This (long) trip report is for the elusive “sourdough loop” that combines Sourdough Mountain, Pierce Mountain, Ross Dam and Diablo Lake Trails.
I will start by saying that I mapped the route out on Gaia and CalTopo, then did some research by reading other trip reports. It also says on the North Cascades National Park website that this loop is indeed possible by finishing the loop with a small trail that leads down beside Diablo Dam to the town of Diablo. THIS IS MOSTLY TRUE. The path does exist, but when I went there were signs saying “no foot traffic” and “road closed”. More on this later.
Began at the trailhead at nearly 7 am on Saturday morning. Not a lot of cars yet. The hike up in the beginning really is as strenuous as everyone says.
It is steep, but eventually the steep switchbacks just become less steep switchbacks.
FOR WATER: camel up at sourdough creek!! It is the only legit water source I remember seeing until getting to Ross/Diablo Lakes aka like 15 miles.
Your best views of Diablo lake are actually below the lookout when you are traversing through the meadow!
From the lookout, I descended down on the Pierce Mountain trail toward Pierce Mountain camp. Finding the trail here is difficult. Follow the cairns, and bring a map, and GPS to find your way. I had two GPS apps going to make sure I was on the right track and I checked them nearly every 5 mins. Gaia isn’t 100 percent correct but it’ll do. CalTopo was nearly exact the whole time. Saw a bear near Pierce Mountain Camp. He ran away as I got closer.
Once off the ridge the trail is overgrown and brushy. The trail becomes much easier to navigate and more “trail like” the closer you get to the Ross Lake NRA boundary.
Eventually you’ll come to the Ross Dam trail, which is in excellent shape and mostly flat. Cross the dam and take a ~1 mile service road walk down to the powerhouse and suspension bridge below Ross Dam. This is the start of the Diablo Lake Trail, which is also pretty easy going.
Once off the Diablo lake trail, to get back to your car (sourdough TH) you must walk along the paved road all the way to Diablo dam. Do not go across the dam, rather stay straight on the road. When I got here it said no foot traffic and road closed, but I didn’t want to hitchhike, and I was under the impression that this loop was completely legal. I don’t condone trespassing but I had just hiked 21 miles and I was ready to be back at the car.
The path you take down to the abandoned town of Diablo is on your left, immediately before approaching the “canyon” on the road, under a power line. This path does not match the location, nor mileage of the path shown on both apps I was using. It’s relatively steep and has several switchbacks. Once in Diablo, continue to the powerhouse, walk past it, and there’s the beginning of the Sourdough Trailhead.
North Cascades website lists this “loop” as 20.5 miles, Gaia Said it would be about 19.
I walked 22.9 miles from start to finish and it took me exactly 10 hours. Total elevation gain would be a minimum of 6600 according to calculations but could very well be closer to 6800.
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