High Pass

Discover views similar to Winchester Mountain and hike this seldom-traveled trail with views of Mount Larabee and increased chances of encountering wildlife.

The trail to High Pass begins from the Twin Lakes Trailhead. You'll travel the first 0.2 miles uphill on the Winchester Mountain Trail — be on the lookout for the marker for the High Pass Trail fork that leads you off to to the right after the first switchback.

You'll continue to climb gently upward for a few hundred feet before coming to a crest that overlooks the Winchester Creek valley. Descend slightly while enjoying views of Mount Larabee and the Pleiades in the distance. Wildflowers grace the sloping hillside as you listen to the whistling of marmots in the valley below.

The trail clings to the valley's edge as you enter an avalanche chute on the northeast side of Winchester Mountain. At about a mile in you will encounter your first set of switchbacks. Tread carefully; the trail here is steep and narrow and one can easily lose their footing on the loose rocks.

Once past the switchbacks, you'll arrive at Low Pass. Enjoy views of Tomyhoi Peak and Yellow Aster Butte to the west. Walk a few hundred feet up a gentle incline to another set of short but steep switchbacks up a small butte, pausing to enjoy the peek-a-boo views of Mount Baker to the left.

At 1.5 miles in, you emerge on to a relatively flat ridge that will take you the final few hundred feet to High Pass in the shadow of Mount Larabee. You can choose to continue upwards on the trail to Larabee base camp or take the descending trail 0.3 miles to the Gargett Mine.