Little Giant Pass
Shortest (but not easy) portal to the fabled Napeequa Valley
Quick Facts:
Location: Chiwawa River Valley
Round Trip: 10.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 4100 feet
Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, https://www.fs.usda.gov/okawen/
Detailed Information: Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books)
Notes: Wilderness Rules in effect; Chiwawa River must be forded—dangerous in high water
Green Trails Map: Holden no. 113
Access: From Coles Corner on US 2 head north on State Route 207 (signed for Lake Wenatchee) and proceed 4.2 miles to a Y intersection after crossing the Wenatchee River. Bear right onto the Chiwawa Loop Road and after 1.3 miles turn left onto the Chiwawa River Road (Forest Road 62). Proceed for 19.0 miles (the last seven rough) to the trailhead.
Good to Know: wildflowers, difficult river ford, exceptional autumn colors, Glacier Peak Wilderness
From this notch of a pass high in the Chiwawa Mountains, stand mesmerized by the mystifying and alluring Napeequa Valley. Savor a classic view of the wild Napeequa River, slithering and shining in a classic U-shaped valley carpeted in vivid greenery and flanked by ice and rock.
This hike is a classic (actually one of my 100 Classic Hikes in Washington), but not easy. The first challenge is encountered immediately at the trailhead with a ford of the Chiwawa River; which can only be safely forded in late summer or early autumn when water levels run low. Even then it’s still cold and the current swift, so proceed with caution. If it looks scary, head instead to a nearby trail.
Once safely across, ditch your river-crossing shoes and locate the trail traversing a grove of mature cottonwoods. The trail, once an old sheep drive, enters the Glacier Peak Wilderness and parallels Maple Creek for a short distance before crossing its wide gravelly wash. After a gentle climb the way ascends steeply rounding a ridge for the Little Giant Creek valley. The way then drops to cross (can be tricky) a branch of Little Giant Creek before ascending steep slopes and a large avalanche slope.
Now work your way up steep sun kissed ledges before traversing heather and blueberry meadows cut by gently gurgling rivulets. Your toil now finally validated, the way continues up an open knoll offering superb viewing north to the fortress of peaks at the head of the Chiwawa Valley.
After one last steep grunt the trail makes a long switchback through sweeping alpine meadows to the 6409-foot pass on Chiwawa Ridge. Now climb the small knoll just to the north of the pass and behold the unveiling of one of the most stunning views this side of the Continental Divide. Stare straight down to the snaking Napeequa (which means white water) River slithering through verdant meadows beneath towering peaks topped in ice that glisten in the sun. Cat-eared Clark, snowy Glacier, rocky-fortress Buck and scores of lesser-but-just-as-impressive peaks will keep you mesmerized and captivated all afternoon long.
The trail continues into the magical valley below; but the added distance, elevation change and degree of difficulty of the path (rarely maintained and exposed in spots) puts it squarely into the hardcore backpacker’s camp.
For more details on this hike and many other amazing hikes in the Chiwawa River Valley, pick up a copy of my best selling Day Hiking Central Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books).
