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East Fork Foss - Necklace Valley

Backcountry Response Team

Wed Jul 15, 2026 8:30 AM — Sat Jul 18, 2026 3:30 PM

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Region

Central Cascades — Stevens Pass - West

Features: Earn Northwest Forest Pass

Crew Leader: Andy James

Jade Lake, our crew's ultimate destination for this trip. Photo by trip reporter Outside Nancy.

Overview

Come clear a popular trail for summer visitors! This crew will remove logs that have fallen on the East Fork Foss River trail from the river crossing upwards to Jade Lake and the Necklace Valley, all within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

About the Area

The East Fork of the Foss River provides a great entry point into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The trail makes a lovely (and popular) spring or early summer day hike or backpack.


The challenging climb into the Necklace Valley rewards hearty hikers with cool alpine lakes named for precious gems. Swim, fish, or camp beside them. Any way you enjoy them, these lakes are a delight. This trail is one leg of the popular but rugged Necklace Valley Loop.

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference!

Project Description

Crews will log out the trail and remove debris near the river crossing as we work up toward Jade Lake.

Camping and Hiking Information

  • Type: Backcountry basecamp
  • Location: 5 Mile Camp
  • Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind and rain
  • Initial hike to camp: 5 miles with 500 feet of gain at a moderate pace while carrying your backpack fully loaded with all provisions including camping gear and food, plus tools provided by WTA.
  • Expected daily hike to project: up to 6 miles roundtrip with 2000 feet of gain at a moderate pace if we make it all the way to Jade Lake.

Schedule

  • Day 1: Meet the crew rain or shine, then hike in, begin work on the project and set up camp
  • Day 2+: Make breakfast and pack a lunch before heading out on trail with the crew by 8:00 AM. Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. Arrive back in camp by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew.
  • Final Day: Break down camp, finish trail project, hike out and say goodbye to the crew at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a challenging backcountry adventure!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

  • A great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need for the project
  • Backpacking gear and food for multiple nights on the trail
  • Good physical condition to hike with a fully-loaded backpack and be physically active for about 8-9 hours daily on uneven terrain 
  • Backpacking experience including ability to run your own camp following Leave No Trace principles
  • Day work party experience recommended
  • Flexibility to adapt to changes due to unpredictable weather or land manager requests
  • Minimum age: 18

What to Bring

Required:

  • Sturdy closed-toe shoes
  • Work gloves
  • Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
  • Long pants

Recommended:

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots
  • Long sleeved shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

In addition to items listed above, bring the following backpacking gear

  • WTA hard hat
  • Work gloves
  • Backpack to carry all of your gear
  • Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad
  • Cooking gear and enough food (plus a little extra) for the entire trip
  • At least two 1-liter water bottles and a way to purify your water
  • Rain jacket and rain pants
  • Extra warm clothing
  • Camp clothing such as shorts, shirt and sandals
  • Sun and bug protection
  • Headlamp and extra batteries
  • Personal items such as medication, hand sanitizer and toiletries
  • ​First aid kit
  • A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own.

More Information

From the Hiking Guide

See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.

This is a preview. Registration will open soon.

Partners

Directions

To get there, from Everett drive east on U.S. Highway 2 toward Stevens Pass. After passing the Skykomish Ranger Station on the left, continue another 0.5 mile and turn right (south) onto Foss River Road (Forest Road 68).The clearly marked parking lot and trailhead will be on your left at 4.2 miles.

Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.

Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.

Required Documentation

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