Cameron Pass, Cameron Creek, Grand Pass, Grand Valley via Grand Pass Trail, Lillian Ridge & Moose Lake — Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025

Well, it’s our second year attempting the grand, 4 pass backpack loop and switching it around at the last min. (due to Heat forecasts and preparedness feelings.)
So this trip report is for our 3 nite, 4 day backpack trip departure out of obstruction point, Lillian ridge down through Grand Valley, Moose lake, Grand pass heading to upper Cameron basin camp for a out and back, rather than the full 42 mile loop we had hoped to accomplish, maybe next year. I had adjusted to 3 nites camp spots to: lake camp, upper Cameron basin, than lake camp again, then back out obstruction point for a 24 mile trip with 7800 feet of elevation gain averaging 6 miles a day.(reminder mileage means nothing out here when you’re descending and ascending 3000 feet each time, it’s pretty brutal.)
Our first day was just going to be an easy mostly downhill in through the Grand Valley. While on the way to Moose, We met a nice Ranger, I think her name was Ashley who was stationed there and checking permits along Lillian Ridge for all the lake campsites, as those have a select quota, so we showed her our permit and chatted about various hike bucket list, our fav National Parks and explained how we were disappointed, but still excited for our trip at hand as we were not completing the 42 mile loop with the incoming heat dome, (she agreed it probably was good idea to play it safe.) We woke the next morning and were on the trail before 9 AM to head up the Grand Pass. This is the first time I’ve ever carried a full backpack up grand pass. I’ve usually only done this as a day hike from one of the various Lake campsites many times now. Although we have been practicing fairly hard day hikes, you still really feel it in your lungs as you climb to the top of grand pass. We met some young men that were able to camp at the coveted ‘one spot’ at the tarn at grand pass campsite, which is like a lottery to get that one and they were completing the whole loop, so then of course I was so envious of them!
I’m going to keep this report real as I’m tired of reading all the trip reports how everyone writes about trail runs it, Heading down through grand pass acting like this is an easy route out to Cameron. I consider myself an above average but regular hiker with dome XC experience and There were some legit sketchy loose shale spots (like that found at heather park, pyramid peak rotten rock shale) where I kinda had to hop over where a marmot has kicked out a bunch of dirt that makes it difficult to cross the thin trail already and if you misstep your sliding straight down this cliff when you have a 40 pound pack on…it is pretty daunting for a few minutes. You use your hiking poles and you’ll get through one step at a time. Funny thing is this first part of the descent down the back of grand pass descent that you can visually see from the top (and looks hard) is really nothing compared to the toe busters you’re about to get as you descend down through the forest until you hit the creek, side hilling down into the Cameron River Trail intersection. Your descending over 2000 ft. My toes definitely took a beating. I counted approximately 15 down trees though here, all were passable except one you had to climb up and around and it had a nice boot path and two that you could hunch under. The 6 miles towards Cameron basin felt like a 15 miles of hiking that I’ve done in the past as far as the level of tiredness partly because of the heat, the altitude and a heavy backpack. It took us six hours total with a lunch break. Once you make it to the basin, you’re greeted with a lovely magical creek log crossing, a waterfall, beautiful white rock boulders scattered amongst the basin, a bit of snow up on Mount Cameron, even a bear off in the distance, feeding on berries, wow!! it really was gorgeous and finally felt worth it., but man it was hard and realizing we had to wake up the next day and turn around and go back up through Cameron and grand pass was daunting thought indeed! We slept near the creek where I felt like I was hearing fairy voices through the whole evening, but I slept well! I woke up at 6:30 just as the sun was rising and watched it come across the mountain hillsides, lighting up the various sections of the Cameron pass that sadly we didn’t even make it up to.. saving that for next time, as we didn’t have time since we had to turn around and go back up all that elevation. I almost wondered if it would be easier just to complete the loop at that point, as the out and back might’ve been harder with only 3 days time!
The return from upper Cameron basin to Mooselake was 5 1/2 hours where we were happy to take a quick swim it made it all worth it. The water however, was absolutely freezing, not as warm as it usually is this time of year as (I’ve been out in this area for the past several years around this time and I would say the water was definitely colder this week, perhaps this heat dome is going to warm it up right now?!) our fourth day we decided to sleep in have leisurely breakfast packed slowly and we’re on the trail by noon. We chatted with a couple of nice hikers. One guy talked about foraging and a couple of day hikers were coming down, but then going back up Lillian Ridge for a trail run. it is worth it to note that the track back up at the end of your backpack trip in grand Valley is pretty epic. Give yourself grace chances to drink water have snacks, especially when it’s so hot that climb out from grand Lake to obstruction point is no joke, we made it back to the car in about three hours with a couple quick breaks. I am resting my calves today.

Wildlife sightings: the backside of grand pass towards Cameron, has a vibrant marmot population with big old calico guys as well as tiny pups. Bear sighting at upper Cameron basin out in the distance on the mountainside, also we came across a large adult black bear between Gladys and Moose lake, who likes to gallop (and I think I’ve seen him a few years ago.) He saw us and made his way down towards the lake away from us, no worries.
Deer sightings: by all lakes, and creek camp areas. The flowers are winding down, but are still out, berries do not seem quite ripe yet, but shall be soon.
My advice is even though you feel trained up for a backpack hike. Realize this particular mountainous area in the Olympics is steep, exposed, rugged, dry, and just feels downright hotter than most all other area hikes. You can get dehydrated really fast out here and I caught myself bonking out several times where you definitely need to remember to drink water, eat your snacks. I always had 3 L of water on me and I would drink through them by the end of each day, which is rare for me on any other hike, as I struggle to drink water.
I’ll be looking forward to training again next year in hopes to finally complete The grand - grand pass loop in the future. The verdict is still out for me whether I would go clockwise or counterclockwise, having now climbed up and down upper Cameron basin and the grand pass each way. I wonder if I might’ve just done the hardest part? Also, kudos to the young people that finished the entire Grand 4 loop on this very hot week, as well as the several Marmot monitoring groups we saw heading out there through the Grand Valley. Cheers!