Devils Gulch

Devils Gulch Trail #1220 follows a creek drainage through dry-side Ponderosa pine and old-growth forest south of Cashmere in the Wenatchee Mountains. The route shares a well-built network with mountain bikers, and hikers should expect to yield the trail frequently on weekends. Most parties combine it with the Mission Ridge Trail to make a satisfying loop through open ridgeline and forested canyon.

The gulch itself stays shaded and relatively cool through spring and early fall, but temperatures on the exposed upper sections climb fast once summer arrives. Wildflowers show well in May and June. Lewisia tweedyi, a rare endemic, grows on the rocky slopes above the creek. Birding picks up in the old-growth sections, where woodpeckers and warblers work the big Ponderosa bark.

Spring and fall deliver the best conditions. Summer heat makes this route punishing, and the shared surface with bikes means dust hangs in the air on dry days. Snow lingers into late April at higher elevations.