A beautiful and popular place to hike and camp. I wanted to camp overnight at least one night up near the Sahale glacier. Last year I couldn't get a permit for the time I had free. This year I had more time to adapt to the logistics of getting a permit.
Day 1
I arrived at the Marblemount Wilderness Information Center on a Sunday around 7:15 am. There were about 20 people waiting spread out in the parking lot with their wait numbers. After a 45 min wait I asked for a permit to camp overnight at Sahale. Nothing was available for this day. Was able to get a camp at Johannesburg the next day on Monday, Pelton Basin on Tuesday, and then Sahale on Wednesday.
Looking for a place to camp for today I went up to the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center on Hwy 20 near Newhalem. Early afternoon on a Sunday made it possible to find some open campsites in the campground loops. If an empty site had a green sign on it saying "Open" it was free for the taking that night.
Day 2 -Johannesburg camp
Headed back down Hwy 20 and up the Cascade River Road to my first permitted campsite, Johannesburg. Along the way I checked out Marble Creek and Mineral Park campgrounds. Nice but both full and reserved on a Monday.
Arrived at the Cascade Pass trailhead parking lot around noon. It was nearly full. The lot is in an open space with great views of the surrounding mountains. There is a restroom but no water at the trailhead or the campground. If you didn't bring your own there are some streams down the road to get water.
At first I couldn't find the Johannesburg campsite. There are no directions for it at the main trailhead sign. To find it go left from the trailhead sign not far down the parking lot. On the right there is a small camp signpost about 2 ft high in the brush just off the parking lot. There you will find a trail to the tent sites. It's not far, about a 3 min walk to the first site. There are about 5-7 sites that I could see. They were in the trees which was a relief since it was a very hot day. The sites are basic and adequate for one night of car camping. If it's clear the parking lot is a great spot for star gazing.
Day 3 - Pelton Basin camp
Headed up to Cascade Pass and Pelton Basin starting around 7 am. The previous days had been very hot and it was nice that the the trail was going to be in the shade all morning. Lots of switchbacks but a very smooth trail with a gentle grade up. At Cascade Pass the trail goes left and then splits with the left trail going to Sahale and the main trail Stehekin going straight. There were no signs for the Pelton Basin camp but you will find it in .5 miles were it turns off to the right. There it looked like there were about 6 sites, nice and mostly in the trees. There is a bear box and a composting toilet. An H20 sign points you to a trail down to Pelton Creek, a very nice place to hang out, cool off and enjoy the views.
Day 4 - Sahale camp
From the Pelton Basin camp the trail heads back toward Cascade Pass to the Sahale trail marked with a signpost. It is 2.2 miles from Cascade Pass to Sahale Glacier with about 2200 ft of elevation gain. The first part is steep, then things level out more gently going up the Sahale arm with beautiful views all around and Doubtful Lake down below. Saw marmots and ptarmigan along the way. The final push is the hardest getting steep and rocky. At one point the trail crosses a boulder field. Just follow the cairns to catch the trail again on the other side.
The Sahale camp area is an amazing place at the base of the Sahale glacier. The campsites are obviously marked surrounded by piled stones as windbreaks. The views are superb and well worth the effort getting here. Water is available from streams flowing out of the melting glacier. There is no shade so wear sun protection. Everyone should do this trip at least once.
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