Mount Bonaparte Circumnavigation

Mount Bonaparte stands as the tallest peak in the Okanogan Highlands at 7,250 feet, and this 16-mile loop circles the entire mountain with a summit visit included. The route strings together five numbered trails: Fourth of July Ridge, Cabin, Antoine, Bonaparte, and Southside. It follows an alternate section of the Pacific Northwest Trail and passes through old-growth western larch forest, historic cabin ruins, and a fire lookout tower with views that stretch across the highlands in every direction.

Water planning matters here. Antoine Creek has a sturdy bridge crossing, and Lightning Spring provides the first reliable water after the Antoine Creek drainage, but long dry stretches separate them. The Napol Cabin wreck and reportedly habitable Roggow Cabin add character to the route, and established campsites make this work as an overnight trip for those who want to slow down and explore.

The Okanogan Highlands feel different from the Cascades or the Selkirks. The country is drier, more open, with ponderosa pine and larch dominating the slopes. Wildfire has shaped this landscape repeatedly, and the forest shows it. The summit lookout tower (alongside a historic lookout cabin) delivers a panorama that earns the day's effort. From Tonasket, the trailhead sits about 20 miles northeast on forest roads that are generally well-maintained. A Northwest Forest Pass is required.