Spider Gap - Buck Creek Pass Loop — Sunday, Jul. 13, 2025

We hiked the loop in reverse of the normal way we saw everyone else doing it. We went clockwise from Buck Creek to Cloudy Pass to Spider Gap to Phelps Creek and then back to Trinity Trailhead on the road. Upon completion we both declared this was the superior way!

All told, this trail was very scenic and beautiful, though there is a lot of fire damage in Buck Creek. We did it in three days.

Things to note:

A bridge is out a few miles from the Buck Creek TH, and you need to ford the creek. It is fast moving but only knee deep. Dog owners take note.

Spider Gap, the snow was soft. It is particularly steep on the north side.  It was sketchy for me personally, having little experience on snowfields. We wished we'd have had some micro spikes at least.  I wouldn't leave my poles at home for this one either.  Many people were doing it fine. Approaching our descent on the Phelps Creek side, it looks like a drop-off until you get closer, then you see it is comparatively tame.

Mosquitoes are BAD this time of year. We brought an extra mosquito net shelter in which we could hang out outside of our own individual tents and cook our meals, and this was the move! (Picture included of Zen Mosquito Dome 3000™).

There's a lot of blow downs from Buck Pass to PCT and it really slows you down.

There is a shortcut trail between Suiattle Pass and Cloudy Pass. Our guidebook told us not to take it, but though rocky and steep, we had no issues and thought it was very beautiful.

Going clockwise, the junction with the Upper Lyman Lake Trail is a little bit hidden in the trees.  Though this will not really be an issue if you are going the conventional way, we had to search for it (even though it was right where the sign said it was, lol.)

Trailhead dogs: there are some very sweet and happy dogs that must live at the private property adjacent to the Trinity Trailhead. They are very social and friendly, but they will follow you for a while down the trail and stand by your car as you're trying to pull away. Please be aware for their safety when driving in and out.

Lost items: a phone at the Trinity TH, and some oddly abandoned camping items on the north side of the bridge out.  If you find my NUUN electrolyte tablets, you can have them.