Bottom Line:
Agnus Gorge is a spectacular gorge in Glacier Peak Wilderness accessed from North Cascades National Park at High Bridge, about 13 miles up Stehekin valley from the landing; the flowers, colorful mosses, everchanging forest and emerald Agnus creek waters are stunning; exercise caution on the footpath down to a break in the gorge, as the water is cold and fastmoving, and being swept into the gorge would not be survivable.
Stats:
- Distance: 6-1/4 miles
- Duration: 2-1/2 hours
- Vertical: 750 feet
- Weather: Mix of sun and cloud with building thunderstorms, sprinkles and lightening; no wind; 80F
- Road/Parking: The trailhead is at High Bridge at the end of Stehekin Valley Rd; there are shuttles from Stehekin landing ($10 one way, can pay on the bus, credit cards only), parking for cabin renters that have vehicles and anywhere ditching of electric bikes from the rental shop near the landing; the road is in excellent condition, with nary a pothole, and incredible mountain, meadows and Stehekin river views; there is an emergency phone at a ranger station if you miss the shuttle; High Bridge is right at the boundary between the Lake Chelan Recreation Area and North Cascades National Park and was much more beautiful than expected with story boards, and maps to various nearby trailheads
- Trail: The trailhead proper is across High Bridge and a short way up the road and around a corner; you will first pass the Agnus Creek Trail/PCT; the Agnus Gorge Trail is the second (marked) exit on the left of the road; more electric bikes parked at this trailhead; the trail is in excellent condition with only a single down tree, and a few puddles / streams to cross; nightly thunderstorms have kept the forest wet, and with the overgrown thimbleberry along the trail, our legs got quite wet; the trail traverses dry and wet areas with the rain shadow effects, with trees thus ranging from pine, to aspens (some of the largest I have ever seen) to huge cedars; there is a distant view of the gorge before you descend right down to the river to a spectacular chasm with emerald white water and additional waterfalls cascading down the sides of the gorge itself (see video, as pictures so not do it justice); CAUTION: while the trail is generally easy and family-friendly, water danger exist at the destination where one slip into the gorge would mean certain death despite the beauty; the trail starts in North Cascades National Park, with a well-signed transition into the Glacier Peak Wilderness (see video); on the return, we hiked another couple of miles from High Bridge to Stehekin Valley Ranch along the river (not included in mileage stats) - this is a beautiful section of road with virtually no traffic and wildlife viewing opportunities
- Flowers: A good variety of flowers if not any areas of dense growth, from paintbrush, to columbine, giant clover, tiger lilies and fleabane; transitions from dry grassy areas to wetter areas with streams, prolific thimbleberry and devil's club; at bit of everything on this trail! :)
- Takeaway: A breathtaking gorge that is not entirely visible from a safe vantage, but can be explored a bit along the edge of the creek with slow and sure steps given the obvious danger
The attached video will take time to prepare, upload and covert to 4K; it provides a better sense of the gorge area than pictures
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