This week, I had the opportunity to stretch the legs a little farther, making a 6.5ish mile loop out of the Squilchuck and Pipeline Trails just outside the resort boundary. This route winds through serene forest and talus, looping around to provide scenic tree-lined vistas to the west, north, and east. With just over 1100 feet of elevation gain, it makes for a great half-day outing if you’re moving at a modest pace.
Departing directly from the Mission Ridge Base Area on the Squilchuck (Lake Clara) Trail, the first stretch of trail is already feeling very much like late spring. The first vibrant red paintbrushes are beginning to show in the sunny spots.
Heading upward, penstemon, Tweedy’s lewisia, and plenty of other early-season flowers are still in the mix as well, adding color to greens and browns of the understory.
The forest is alive right now in that understated way that makes this time of year so enjoyable. A woodpecker took flight from a nearby tree as I walked past, and a little farther up the trail, what I believe was a snowshoe hare hopped away ahead of me. It was already in its brown summer coat, but still showing off those trademark oversized feet as it disappeared back into the brush.
About half a mile in, the path reaches the junction with the Pipeline Trail. This is where the route becomes a lollipop loop (though the lollipop:stick ratio is quite high on this one). I opted to continue straight up the hill and complete the loop clockwise, which means taking on the steeper climbing early and saving the more gradual travel for the return.
Continuing up toward the Lake Clara junction, the trail climbs through forest, rocky openings, and stands of bright spring larch. At the intersection where the Lake Clara spur heads left and the Squilchuck Trail continues right, I took a quick detour to check in on the lake.
The last yellow patches of glacier lilies are still blooming bright in the neighboring meadow, though perhaps not for long if we see more warm days. If you’re hoping to see them near their peak, this is likely the final weekend where they’ll still be a major part of the show at this elevation.
After that quick stop, I backtracked to the main route and continued up the Squilchuck Trail. This section sees less traffic than the Lake Clara approach and feels pretty secluded. The trail winds generally uphill over rolling terrain, moving through mixed larch forest and basalt talus. There are several downed trees along this stretch that have not yet been cleared, so expect to do a little ducking and clambering if you head this way.Â
Eventually, the route crests a small gap into some beautiful northward views toward the rolling foothills and the distant Entiat Mountains before intersecting Beehive Road.
From there, I turned right and followed the gravel road for about a mile toward the upper Devils Gulch Trailhead. The road is usually low-traffic and comes with big views, including a wide look northwest toward the Enchantments.
On the dry, sunny, well-drained slopes overlooking the road, scarlet gilia has taken over the show in vivid red bursts.Â
At the upper Devils Gulch Trailhead, I hung a right onto the Pipeline Trail and began the traverse back toward Mission Ridge. The Pipeline Trail is well-graded and nearly flat, with just the slightest uphill tilt in this direction, making for smooth travel on the homeward leg.
It follows a northeast aspect with more shade, intermittent views into the Squilchuck Creek drainage, and a few glimpses down toward the Columbia.Â
A little over two miles later, the Pipeline Trail meets back up with the Squilchuck/Lake Clara Trail. From there, it’s a left turn and a familiar half-mile descent back to the Mission Ridge parking lot.Â
By the time I got back, my stomach was growling, so I wrapped things up with a glove compartment Clif Bar and a lukewarm seltzer. These got the job done I suppose, but nonetheless here’s my chance to make a shameless plug for the Chair 5 Pub …. starting next week (June 5!), your trip can wrap up with a fresh and satisfying house-made dish instead of a squished granola bar. I’ve had a few chances to try out some of the new menu items, and they do not disappoint. I’m looking forward to good food and good adventures all summer long here on the mountain.
Base Area Forecast
Friday 5/29: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Saturday 5/30: Sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday 5/31: Sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind 5 to 11 mph.
Chair 5 Pub Schedule
The Chair 5 Pub at Mission Ridge opens for the summer on June 5th! Beginning in June, standard hours will be Fridays from 4pm–9pm, Saturdays from 11am–9pm, and Sundays from 9am–2pm. Visit the Operating Calendar to view a full schedule.
No chairlifts will run during the summer season.
Summer Access PolicyÂ
During the summer season (May-October), public access within the Mission Ridge Special Use Permit area is permitted except where restricted due to maintenance and construction. We love seeing the Mission Ridge community in the mountains and on the trails year-round, but please make sure to check out the full access policy by clicking the link below.
