Having just hiked the standard route to Ingalls Lake and back the previous weekend, we decided to try the Longs Pass loop hike - down to Ingalls Creek campsite, up to Stuart Pass, following the unmaintained ridge "trail" (disappears on cliffs/steep slopes at times) to the Lake, and back to Esmerelda Basin via Ingalls Pass. (see trail map screenshot from hike below).

Aside from parking issues, beautiful views, flaming larches and other notes extensively covered in other posts for the standard trail, the Longs Creek loop hike is notable for several reasons.

First - let's talk about safety. I'm surprised that the WTA featured description doesn't mention it, but the trail descending from Longs Pass down into the Stuart/Ingalls Creek Basin is very steep and treacherous during the first 50 to 100 feet. A fall would likely result in serious injury, if not a fatality. If you are experienced with scrambling on Class 2 rock, then with care, you will likely be fine, though I recommend having good poles to assist in the descent, or alternatively, stash the polls and very slowly downclimb in a few places. Alternatively, it is often easier to ascend, rather than descend steep sections, so that may be easier. Check the weather to make sure the rock isn't wet, covered by ice or snow - that would make this route a no-go in my opinion.

From Longs Pass, the trail descends more or less straight down to the creek, meandering in and out of forests, and is pretty recognizable. After crossing the creek - we hopped across on rocks rather than using the single log, the trail ascends back up to a couple of forks. We took the left fork up to Stuarts Pass to admire the view north down the Jack Creek drainage with a view of Glacier Peak in the distance.

From Stuarts Pass, there is a boot path visible on some maps, but you'll mostly rely on your route finding abilities and here again, the "trail" - disappearing at times - requires serious focus to avoid injury, scrambling up and down and across cliff bands until reaching the lake. There is a much easier route by simply returning back down the trail to the fork - about .2 miles and taking a right which takes you up to the lake.

Photoblog linked below.

Thanks to all who reestablished the Longs Pass trail through the blowdowns and added switchbacks in the lower section,, your work is very appropriated!! There is no longer any off-trail travel.

A great group of Mountaineers did the attached 11 mile clockwise lollipop with a side trip to Stewart Pass. The only sketchy part of this route is getting around the west side of Ingalls Lake. Between the cairns, GPS, and scratches on the rocks from spikes and crampons, the route was pretty easy to follow. There were a few areas with 4 foot or so ups and downs. Some of our group of hikers needed a hand or to use a butt-belay. It is similar in technical difficulty to the Enchantments loop.I am not real daring, I wouldn't cross this in wet or snowy conditions. The people more comfortable with this travel helped out the less comfortable; my favorite thing about Mountaineers groups is the teamwork and genuine and generous helpfulness. After Lake Ingalls the Gaia map shows two trails to the left; I looked for these but didn't see them. But, going up to Stewart Pass on the Ingalls Creek trail, I did see the northern ends of these bootpaths. At the pass, the bootpath that heads towards Mt Stewart was clear to see (we'll explore this next year).

Did my usual 5-mile, out-and-back jaunt from the trailhead. The maples were brilliant yellow, the soft thrum of the creek accompanied us the whole time and the sky was a brilliant blue. Didn't spot a single rattlesnake, which was a plus since I had dogs with me, and only passed a couple of other hikers during my 2.5 hour ramble.

Beautiful old growth timber and bubbly stream. Not sure why this trail gets low ratings. Its a pleasant easy climb up a picturesque river valley. Lots of sides trails to make loops and summits. Fantastic campsites every half mile or so. If you’ve got the energy you can go all the way to Lake Ingalls which is spectacular!

Great trail for a relaxing ramble. Not too technical. Just a couple of blow downs and only one part that was overgrown enough for me to double check the map to make sure I was going the right way.

It’s a long hike. Burn zones offer great views of the Stuarts along the way. I made it about 15 miles before I decided to call it a day and camp at a horse camp that wasn’t being occupied. I planned on going to Lake Ingalls, but never made it because the mileage was so much more than any of my maps indicated.

It was bow hunting season and I ran into three groups of hunters on horseback, but other than that and two camping groups, I had the entire trail to myself.

As far as wildlife, I saw snake tracks and bear scat, but only actually saw some bird, chipmunks, and squirrels.