Horseshoe Basin
Expansive, rolling alpine wilderness that offers endless opportunities for wandering is the highlight of this hike. In a summer when snow is lingering long into the season, this sunny and open paradise is a great place to explore. Day hikers can enjoy the hike, but to really experience this remarkable area you must bring a backpack.
Hike of the Week:
July 7, 2008
- The rolling hills around Horseshoe Basin invite lots of wandering. Photo by Trip Report poster '2 Old Hikers.'
Location: North Cascades - Pasayten Wilderness
Distance: 12 miles roundtrip
Elevation: Gain of 1500 ft. to 7200 ft.
Map: Green Trails #21 Horseshoe Basin
Why Go?
Expansive, rolling alpine wilderness that offers endless opportunities for wandering is the highlight of this hike. Day hikers can enjoy the hike, but to really experience this remarkable area you must bring a backpack and stay one or two nights.
In a summer when snow is lingering long into the season, this sunny and open paradise is a great place to explore. A gentle ascent to Sunny Pass gives way to rolling alpine meadows, lakes and tarns. And from your campsite any number of accessible peaks will beckon you to climb and soak in the views.
The hike takes the Boundary Trail (which is 73 miles long!) into the Pasayten Wilderness. Shortly after starting out, you will pass through a huge area burned in 2006 by the Tripod fire. With no forest cover it can be quite hot, and it certainly isn't as pleasant of a hike in as it was just a few years ago. But the destination more than makes up for this unfortunate development.
The ascent is gentle, but the going can be slow due to the elevation. Snowy Pass, the hike's high point at 7200 feet, is your entrance into the wonderland, and you will reach it at just under five miles. Continue another mile or so into Horseshoe Basin.
Despite its remote location, Horseshoe Basin is quite a popular destination. And with only a few trees dotting the landscape, you will probably be camping within sight of neighbors. But there is so much to do, you will hardly notice.
More Information
Guidebook: Day Hiking North Cascades by Craig Romano (Mountaineers Books). Check conditions about the Boundary Trail with the Okanogan National Forest - Tonasket Ranger District (509) 486-2186 or WTA's Trip Reports.
Driving Directions
From Tonasket take Okanogan County Road 9437 (Hwy 7) north about 5.5 miles to County Road 9425. Turn east on County Road 9425 and travel about 12 miles to Loomis. From Loomis continue on County Road 9425 for about 2 miles to County Road 4066. Turn east County Road 4066, which becomes Forest Service Road 39 (Toats Coulee Road). Travel 14 miles and turn right on FS Road 500 (Irongate Road), following it 5.2 miles to the trailhead.
