Name: Winchester Mountain
Rating: 4.7

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Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The last ~1/4 mile of road leading up the actual trailhead is very rugged and undriveable for most vehicles. It's recommended to park farther down the road and walk the rest of the way to the trailhead. Cars without high clearance and good traction may even have to park at the Yellow Aster Butte Trailhead, about 2.5 miles down the road.

Overview

"If the access road were paved, Winchester Mountain would likely be one of the most popular hikes in the North Cascades. The trail begins between a pair of stunning, mile-high sub-alpine lakes. It switchbacks through blueberry-bursting meadows, past a permanent snowfield to a restored historic lookout in just 1.6 miles."
- Overview by Brandon Fralic, Outdoor Project.

Need to Know

The road to Twin Lakes Trailhead, where this hike begins, is one of the roughest gravel roads in the area. If you don't have a four-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance, you may have to park at the Tomyhoi/Yellow Aster Butte Trailhead and walk the remaining 2.5 miles to Twin Lakes.

Description

This trail starts at Twin Lakes (4x4 access, other cars can park farther down the road). Follow the signs that will point you up the steep trail, making a left turn at the High Pass trail junction. You'll take on a couple dozen switchbacks up a mostly open mountainside that bursts with wildflowers in summer. Enjoy views over the Twin Lakes and Goat Mountain's twin peaks. Once on top, you'll find the Winchester Mountain Lookout, a fire tower that dates to 1935 and is maintained for overnight use. In theory you can bring supplies and spend the night on beds inside the lookout, but it's first-come-first served, so there's no guarantee of finding it unoccupied. Bring a tent as a backup.

The route up Winchester Mountain is easy to find during snow-free conditions. When there is snow (often well into July), that is a different story. You need to use a GPS and have experience in route finding. You may also need crampons and ice axes. You basically follow the snow field up across the switchbacks about a thousand feet. After that, follow the trail as best as possible. You may have to run above the trail due to steep snow fields. Remember: each season will be different, so there is no definitive way to climb this mountain during the snowy season.