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Trip Report

Gothic Basin — Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
Waterfall near the trail

Timing:

  • Start Time: 9:30am
  • Reached Upper Basin: Noon
  • Rested for around an hour.
  • Returned to Vehicle: 3:30pm

We hiked relatively quickly going up.

Water:

  • There are a good number of streams across the trail, including waterfalls at different points, if you want to filter water. Plenty of water to filter up top.

Camping / backpacking:

  • Great area for camping + backpacking! We got there at noon on Saturday (just doing a day hike), and there were plenty of spots open all over the upper basin (main destination, the spot you hit before foggy lake).

Parking:

  • We parked on the Mountain Loop Highway road before the Barlow Pass Trailhead parking and the Gothic Basin trail. Plenty of other cars parked here. We had a pass, but others didn't - I don't think it's needed when parking on the side of the road.

Berries:

  • Thimbleberries on trail, especially at the very start.

Very pretty hike! We did not get a chance to linger at the upper basin, but from a prior trip I know there's an old mine tunnel that goes into the mountainside near a waterfall up at the basin. Lots to explore at the top!

Gothic upper basin
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