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Quick-and-dirty version

Access: Easy Pass Trailhead
Round Trip: 22.1 miles
Elevation Range: 3680′-7945′
Gear: helmet, ice ax, crampons
Dog-Friendly: no pets

Route

1. Hike the Easy Pass Trail to Easy Pass in 3.5 miles.
2. Continue down Fisher Creek Trail and reach the fork in a little over a mile. Take the brushy trail upstream to 5600' and up the snow upslope to the 7400' notch.
3. Traverse northwest over ribs and gullies to reach Arches Peak's summit. 
4. Traverse the west ridge to 7500' and drop down to Lake 5972.
5. Bypass Mount Arriva's west wall at 5600' and drop to the valley floor at 5100'.
6. Go south through the basins to reach the 6960' saddle camp.
7. Climb Indecision Peak from the south and back to the pass.
8. Climb Natal Peak via the north and return to camp.
9. Return through the unnamed creek basin and cross Fisher Creek at 4800' to reach the trail.
10. Walk 2.5 miles back to Easy Pass and 3.5 miles down to the trailhead.

Highlights

• Expansive view of Fisher Creek Valley, including Ragged Ridge, Fisher Peak, and Mount Arriva
• Vast view of North Cascades National Park high points
• Sunshine and solitude

Lowlights

• 90+ degrees weather on both days
• Mosquito armies from trailhead to the saddle camp

Friday-Monday Labor Day weekend friends and I did a one-way 25 mile backpack in the North Cascades starting at Easy Pass and coming out at Colonial Creek campground. We had a permit for this, giving us three nights out with a layover at Junction Camp. Here’s the day by day summary–

Day 1 – picked up our permit at Marblemount Ranger station – we had thought there were bear wires or boxes at the camps but turns out not so we each had to add a Park Service loaner bear vault to our packs. Started up Easy Pass around noon. It’s a scenic hike but with almost 3000 feet of gain it took a while (plenty of dayhikers here and some other backpackers coming out) and we were happy to get to the pass – which pretty much took care of nearly all the uphill for the next three days. There are no trail signs at Easy Pass so after a nice break we followed what appeared to be the trail leading down into Fisher Basin and it also matched the GPS. However this trail soon disintegrated into a very sketchy sidehill across a very exposed and crumbly outcrop. We retreated back to Easy Pass and found that we should have taken the slightly bigger trail to right as you come into the pass. It seemed that the first trail had been the original and become unsafe/slid out based on the fact that it matched the GPS which used older maps. After a short ridge walk the correct trail descends into Fisher Basin on a long series of rocky switchbacks down a mostly open slope. The views up and down Fisher Creek Basin are incredible but don’t try walking and looking up at the same time on the rough tread. Got to Fisher camp and were surprised how sloped and small the campsites are, and surrounded by fallen trees. Two of three sites were taken and we could not fit even two small tents into the one (uppermost) remaining site so one of us asked to share with the solo hiker in another site. Stream access is good but a ways down from the camp on an obvious side trail below the main trail. About 6 miles for the day, up Easy Pass and down into Fisher Basin.

Day 2 – Packed up and headed down the Fisher Creek trail. In and out of spectacular meadows and views for the first mile or two and then into beautiful, but mostly viewless, forest. THANK YOU to trail crews who have recently cut away SO MANY blowdowns from the trail. Dozens and dozens and dozens of big trees we were very grateful not to have to climb over or around. Beautiful big trees, some good berries, a stunning variety of mushrooms, and solitude, - not another hiker all day. We stopped at Cosho camp for lunch and this camp looks very comfortable, with an open forest area right along Fisher Creek. There is a more private site just upstream of the main site past the outhouse trail. About 10 minutes downstream of Cosho camp is a narrow log crossing over Fisher Creek, hatch-marked for grip but with no handrails, and a note saying “Use at your own risk, Please consider fording.” We crossed on the log very cautiously as it’s at least 10-15 feet over the creek. Other streams including Logan Creek had nice single log bridges with handrails – thanks again trail crews! The last couple miles into Junction Camp seemed long with short little uphills and a flagged and rooty detour around a washout (other flagging suggests there will soon be a full reroute) . At the intersection of the Thunder Creek trail (left to Park Pass) take a right and shortly find the sign for Junction Camp, up on a low ridge with nice sites and terrific views towards Tricounti and Klawatti Peak. Here we were joined by the 21 year old daughter of one of us, who had hiked in from Colonial Creek to meet us. Other sites were also occupied at this camp. About 9-10 miles for the day.

If you are hiking along this Fisher Basin/Thunder Creek route but not camping at Junction, you still need to take the very short detour to the camp for the view – it’s one of the best if not THE best view you’ll get for a long way.

Day 3 – Layover at Junction Camp. We headed a short distance up the Thunder Creek trail to the unmarked but mapped Meadow Cabins trail, which plunges on a steep but well constructed 1100 feet in 1.2 miles into the valley. We had heard there was a shelter at the bottom and were expecting something like a worn out Adirondack at the edge of the river, with views. Instead we found two large cabins, the main one open and with a log book and historical information – built in 1913 and clearly still well maintained with equipment etc. We added a note in the log book and had a leisurely lunch here. Super interesting and great spot for a break but no views or river, and we could not find a trail continuing down to the valley floor.

Day 4 – 9 miles out to Colonial Creek, lots of new tread/trailwork and quiet forest. The roar of Thunder Creek comes and goes along the descent but the trail doesn’t really get directly to the creek/river since it flows largely in a gorge and the trail stays higher. We saw only one other person on our way out until we were within three miles of Colonial Creek. Some nice bridges, peek a boo views, good tread and pretty forests.

Over all, this trip offered incredible views into the heart of the North Cascades at first, then a lot of forest, which if you embrace instead of pining for constant views, provided a gradual and interesting look at ecosystems and forests at 5100 feet (Fisher Camp) all the way down to forests at 1200 feet. Would be nice if Fisher camp was developed a little better with better and larger sites, but Junction was a gem and from what we could see other camps pretty nice as well. We were very appreciative of the excellent trail maintenance, and blowdown clearing.

Easy Pass trailhead -> 2 nights at Cosho camp

Day 1: Easy Pass trailhead -> Cosho camp ~9.7mi

Hazy smoke obscured the views on the other side of Hwy 20, but still appreciated the fall colors along the trail, plus golden larches clustered at the pass.

For those looking to refill water while ascending the exposed talus slopes, the last robust water source before the pass lies ~2.1mi from trailhead. The next meager water source lies ~0.5mi beyond Easy Pass. The person who named Easy Pass must have only been descending into Fisher basin.

FYI the turnoff for Fisher camp is easy to miss. At the trail marker proclaiming Fisher camp, take a hard right uphill. The trail going straight ahead continues to Cosho camp through pleasantly shaded forest. We counted at least a dozen, if not two dozen blowdowns between Fisher and Cosho camp. Sections of this trail transform into overgrown brush, which is not a big deal until the water droplets migrate from the brush to your clothing. Yes, Cosho camp abuts Fisher creek, allowing you to pitch your tent on pine needles under the shade of towering trees. Is this worth the extra 4mi from Fisher camp? Debatable. Might be worth it if you're looking for more privacy, more seclusion, and extra miles through a forest. The best views still cluster around Easy Pass.

Day 2: day trip from Cosho camp to Junction camp ~10.2mi

As noted in prior trip reports, the bridge ~0.3mi west of Cosho camp is out, requiring either fording or crossing via some downed logs. With a day pack, the downed log crossing was manageable, but I imagine would be much more cumbersome, awkward, and difficult with a fully loaded pack. The trail washout ~1.3mi east of Junction camp has a flagged detour, look out for the pink ribbons.

Day 3: Cosho camp -> Easy pass trailhead ~9.7mi

Thankfully the smoky haze cleared, now with pristine views of Mt Logan and Mt Fisher during the ascent, and spotted Golden Horn on the descent. Cars parked out to alongside Hwy 20 by the time we reached the trailhead on a weekend midday.

Bryan, Chris, and I ran the Easy Pass to Thunder Creek route for the UPWC "race." Overall, we had a great time! The weather was cool and cloudy for much of the run, but it was perfect. We left before sunrise and didn't see anyone on the trail until we were within a couple of miles of the Colonial Creek campground.

We started off strong with running, but that quickly ended as we started the climb up to the pass. I was the least experienced trail runner of the group and definitely didn't mind walking up the rocks. Once we reached the pass, the baby larches were adorable and just starting to change color and the fog held off so we could see some of the mountains. I might have run too fast downhill, because my quads were destroyed and we still had many miles left. The Fisher Creek trail was quite overgrown, and our legs were soaking wet but thankfully we didn't get too cold. There were some fun creek crossings, one in particular I remember was guarded by devil’s club. I think I made it to ~21 miles or so before my legs said they were done and I had to walk most of the remaining distance to the Thunder Creek trailhead. Oh well! The guys were fine but were kind enough to wait for my slowpoke self. My legs will definitely require more distance training before I do this again. 

Stashed a bike at Bridge Creek and started hike at Easy Pass. First night at Cosho, second night at Thunder Basin, both of which we had to ourselves. These trails are overgrown in places with numerous small blowdowns. Hiked over Park Creek pass through to South Fork camp (about 17 miles). Once we got onto the PCT from the old wagon road the trail was in perfect shape. Did not have any issues with bears on Bridge Creek Trail. Completed the loop with a bike back to Easy Pass tthe on fourth day. A great trip!