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A view of Thornton Lake on an overcast day. Photo by NPS.
May 28, 2026
We've had an unusually warm spring so far and these sunny days have led to a decreasing snowpack. Rangers are observing snowline closer to 5,000 feet. The snowline may be below or above this elevation depending on factors such as slope aspect and steepness, whether the slope is forested, and whether it lies within an avalanche path.
Be prepared with proper equipment and training if you choose to venture to higher elevations. Watch out for hidden holes and creeks underneath the snow surface, especially on a warm day. Trails at lower elevations are snow-free, but keep in mind that downed logs and washouts are common early in the season before our crew can clear and maintain the trails. Many of our backcountry toilets at higher elevations are still covered in snow, so be prepared to pack out your waste!
Backcountry Permits are required year round for all overnight trips in the park and they help us locate you in an emergency. Be sure to check the weather forecast, trail conditions, and closures beforehand. As always, leave a detailed itinerary with a friend or family member, including the date and time you plan to exit the backcountry.
Keep wildlife alive and well by keeping your distance and storing your scented items properly. When given the opportunity to obtain human food, habituation can occur and result in harm to the animal, even euthanization. Be a part of the prevention, not the problem
Stay up-to-date with road, trail, and camp closures related to wildfire and seasonal winter closures using the helpful links provided. Understand the rules and regulations, including food storage requirements at each camp or cross-country zone, prior to your visit. You can find the backcountry permit process and regulations on the backcountry permit page.
Overnight camping at trailheads in the national park is prohibited. This includes the Eldorado, Boston Basin, and Cascade Pass Trailheads.
Notice: Visit the Road Conditions page for closure updates and up-to-date information on conditions.
The Stehekin area is prone to flooding, which increases in a post-fire environment. Know before you go – visit the Post Fire Safety page for information on what to do in a flash flood and debris flow area. Stehekin Flood Response Update
Current Trail Conditions
Current trail conditions are reported by rangers and trail crew and updated as frequently as possible. Read the "general" condition for each trail when there is no recent update available. E-mail us if you have trail conditions to report.
North Cascades National Park Service Complex is a dynamic, natural environment where events and conditions are unpredictable. There is a possibility that trail and campground closures, environmental conditions (such as snow, high stream crossings, etc.), natural events (such as fires, aggressive animals, etc.), or other NPS management actions may impact your trip.
Ross Dam Trailhead at 2100'
Big Beaver Camp 1600'
Beaver Pass 3654'
Hiker, Stock
5/19- Trail has been cleared of down trees to 39 Mile camp. Be prepared for high water at creek crossings, including the creek close to 39 mi.
General: Trail is generally snow-free in spring.
Little Beaver (Ross Lake to Whatcom Pass)
Ross Lake 1600', Stillwell Camp 2500',
Whatcom Pass 5200'
Hiker only from Little Beaver to Stillwell
2/24/25: The Little Beaver Trail is closed from Little Beaver Camp to the junction with the Big Beaver Trail due to fire damage. Camp closures include Perry Creek and parts of the Little Beaver boat-in camp.
7/24/25: The trail becomes more challenging between the Big Beaver Junction to Twin Rocks. There are numerous large trees to hop over. Beyond Twin Rocks, the trail becomes very challenging or even non-existent for periods in the brush. With a close eye, you can locate old tread in sections, but having navigation devices or apps will be essential. The trail becomes easier to follow at the switchbacks before Whatcom Pass.
Stock animals are not recommended past Twin Rocks camp.
General: The Little Beaver Trail is not regularly maintained and can be challenging to follow.Perry Creek and Redoubt Creek present difficult crossings in early seasons despite foot logs (may or may not be present).
General (2023): Perry Creek Camp signpost is currently off the main trail (a slight reroute), plus old, making it hard to see especially for hikers coming from Big Beaver direction.
Trail Name
Elevation and Trail Type
Reported Conditions
Thunder Creek (Colonial Creek Campground to Park Creek Pass)
Trailhead (Colonial Creek Campground) 1200'
Park Creek Pass 6100'
Hiker, stock
5/22 -Trail is clear of down trees to McAllister camp. General: Ford of Thunder Creek north of Thunder Basin Stock can be high or impassable during spring run-off or after heavy rains. Food canisters required for camping at Thunder Basin Camp. No campfires at Thunder Basin Camp.
Thunder Creek Trail junction 1300'
Fourth of July Pass 3500'
Hiker only
5/24- Trail is clear of down trees to Fourth of July camp.
General: No campfires allowed - please bring a camp stove if camping at Fourth of July Camp. Food canisters highly recommended for camping at Fourth of July Camp.
Trailhead 1800', Panther Camp ~2000'
Fourth of July Pass 3500'
Hiker only
5/25- Panther Creek trail is clear of down trees.
General: Panther Camp was rebuilt and relocated in 2012 and is 3.7 miles from the trailhead (~0.5 miles southwest of the old camp). New bridge built in 2013 over Panther Creek.
Easy Pass / Fisher Creek
Trailhead 3700', Easy Pass 6400'
Hiker only
7/29/25 - The trail below the pass to Cosho is VERY brushy and overgrown in parts, and has several messy trees blocking the trail, sometimes requiring a small scramble over or walk around/under. After Cosho, travel becomes more straightforward. There is one large wash-out just past Cosho and trail itself is missing under heavy rock debris. There are some cairns to direct hikers, however they aren't very obvious in some locations. Having navigation devices would be helpful.
General: Trail towards the pass typically does not become snow-free until end of June or July. No camping at Easy Pass.
Park Creek (Park Creek Pass to Upper Stehekin Valley Trail)
Stehekin River 2300',
Park Creek Pass 6100'
Hiker, stock
No recent update.
General: Park Creek Pass typically does not become snow-free until end of June or July. No camping at Park Creek Pass.
Bridge Creek Trailhead 4600’,
NPS South Boundary 2000’
Hiker, stock
5/27: The temporary suspension bridge over Maple Creek is installed for the season.
A new permanent bridge was installed at North Fork Camp in 2025, the trail is now accessible to stock and hikers.
South of the park, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness (USFS): No current report. Due to hazard trees, it is not safe to camp at Hemlock Camp. Alternative camps include 2.4 miles south of Suiattle Pass (just before entering Sitting Bull Basin), Cedar Camp 2.8 miles north of Hemlock Camp, and 1.9 miles up the South Fork Agnes Creek Trail. The bridge over Agnes Creek at Hemlock Camp is out of service.
General: Bears are common along this drainage. Be vigilant about keeping camps clean and use food storage lockers. Report all bear sightings to rangers at any North Cascades National Park contact station. Aggressive bear activity has been reported in all the camps along the PCT, especially Fireweed and South Fork.
Trailhead at 1700', trail ends at 2000'
Hiker only
No recent report.
Dagger Lake / Twisp Pass
Fireweed 3900', Dagger Lake 5508',
Twisp Pass 6100'
Hiker, stock
No recent report.
General: Backcountry permits required for overnight stays at Stiletto Lake; dogs not permitted.
North Fork
2800' to 4200'
Hiker, stock
No recent report.
General: CrossingGrizzly Creek requires a ford of 3 channels -- all can run high and fast and can be unsafe to ford during early season snowmeltand after large rain events. Trail is often faint and hard to follow in northern-most 2 miles. Grizzly Creek Camp was rebuilt in 2012 south of Grizzly Creek ford. Due to repeated flooding of Grizzly Creek, Grizzly Creek Stock Camp is permanently closed--stock should use Walker Park.
Fireweed 3900', McAlester Pass 6000',
South Pass 6300', Bench Creek 3800’,
Rainbow Bridge 2040’
Hiker, stock
5/10- Rainbow Creek trail is washed out about Rainbow Bridge camp. Be prepared for challenging sections with loose rock and exposed bedrock, trail is not currently stock accessible. Visitors should use caution on this trail while trail crew works to repair damages.
10/30/25: Rainbow Ford and Bench Creek suspension bridges have been removed for the season.
General: Seasonal bridge at Rainbow Ford is removed every fall. Ford may be high or impassable at other times of year.Southern end of this trail passes through the 2010 Rainbow Bridge Fire zone. There may be new downed trees between Rainbow Ford and Rainbow Bridge camps.
General: Food storage canisters are recommended for camping at Heaton Camp -- hanging food can be difficult here. No fires allowed at Heaton Camp.
Stiletto Spur / Stiletto Peak
4000' to ~6100'
Hiker, stock
No recent report.
General: Route-finding required to reach the location of the old fire lookout on a sub-peak of Stiletto Ridge. Trail receives only light maintenance. Trail fades out in meadows at ~6100'.In Stiletto Cross-Country Zone, which includes Stiletto Lake, CAMPING PERMITS REQUIRED - STOVES ONLY, NO FIRES.
Stiletto Spur: Stock parties have a difficult approach to both sides of ford of State Creek. The foot log crossing over State Creek is not recommended for use. Ford can be impassable after large rain/snow events. Stock parties should use Pacific Crest Trail instead.
Trailhead 3000'
Hannegan Pass 5060'
Canadian border 2000'
Hiker, stock
8/7/25- Some of the tent sites at Copper Creek and U.S. Cabin camps are closed due to hazards trees. They are marked with signs. For your safety, do not camp there.
Bear Creek camp is closed due to fire damage (2021)
General: Cable car over the Chilliwack replaced on 10/2019. Trail is passible to stock to US Cabin. Brush Creek/access to Graybeal Camp is currently inaccessible to stock. Pets and hunting are not allowed in the National Park. Trail north of Bear Creek Camp is abandoned and is a difficult bush-whack cross-country route. Little Chilliwack Camp no longer exists due to the changing course of the Chilliwack River.
8/8/25: The trail is in good shape, no water on the trail past Boundary camp except at Egg Lake and Copper Lake. The trail past Copper Lake is overgrown and has sections of fire damage. Route finding and navigation is required in certain areas.
General: In summer, no water between Boundary Camp and the ridge. Water on the ridge is available at Copper and Egg Lakes. No water at Silesia Camp once snows melt--must get water at Egg Lake (1 mile round-trip). Trail can be brushy at low elevations on the north end of the ridge, near the ford of the Chilliwack River and Indian Creek. No reliable water between one mile east of Copper Lake and the Chilliwack River.
Brush Creek (to Whatcom Pass)
Whatcom Pass: 5055'
Hiker, Stock
9/17/25- Brush Creek trail is open to hikers but is not currently stock accessible. Be aware of post fire hazards along the trail.
Graybeal, Graybeal Stock, and Whatcom Camps are closed due to fire damage from 2022-Fire Closures
General: Hard-sided food storage canisters strongly recommended at Whatcom Camp due to limited tree limbs and high animal activity.
Trailhead 3660', Cascade Pass 5400',
Sahale Glacier Camp 7600'
Hiker only. No Pets, No Hunting
05/24- Trail was mostly snow free below the last switchback on the Cascade Pass Trail. Between the last switchback and Cascade Pass snow coverage was about 30%. The travel on the snowy sections was fairly easy but be prepared with proper equipment for areas where snow may be undercut by meltwater or firm and icy sections in the mornings. Be aware of high bear activity in the area, bears with cubs have been seen forading on the road and along the trail.
Basin Creek Bridge has been removed for the 2025 season.
General: Cascade River Road typically does not open to Cascade Pass Trailhead until July 1st- condition dependent.
NO CAMPING at Cascade Pass, Doubtful Lake, and anywhere along the trail. Camping only allowed at designated camps. Trail typically not snow free until mid-July.
Flat Creek Camp is currently closed due to hazard trees.
Upper Stehekin Valley Trail/ Stehekin Road (old road from Bridge Creek Camp to Cottonwood Camp)
Bridge Creek Camp (2200') to Cottonwood Camp(2800')
Hiker, Stock
No recent report
Trail Name
Elevation and Trail Type
Reported Conditions
Boulder Creek
Trailhead 1200', Purple Pass 6900'
Hiker, Stock
Hooter Camp is closed due to the 2024 Pioneer Fire
5/14- Substantial damage on two washed out sections before Hooter Camp, both of which require scrambling/navigating. At the crossing on the largest one, be aware of abrupt drop offs (8-10’) at trail crossing. Trail is not accessible to stock.
General: Lower sections burned in 2010 Rainbow Bridge Fire and the 2014 Lone Mountain Fire; the trail can be dry and dusty. Blowdowns are common on this trail due to past forest fires.
Trailhead 1200', Purple Pass 6900',
War Creek Pass 6500'
Hiker, Stock
5/14- A few down trees remain, but no substantial damage up to the Hazard Creek switchbacks, approximately 2 miles from the pass. Some of the trail bridges sustained damage from winter floods. Creeks can be forded depending on water levels.
Summer: Only water source is at crossing of Purple Creek 2 miles from Stehekin. Very slow-flowing spring near Juanita Lake--the lake is stagnant and not an attractive water source in late season.Campfires are not allowed at Juanita Lake Camp--bring camp stove for cooking.
General: This trail begins on Forest Service land and crosses into the National Park: dogs are not allowed in the national park and backcountry permits are required to stay at Sulphide Creek Camp.
Diablo Lake
Trailhead 1200' - max. 2000'
Hiker only
4/30- Trail has been cleared of down trees from the trailhead to the suspension bridge.
General: This trail is an out and back, not a loop. Once you reach the suspension bridge near Ross Dam, you must turn around and hike back to reach your vehicle at the trailhead.
Trailhead 3700', Hidden Lake: 5700',
Hidden Lake Lookout: 6,700'
Hiker only Pets not allowed in the National Park
No recent report. Hidden Lakes Road is damaged from winter flooding, there is a large washout approximately 2 miles up the road near Sibley Creek.
General: 4WD/AWD/high-clearance highly recommended to reach the trailhead.
Backcountry Camping Permits are required past the saddle and down to Hidden Lake. Reaching Hidden Lake requires traveling over a very challenging and steep boulder field.
Food canisters are required in Hidden Lake Cross Country Zone. Pets and hunting are not allowed beyond the ridge or down to the lake.
4/24 - Trail is snow-free until about 4300 feet, just past the junction with Lookout Mountain. Continuous snow starts at 5000 feet and Monogram Lake is still snow covered.
Lookout Mountain (USFS): Last flowing water source in summer is ~1/2 mile past the trail split to Monogram Lake. A small pool of water is just below the lookout.
General: Pets and hunting are not allowed in National Park. Food canisters are required for camping at Monogram Lake. Backcountry Permits required for camping at Monogram Lake year-round. Look for tent pads and separate cooking areas. Do not camp on the lake shore.
Trailhead at 900'
Sourdough Camp at 5055'
Sourdough Lookout at 5968'
Hiker only
5/26- Sourdough Trail is clear of downed trees up to snowline around 4800 ft. Sourdough creek is running with lots of water, though Sourdough camp is still under snow. Trail was slightly overgrown above the first mile, but still visible.
5/27-Pierce Mountain Camp is still under snow, snowline is around 4900-5000ft. Four large tree blowdowns on trail to navigate. No water sources near trail until snowline. Otherwise trail is in good condition.
General: The ridgeline trail can be difficult to follow. Cairns mark the trail just east of the lookout. East of Pierce Mountain Camp the trail is somewhat difficult to follow due to brush and downed trees. After snowmelt, no water available on Pierce Mountain Trail except from pools at Pierce Mountain Camp which will dry up as the summer progresses. Carry plenty of water if ascending the trail from the junction with Big Beaver Trail.
Hard-sided food canisters are required at Sourdough and Pierce Mountain Camps. Pets and hunting are not allowed past the National Park boundary (about 2 miles from trailhead).
Trailhead 3000', ridge above lake is 5000',
Thornton Lake 4500'
Hiker only
05/23- Trail was mostly snow free until the junction of the Thornton Lakes Trail and the Trappers Route at around 5000 feet. The trail was mostly snow covered beyond this point on the Thornton Trail and going up to Trappers Peak.
Within the first 3.5 miles, down trees were encountered with one presenting a possible challenge for folks carrying larger packs. All trees are passable with the trail being visible beyond. Patchy snow began at 4200 ft becoming more consistent at 4300 ft. Late morning temps lead to soft snow travel with regular post-holing. The trail may be difficult to navigate while still covered in snow; be prepared with a map and/or GPS.
No Camping at Trappers Peak nor by any lakes. Camping only allowed at designated sites at Thornton Lake Camp. Hard-sided food canisters are required.
General: The trail from the ridge to the lakeshore is steeper than most trails and can be very slippery when wet or icy. Crossing the lake outlet requires crossing a logjam, use caution. Not recommended for families with small children.
4/24- Foot bridge has been installed for the season, trail is clear of down trees.
To access trailhead, park along SR 20 or in the large parking lot past the entrance building in Colonial Creek South Campground.
Trail Name
Elevation and Trail Type
Reported Conditions
Bullion Loop Trail
Trailhead 1500'
Hiker, Stock
5/14- Trail has been cleared of down trees.
Company Creek
Trailhead 1200', leaves park at 2500'
Hiker, stock
5/14- There is minor damage to the trail at the U.S. Forest Service Boundary.
General: Must ford Company Creek at 5 mile. Trail is obscure south of Hilgard Pass and difficult to follow due to damage from 2015 Wolverine Fire.
Devore Creek
NPS boundary 2000'
Hiker only
No recent report.
General: Trail south of Ten Mile Pass (to Hilgard Pass) is obscure and difficult to follow due to 2015 Wolverine Fire.
Lakeshore Trail
Elevation 1200'
Hiker, stock
4/8- Trail is open, some areas may be extremely difficult to navigate, especially at creek crossings. Trail is not accessible to stock due to Pioneer Fire damage. Park trail crew is working to reconstruct the NPS portion of the trail following debris flows in winter 2025.
Beginner/intermediate hikers - Consider using the ferry "bump up" to Stehekin from Moore Point. Contact local ferry companies for details on ferry "bump up" processes.
Expert hikers - From Prince Creek to Stehekin plan for a difficult, 8-10 foot steep bedrock ravine crossing at creek crossings.
Visit the Post Fire Safety page for information on how to recreate in a post-fire environment.
General: High rattlesnake activity, particularly on sunny days. Ticks common in spring and early summer. This trail was burned over in 2010 and 2024.
5/5-The footlog at Rainbow Creek is out. There is no stock ford. The Rainbow Loop may be impassable at the creek, depending on water level and ability.
Use the Upper Rainbow Creek Trailhead to access Rainbow Creek Trail above the loop. Use Lower Rainbow Trailhead to access Boulder Creek Trail.
General: Southern end of this trail passes through the 2010 Rainbow Bridge Fire zone. There may be new down trees between Lower Rainbow Loop Trailhead and Rainbow Bridge Camp. Trail from Bench Creek to Stehekin can be dry and dusty.
Stehekin River Trail
Trailhead 1200'
Hiker only
5/14- Trail has been cleared of down trees.
General: In 2015, this trail was used as a fire break for the Wolverine Fire--expect to see many cut trees. Trail often floods during spring snowmelt and high-water events. Trail access is from south end of Stehekin airstrip.
Imus Creek Trail
Trailhead 1200'
Hiker only
5/8 - Trail may be extremely difficult to navigate following post-fire debris flows in winter 2025. Some areas may be impassable depending on ability.
General: Trail gradually climbs through a forest for views of the surrounding hills, peaks, and Lake Chelan. The trail ends at Purple Point Campground or continue 0.2 miles along the road to complete the loop and return to Stehekin Landing
