North Cascades National Park: Copper Ridge Aug.18/19
 

Paul and I discussed hiking to Copper Ridge, and discussed other destinations. We settled on this one. Basically it is 7 km from the trail head to Hannegan Pass, and another 7 km further on the Copper Ridge Trail we hiked to. From the pass it descends around 200 meters elevation, and then turns up after taking the left fork of a trail junction.Plenty or giant mushrooms seen along this trail and up into the top of Copper Ridge..Day was warm, sunny, with pleasant cool winds on the ridge top. We had a nice breeze heading back as well.

Stopped at the register where I had signed us in. We started hiking 8:40 am and returned to the car 5:15 pm, taking 1/2 hour lunch. Checking the list 23 groups had started up after we did.

Stats: Low pt 950 meters, hi point 1770 meters.. net estimated elevation gain based on 200 meter drop and recovery into the basin below the pass; close to 1200 meters. 28 km return. Hiking time; 2 hours to the Pass from the TH, and 2-1/2 hours to our lunch spot. 1 hour 50 minutes to return to pass, and then 1 hour 30 minutes to return to the Trailhead. not including breaks, close to 8 hours actual hiking time.

This one taken from a website shows the ridge in foreground we had our lunch before we headed back.
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Parking along access road, road washed out just 50 to 200 meters before the trailhead:
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Trail head INFO SIGN:
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Nice views heading up Hannegan Valley, nice moderate to gentle grade until 2 km before Hannegan Pass.
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Before trail forks, right fork takes you to a good tenting area with good water source.
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Hannegan Pass, great place to rest up and enjoy views.
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Then take middle fork from pass which takes us to the Copper Ridge Trail.
Photos from here tell story of our hike towards and on Copper Ridge.
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At this spot, trail forks... left go Copper Ridge Trail, right go Pacific Crest ? Also a bear cache for storage here.
*It looks like garbage box and is not *
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Giant Mushrooms, and found plenty along this trail and up on the first bump on the open ridge.
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Great.....Forest Trail and getting some views..
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Our Lunch spot with plenty of good views....
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Heaading back........
Ridge to our north, west
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Looking back on trail we have returned so far...
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There was some pretty flowers in a small area, sidehill on our return
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Dry exposed ravine area...
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There are areas of mature climax old forests; big trees.
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Hannegan Valley.. & Mount Ruth, looking back
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Air Photo google showing hiking area.............
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ALL TRAILS TOPOG MAPS:

1. Full Trail, Hannegan Pass TH to Copper Ridge Trail - Egg Lake
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2. Hannegan Pass to Egg Lake section.
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Nice Karl. I plus my small band of fellow backpackers are going up that way for 6 days to tackle the Copper Ridge Loop plus Tapto Lakes basin and subsequent climb of Red Mountain if all goes well. Was wondering about the overnight parking situation there? Seems it could be a bit of a problem possibly now for overnighting? Well 5 nights of overnighting?

The Parking Lot is isolated (cut off) from the road due to a wide and deep washout, so now everyone parks along the road. Just before the washout, road has been widened, so some side parking spots could be cleared for use.


K

Guessing a Northwest parking pass is still required there even though there's not a parking lot any longer?

That looks like a great hike, could probably go up Hannegan Peak on the way back and make it a loop?

Hi Sidetrip, yes the parking pass is still required.

Yes Martin, Hannegan Peak would be a good part of the loop on the way back; add another 1-1/2 hours return to include it, if no breaks taken.

K

Thanks Karl