seattle and Everett or Yakima and Wenatchee, but with either route its smart to check the local pandemic status and bring your supplies from home. 53.0 km In a short 1/3 mile from the highway there is a junction; you want to stay to the right to go down Bridge Creek. The wild requires that we learn the terrain, nod to all the plants and animals and birds, ford the streams and cross the ridges, and tell a good story when we get back home. We stayed at Rainbow Lake, then out the next morning. At about 4.9 miles from the highway, you will come to another junction. 18.7 km As the creator of "Major Peaks of the Cascades and Olympics --- Fraser/Nicola River to Columbia River," he is an avid outdoorsman and lifelong trailcat who only occasionally ventures beyond the Pacific Northwest. Help us improve this campground page. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Four day, 30 mile Labor Day weekend loop from Bridge Creek Trailhead; first night McAlester Lake, then Rainbow Lake, then South Fork Camp. The climb out of the Rainbow Creek trail was steep, hot, and exposed, though the final switchbacks to Rainbow Lake were quite impressively built out of a large granite scree field. 921 SW Washington Street, Suite 750 Portland, OR 97205Phone: 503-222-5144 Fax: 503-227-8777, By nps.gov/noca. 3,933' Up Day two brings a steep, 2,600-foot descent down to Bench Creek, with vistas of Lake Chelan to the south. Challenging hiking trail that crosses snowfields and Rainbow Creek. Center: 48.402384, -120.739547 69.8 km Trailforks users anonymized public ridelogs from the past 6 months. The views of valley on the downhill side of the lake, Rainbow Lake Campground is located in Washington, 2022 The Dyrt, Inc | All rights reserved. 
Total mileage for the loop from Stehekin is 35 miles (57 km). Follow the Rainbow Loop and then the Rainbow Creek Trails 5 miles (8 km) to the start of the Rainbow Lake Trail. Hunting is allowed in season in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. From there it is another 0.7 miles and 600 feet down to the lake. Jim Brisbine has been climbing Washington peaks for over 45 years, while documenting hundreds of summits and thousands of trail miles in words and pictures.
Spend a long weekend exploring the Rainbow-McAlester Loop. Please explain. I would say you need to be a pretty experienced hiker/backpacker to do this loop. 98284, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. It is primarily a backpacker or advanced stock use trail, since it lies deep within the park and is accesed via several other trails. An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. Being mid-September, there was a steady stream of Pacific Crest Trail hikers passing through Stehekin, nearing the end of their many-month journey from Mexico to Canada. Backpacking defined as: Multi-day trips into the wild, unpopulated, areas of the world. This lake provides good fishing for Rainbow Trout that average about 10 inches. Rainbow BluffRainbow MeadowsRainbow LakeBowan PassBowan Mountain (7895)Lake 6495 aka Bowan LakeLake 6111, Region: North-Central Washington Cascades, Area: Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, Starting & Ending Point: Stehekin Bakery (Stehekin River Road), Way Points: South Rainbow Loop Trailhead (road walk); Rainbow Bluff & Rainbow Bridge Camp & Lower Rainbow Creek & Rainbow Creek Trail junction & Bench Creek Camp & Rainbow Lake Trail junction & Rainbow Meadows & Rainbow Lake & Bowan Pass & Bowan Lake & Rainbow Ridge & Rainbow Tarns & Lake 6111 & Upper Rainbow Creek & Rainbow Lake Trail junction & Stehekin River Road (trail hike & off-trail hike & rock scramble); Stehekin Bakery (road walk), Campsites: Rainbow Meadows Camp & Bowan Lake & Rainbow Bridge Camp, Summit: Bowan Mountain (ascent & descent via East Ridge). Fishing success for Rainbow Trout is generally best in the spring when thousands of fish are stocked statewide, but they can be caught year-round in most waters with a little patience and persistence. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. 1198.53 m Down, 32.9 mi Total mileage for this route from SR 20 is 32 miles (51 km). A long weekend can provide a best-of survey of this unadulterated wilderness along the Rainbow-McAlester Loop, which starts off in the North Cascades South Unit and wanders into the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. We just backpacked this loop starting at the South Fork camp site the first night. Being a jerk / offensive? A backcountry permit is required for all overnight stays. Approximate Stats: 25 miles traveled; 9000 feet gained & lost. Beautiful backcountry campground, complete with privy toilet, and campsites with a view of the lake and/or valley. There are numerous stock and hiker camps spaced along the trail, although some of the camps are small and do not hold larger parties.
Stehekin Valley Road to McAlester Pass: 9.7 miles (15.6 km). The total distance hiking between SR 20 and the Stehekin Valley Road, via McAlester Pass, is 18.5 miles (30 km), and makes a nice one or two night trip. , Swirling winds created a surrealistic image of giant brush strokes across the water surface. The loop works equally well starting from SR 20 or Stehekin. At about mile is your first crossing of Bridge Creek. Trails, Lake Chelan National Rec. Sedro-Woolley Our two crossings of Rainbow Creekfirst on a nifty little roll-away suspension bridge and later on a sturdy logprovided a much-needed respite from the heat. 810 State Route 20 Out via the PCT. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension. This portmanteau was created from the phrase 'McGregor Clegane.' Some waters may also be stocked again in the fall further boosting catch rates. more, McAlester Pass-Rainbow Lake Loop, North Cascades National Park: Address, McAlester Pass-Rainbow Lake Loop Review: 5/5, #24 of 26 things to do in North Cascades National Park. Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support. The sky came alive with lightning and thunder, and our tents were buffeted by strong wind gusts. A subreddit dedicated to backpacking in the wild places on earth - where people are few, cell signal is nil, and Mother Nature still reigns. Trailbehind Inc. - All Rights Reserved. The trail down Rainbow Creek had been recently maintained, but it was now littered with blowdown trees as a result of the previous nights windstorm. Rainbow Lake viewed from Bowan Pass during the Rainbow Ridge Loop. NOT OKAY! Farther along the ridge, we descended a steep bouldery draw to reach Lake 6111. Total elevation gain and loss to the lake is 3150 feet up and 1940 feet down. For hikers and stock, this is a scenic route between Stehekin and State Route 20, and it is part of the popular Rainbow-McAlester loop backpack. Look for real rainbows as you hike-- with all these "rainbow" trails there must be some here somewhere! Total mileage for this route from SR 20 is 32 miles (51 km). From the trailhead, go south on the Bridge Creek Trail, part of the Pacific Crest Trail, and travel counterclockwise. The summit register had been placed by Fay Pullen in Autumn 2011. Nonetheless, we made good time heading down to Rainbow Bridge Camp. TRS: T34R17E SEC33 Day one brings a bracing ford of Bridge Creek (early in the season, water can be fast-moving and thigh-deep, but late August and September bring easier crossing) and a steady climb up Rainbow Pass. Last week, Eileen and I joined Kevin K and Maria on a trip up Lake Chelan with Kevins sister and brother-in-law, Kelli and Eric, who were visiting from Denver.
Day 1 Fields Point to Stehekin to Rainbow Meadows: Day 3 Bowan Lake to Rainbow Bridge Camp: Day 4 Rainbow Bridge Camp to Stehekin to Fields Point: Summit Chief Mtn via Southeast FaceSouthwest Face + Escondido Point (Snoqualmie Mountains, WA), Chelan Lakeshore Trail Traverse: Prince Creek to Stehekin (Sawtooth Mountains, WA), Inter Glacier Climb & Ski Descent via Glacier Basin (Mount Rainier Massif, WA), Paradise Glacier Ski Ascent & Descent via Golden Gate (Mount Rainier Massif, WA), Tuolumne Canyon Ten Lakes Loop via Pate ValleyGlen Aulin + Tuolumne Peak (Yosemite National Park, CA), Nason-Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lake Valhalla to Smith Brook (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA), El Toro Viewpoint via Southeast Slope (Potrero Chico Recreational Park, Mexico), Sneffels Ski Traverse: Last Dollar Pass to Miller Mesa (San Juan Mountains, CO), Keechelus Ridge Ski Loop: Noble Creek Overlook to Resort Creek Overlook (Keechelus Mountains, WA), Dungeon Point Snowshoe/Ski Ascent & Rocky Run Ski Loop (Keechelus Mountains, WA), Tronsen Head Ski Loop: Windy Hollow to Haney Gap (Lower Wenatchee Mountains, WA), Lichtenberg Mtn Snowshoe Climb via Lichtenwasser LakeEast SlopeNorth FaceWest Ridge (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA), Nordic Pass Snowshoe Hike & Ski Loop: Hyak Creek to Cold Creek (Iron Horse Mountains, WA), Amabilis Mtn Ski Loop + Amabilis Beacon + Amabilis Peak (Keechelus Mountains, WA), Arrowhead Mtn Snowshoe Climb via North SlopeNortheast Ridge (Upper Icicle Mountains, WA), White Pocket Geological Exploration (Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, AZ), Coyote Buttes South + Cottonwood Cove Viewpoint via Paw Hole (Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, AZ), Buckskin Gulch Exploration via Wire Pass (Paria Canyon Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, UT), Yellow Rock via Cottonwood CreekSoutheast Slope (Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, UT), Dry Fork Narrows Peek-A-Boo Canyon Spooky Canyon Exploration (Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, UT), Hole-in-the-Rock Exploration + Hill 4550 + Lake Powell (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, UT), BaconHaganBlum Traverse + Bacon Peak + Mt Blum (Lower Skagit Mountains, WA), Mt Arriva via South Ridge + Fisher Peak via Northwest Ridge + Silent Lakes (Ragged Range, WA), Baby Munday Peak + Stewart Peak + Knight Peak via Airplane Creek (Cheam Range, BC), La BohnTank Loop + Little Big Chief Peak via Dutch Miller Gap (Miller-Foss Mountains & Snoqualmie Mountains, WA), InspirationIsolation Traverse + Primus Peak + Eldorado Peak + Snowfield Peak (McAllister Mountains, WA), Tam McArthur Rim Ski Tours + Three Creek Lake Yurts (Deschutes Mountains, OR), Icicle Ridge Traverse + Grindstone Mtn + Big Lou Mtn + Lake Ida + Lake Augusta (Chiwaukum Mountains, WA), Welch Peak via Williamson LakeLower Southeast FaceSouth Ridge (Cheam Range, BC), Loowit Trail Circuit: June Lake to Toutle River to Windy Pass (Mount St Helens Massif, WA), High Giant Traverse: Buck Creek Pass to Little Giant Pass + Buck Mtn + Napeequa Mtn (Chiwawa Range, WA). Northern Bowan (Rainbow) Pass holds its snow until late in the season--an ice axe is often required through mid-July. Apply via on online lottery for 2021 before March 31 (60 percent of available permits can be booked in advance) or try to snag a walk-up permit on a first-come-first-served basis. To make a loop trip, follow the Bridge Creek (PCT), McAlester Lake, Rainbow Creek, and Rainbow Lake trails. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Nobody had signed in during 2012 or 2013. A well-defined hikers path then led us out of the lake basin and down a grassy ramp to intersect the Rainbow Creek Trail closely below McAlester Pass.
This creek crossing was intense as you have to cross on foot, the water is knee high or so and rushing. The Rainbow Lake Trail provides access to one of the park's steepest passes, Bowan Pass, as well as deep blue Rainbow Lake. Then follow the McAlester Lake Trail description. Soon, we were looking down at all three Rainbow Lakes and over at the marvelous massif of McGregor Mountain. To access the Rainbow Creek Trail from the north, drive State Route 20 to mile 159, Bridge Creek Trailhead. But heres my best effort: imagine your favorite Oregon wilderness area with azure lakes, snowy peaks, and lush forests, then multiply that tenfold. Fishing is popular at McAlester Lake. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details. 3,932' Down no videos have been added for Rainbow Lake Trail yet, This trails GPS track was originally sourced from OpenStreetMap and will always be available for download in, Lake Chelan National Rec. This trail goes by Fireweed Camps, Hideaway, South Fork, Dan's, Rainbow Lake, Rainbow Meadows, Bench Creek, Bowan, McAlester Pass, High Camp, and McAlester Lake. no reports have been added for Rainbow Lake Trail yet. Bleep-bloop, I'm a bot. The last day is long, but not nearly as taxing as day two and three. Kevin wisely decided to rejoin the group back down at the pass in order to get everyone headed down to Bowan Lake before dark. The Bridge Creek Trailhead parking lot is located on the north side of the highway. The bridge over Rainbow Creek near Rainbow Ford Camp is removed seasonally--do not cross if water levels are high. 616.17 m Up McAlester Pass offers more camping options for both hikers and stock. It is common for hikers to make a loop out of this trail by combining it with the Rainbow Creek trail and the McAlester Lake trail. Access from SR 20: Drive State Route 20 to mile 159, just over one mile (1.9 km) east of Rainy Pass. Success remains high into June and gradually declines as water temperatures increase and fish move offshore to stay cool. Create Recommended Route or Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. County: Chelan Area (North Cascades N.P.) Upgrade to The Dyrt PRO and never pay extra booking fees. Washington State hunting and fishing regulations apply. Something else? Trailforks users anonymized public skilogs from the past 12 months. At 2.5 miles from the highway, you will come to another junction. At a trail clearing closely south of Rainbow Lake, we headed directly uphill on heathery slopes. Who's Left Behind by Oregons Ever-Growing Trail Permit System? Kevin and Eileen and I changed into summit packs and headed up the rocky ridge toward Bowan Mountain but quickly got stymied by a deep notch. Use caution and do not cross when high. The highlight of our descent was, without question, the sudden view of Lake Chelan from a rocky bluff high above the camp.
rainbow lake north cascades
