Washington · August 2016
Hike Summary
Distance:
12 miles out and back
Total Elevation Gain:
4,000 ft
Starting Elevation:
3,640 ft
Highest Point:
7,570 ft
Hike Time:
6 - 8 hrs
Difficulty:
Difficult
Season:
June - October
Dogs:
Not Allowed
Pass Required:
No Passes Required
Incredible views start at the very beginning of this hike, with Johannesburg Mountain rising 4,000 vertical feet in front of you at the parking area.
From there, every turn of the trail offers something new—you'll see plenty of sharp peaks, glaciers, grassy meadows, and a blue-green alpine lake.
This is a hike that is best started early in the morning.
It is not the easiest trail to reach by car, as it requires driving deep into the North Cascades on 20 miles of bumpy dirt roads.
Parking is limited.
There are very few trees for shade except for the first couple of miles.
For a shorter hike, the Cascade Pass is a great place to finish at 3.6 miles and 1,800 vertical feet from the parking area.
From there, the path up to Sahale Arm is exposed and more difficult, but the view of Doubtful Lake makes the extra effort worthwhile.
If you start the hike early and bring enough water, going all the way up to the Sahale Glacier can be reasonably done as a day hike.
Johannesburg Mountain, from the parking area
Mix-up Peak and The Triplets, close to Cascade Pass
Eldorado from Cascade Pass
A view toward the Stehekin Valley from Cascade Pass
Doubtful Lake, from the Sahale Arm
Directions
From Marblemount, Washington, head east on Cascade River Rd. The parking area is at the end of this road next to the Johannesburg Campground, 23 miles east of North Cascades Highway 20.
1
Trailhead: 48.475501, -121.075149
2
Cascade Pass: 48.467605, -121.059027
3
Sahale Arm: 48.479413, -121.054590
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