Copper Lake via Copper Ridge Trail - far and long but could do the start of it(edit)

Overview

Snow-capped mountains, river crossings, cable cars, waterfalls, and fire lookouts - this incredible loop within North Cascades National Park has it all! It's best tackled as a 4 day, 3 night backpacking trip traversed counter-clockwise, taking the Chilliwack River branch first before finishing along the Copper Ridge branch.

A suggested 4 day, 3 night backpacking itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Hannegan Trailhead to Copper Creek (7.5 miles)
Hannegan Trail begins as a winding path through a magnificent valley surrounded by peaks and mountain waterfalls. Ruth Mountain comes into view as you pass the turn for Hannegan Campground and continue toward Hannegan Pass. At the next intersection, follow the sign for Chilliwack River and Copper Ridge to cross into the national park. Head back down the other side of the pass and past the turn off for Boundary Camp. Take the turn for the Chilliwack River and head downhill into the forest until you reach Copper Creek campground. There are backcountry campsites on either side of the river.

Day 2: Copper Creek to Indian Creek (7.1 miles)
A flat trail leading past US Cabin backcountry campsite and into stretches of dense brush. Ever taken a cable car across a river? Today's the day! Load your gear into the cable car and pull yourself across to the platform on the other side. The trail eventually crosses the river again with a large wooden bridge before pointing you in the direction of the Indian Creek Shelter. There's river access at the backcountry sites for filling up water.

Day 3: Indian Creek to Copper Lake (8.3 miles)
Continue on the trail and follow the signs for Copper Lake. There's a chilly river crossing that can reach up to your mid-thighs before you start the uphill portion of the hike. The rest of the miles are a series of steep switchbacks that finally open up to views near the top. As late as July there are likely to be snow fields to cross - crampons or microspikes are recommended. Panoramic views await and the trail continues across a valley. A large waterfall blocks the trail near the end of the route - cross with care to pick up the trail on the other side. A few more ups and downs bring you to Copper Lake campground at the shores of a turquoise blue alpine lake. There's even a small peninsula to explore.

Day 4: Copper Lake to Hannegan Trailhead (11.4 miles)
The trail starts off with steep switchbacks taking you above Copper Lake for an incredible view. Next up is a large snow field that leads to the Copper Mountain Fire Lookout. You can't go into the fire tower, but the panoramic views from the top are some of the most stunning of the trip. Wind your way down the other side of the mountain and cross more rolling snow fields towards Egg Lake and Silesia campgrounds. The trail is mostly forested as you head down toward Boundary campground once again. The last big push of the day comes at Hannegan Pass. Work your way up the switchbacks and once you reach the top, it's all downhill back toward Hannegan Campground.

Getting Started

Backcountry permit information can be found at the Backcountry Permit page. Sites can be reserved in advance or through a walk-up reservation day-of. Take a look at all of the available campgrounds in the North Cascades and plan your route by visiting the Wilderness Trip Planner.

The trail begins at Hannegan Campground, a little over a 3 hour drive from the Seattle airport. Take I-5N to WA-9N before turning onto WA-542E and finally onto NF-32. The road ends at Hannegan Campground and there's plenty of parking along the side of the road leading up to the trailhead. This area is actually part of the Mount Baker Wilderness but the trail crosses the boundary into North Cascades National Park for the rest of the trip.

Taking Children

This hike is recommended for relatively experienced backpackers as there is nearly 4,000 feet of elevation gain over the 34 miles of rugged terrain. Portions of the hike include waterfall and deep river crossings as well as traversing ice fields (crampons or microspikes and trekking poles are recommended). Many of the uphill sections are strenuous and follow the cliff's edge.