Dishpan Gap

Dishpan Gap is one of those places that rewards the patient hiker. The first few miles from the North Fork Skykomish Trailhead wind through old growth forest along the river, quiet and shaded. Around mile 3.5 you hit the Pass Creek junction, and from there the trail steepens through switchbacks before breaking into subalpine meadows that open up to views of the surrounding Cascade peaks. The gap itself sits at roughly 5,600 feet where the trail intersects the Pacific Crest Trail.

What makes this area special is the network of trails it connects. You can loop through via Pass Creek, continue north on the PCT to Lake Sally Ann, or extend south toward Cady Ridge and Meander Meadow. Most backpackers spend two or three nights exploring the various loops and side trips. In late summer, the blueberry and huckleberry patches along the upper meadows are legendary. Trip reports consistently mention stopping to graze.

The access road off Beckler River Road is rough past the Blanca Lake turnoff but passable for most vehicles if you take it slow. A Northwest Forest Pass is required. Bring a Green Trails Monte Cristo map; the trail network here is extensive and junctions are not always well signed.