Buckskin Ridge

Follow the trail through wildflower-studded alpine meadows for 4.7 miles until you arrive at Silver Lake. When in season, Indian paintbrush, yellow aster, lupine, and many other flowers bob their heads alongside babbling brooks. If you visit in fall, golden larches add their luster to the landscape.

Past Silver Lake, the trail dips down to 5800 feet and then climbs up to Silver Pass along the east flanks of Pasayten Peak. From here, the trail becomes difficult for stock and is primitive as it continues to climb, traversing the west side of Buckskin Ridge. Exercise caution along this section of trail.

After rounding the west side of a high knob, begin climbing to a high point of 7300 feet before heading down to Buckskin Lake, 3.1 miles from Silver Pass. This long lake makes a lovely backcountry campsite or just a quick place for a dip before continuing on downhill 5.7 miles to reach the Pasayten River. The first mile of trail past Buckskin Lake is primitive, but the rest of the route to the river is an easy enough trail.

From here, it’s possible to proceed another 1.3 miles along the trail through the valley to a junction with the Tattoosh Buttes Trail and the West Fork Pasayten trail, both of which offer many more miles of roaming in this wild country.

This trail is part of WTA's Lost Trails Campaign. Learn more about how we're saving lost trails across the state here.