Little Beaver Creek

Heading into the Little Beaver Creek valley offers a number of overnight options. With several camps located along the trail, backpackers can customize their itinerary for just a single night or multiple nights on trail.  

Take the Ross Lake Ferry to the start of the trail. Leaving the shores of Ross Lake behind, the trail begins by ascending through a forest of cedar and fir, generally paralleling Little Beaver Creek. With some ups and downs, you will traverse through some brushy meadows and encounter a few water crossings along the way.

Perry Creek Campground sits at 4.6 miles, offering a nice spot for a break and a snack. Beyond Perry Creek, you will pass through more brushy meadows with a few teaser views of the surrounding mountains. In another 5.8 miles you will reach a junction. Big Beaver Trail branches off to the south, while Little Beaver Trail continues west through the valley.

At 3.6 miles beyond the junction, you will reach Twin Rocks Campground, another nice resting spot before the trail begins to climb more steeply. The section of trail beyond the camp can be quite brushy and overgrown; wear long pants to protect your legs.

As you climb, the views improve. Waterfalls cascade down the cliffs to the south. Glaciated Mount Challenger and Whatcom Peak dominate the southern horizon. Switchbacking steeply, climb through the forest to reach Whatcom Pass. From here, the views of the jagged North Cascades skyline are stunning. Whatcom and Easy Peaks loom large to the south. A short distance beyond the pass, you’ll arrive at Whatcom Campground, a good turnaround point.