North Cascades National Park

Company Creek to Glacier Peak Wilderness

moderate Solitude SeekersStrong HikersPeak Views
1.8 mi Distance
1,500 ft Elevation Gain
Varies Estimated Time
one_way Trail Type

What to Expect

This trail doesn't waste your time with a gentle warm-up. From the moment you leave the trailhead near Stehekin, you're climbing — and climbing hard. Nearly fifteen hundred feet of elevation gain packed into under two miles means your calves will be filing a formal complaint before you're halfway up. The route pushes through dense Pacific Northwest forest, the kind where the canopy is so thick the trail stays cool and damp even on hot days. As you gain elevation, the trees thin and the Stehekin Valley opens up below you in dramatic fashion. Push into the Glacier Peak Wilderness boundary and you'll be rewarded with views of Bonanza Peak — Washington's tallest non-volcanic summit — looming across the valley like a wall of rock and ice. This one's built for hikers who prefer their rewards earned, not given.
Solitude SeekersStrong HikersPeak ViewsWilderness Access

Safety Advisory

The steep grade on loose soil can be slippery when wet, and the descent is harder than the climb — take your time on the way down.

This trail sees very little foot traffic, so let someone know your plans. Cell service is nonexistent in the Stehekin Valley.

Trail Details

Distance 1.8 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain 1,500 ft
Difficulty moderate
Estimated Time Varies
Trail Type one_way
Pets Not allowed
Season Year-round
Trailhead Company Creek to Glacier Peak Wilderness

Pro Tips

Trail Tip

Access is via Stehekin, which means you're either taking the Lady of the Lake ferry from Chelan or flying in — plan your shuttle timing around the trail, not the other way around.

Trail Tip

Trekking poles are close to mandatory here. The grade is relentless and the descent will punish your knees without them, especially if the trail is damp.

Trail Tip

For the best views of Bonanza Peak, push past the wilderness boundary sign by another ten minutes — the viewpoint opens up significantly once you clear the last stand of subalpine fir.

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10 campgrounds, 103 trails, 16K annual visitors

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