Cadet Peak

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

47.9854, -121.3487 Map & Directions

Length: 16.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 5,000 feet
Highest Point: 7,186 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty: Hard

A view of Monte Cristo and Kyes Peak from the summit of Cadet. Photo by onehikeaweek. Full-size image

Mountain views
Summits

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass

Hiking Cadet Peak

The route to Cadet Peak is a Class 3 and involves exposed scrambles. Gear and experience are recommended.

Cadet Peak is the second highest peak in the Monte Cristo group, standing at over 7,150 feet in elevation. The route to the summit can be accessed via the popular Glacier Basin trail off of the Mountain Loop Highway. Once you reach the basin and the trails disappears, carins and occasional flagging will help guide the way up the southwestern slopes of the peak.

Cadet Peak

Map & Directions

Trailhead

Co-ordinates: 47.9854, -121.3487 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

Follow the Mountain Loop Highway 31 miles out to the Barlow Pass Trailhead where you park. Then hike or bike the gravel road behind the closed gate up to Monte Cristo where you follow the signs past Dumas St. up to Glacier Basin. Cross the river, since the bridge that once spanned it is washed out, then cross two additional bridges. Glacier Basin is two miles past Monte Cristo.