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Trip Report

White Pass - Pilot Ridge Loop — Saturday, Jun. 28, 2025

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
Marmot at White Pass

TL;DR: Loop is possible but still early in the season and lots of snow to contend with.

Did the loop as an overnighter going clockwise. The road to the trailhead is in great shape and my low clearance sedan had no issues. 

Day 1: TH to Blue Lake - 18.5 miles

First 5 miles along the river were smooth sailing and nothing too notable, just a little brushy as you get to the base of the climb. Climbing up to White Pass is a good workout but you're rewarded with great views as you get higher and pop out of the trees. Along the ridge to the pass, I saw over half a dozen marmots hanging out near the trail. One even trotted down the trail ahead of me for a full minute! At White Pass was where the fun began. From White Pass to Perfection Pond was almost all snow for that ~2 mile section. Slow going but doable with the help of microspikes and poles. There were a few footprints to follow but not the most well-defined trail so be sure to bring a gps/navigation device. Continuing south on the PCT there was intermittent snow throughout. A sustained section leading up to Indian Pass and then again to Dishpan Gap. From Dishpan Gap I made my way over to and up the high route to Blue Lake. A couple more small snow fields on the way up and coming down from the top of the high route was not as bad as I expected it might be. I dodged around a few snow patches and then butt-scooted the rest. Blue Lake is melting out but still plenty of snow around so limited campsite selection for now. 

Day 2: Blue Lake to TH - 10.5 miles

More snow patches descending from Blue Lake to the Pilot Ridge trail and then snow free climbing up to the Johnson Mtn turnoff. From the turnoff, there was a ~0.5 mile section that had a lot of short snow patches, only difficult spots were where the trail had a very steep side slope and the snow was piled high. Some I crossed and one I bush-wacked around as I didn't like the look of the sideslope. From then on it was fine with some easily crossable snow patches every once in a while. Descending from the ridge down to the river did have a fair number of large downed trees that had to be climbed over or bushwacked around. 

All in all a great loop even if a bit early in the season. I got it pretty much all to myself too, didn't see anyone from White Pass where climbers turn off to summit Glacier Peak until the next day along Pilot Ridge. If you go in the next couple weeks be ready for snow but by mid-July I bet the trail will be running great.

Snow Field just south of White Pass
Climb to Indian Pass
Descending to Blue Lake
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