Leroy Creek High Route

The Leroy Creek High Route is an abandoned trail (1512) that traverses wild, technical terrain between Rock Creek / Carne Mountain and the Phelps Creek drainage in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. The route crosses multiple high passes, descends through Box Creek headwaters, navigates loose scree, and drops through a hazardous cirque before reaching Leroy Creek Falls and the maintained trail below. Tread disappears entirely in several meadow and stream crossing sections, demanding solid routefinding skills.

This is a connector route used primarily by experienced scramblers and peak-baggers accessing Mount Maude, Seven Fingered Jack, South Spectacle Butte, and the Ice Lakes basin. Leroy Basin itself is a spectacular alpine cirque, and the high route links it to the Carne Mountain area without backtracking all the way to the valley floor. Most people combine it with the Carne High Route for multi-day loops through this rugged corner of the wilderness.

The Phelps Creek Road (the most common approach) has rocky sections that benefit from high clearance, though careful driving can get a sedan through when recently graded. The volcanic ash deposits make the lower descent dusty and slippery. Trekking poles or an ice axe are useful for the scree traverses. This is not a route for casual hikers.