Spider Gap - Buck Creek Pass Loop

The Spider Gap - Buck Creek Pass Loop is a 34-mile backcountry circuit through the heart of the Glacier Peak Wilderness, linking some of the finest alpine terrain in the Central Cascades. The route connects Phelps Creek Trail, Spider Meadow, Spider Glacier, Lyman Lakes, Cloudy Pass, the Pacific Crest Trail, and Buck Creek Pass before returning via the Trinity Trailhead. Total elevation gain runs around 7,650 feet with a high point of 7,100 feet at Spider Gap.

Spider Meadow draws weekend backpackers with its wildflower displays and views of the surrounding peaks. The crossing of Spider Glacier requires solid route-finding and can involve steep snow travel well into August. Upper and Lower Lyman Lakes sit in a glacially carved basin with established campsites. From Cloudy Pass, you join the PCT briefly before heading south over Image Lake (a worthwhile 7-mile detour) and down to Buck Creek Pass, where wildflower meadows spread across a broad saddle with Glacier Peak looming above.

Most parties take 3 to 5 days. The counterclockwise direction (Phelps Creek to Spider Gap) puts the glacier crossing early in the trip. A car shuttle between Phelps Creek and Trinity trailheads (or a road walk) is required unless you have two vehicles. The Chiwawa River Road provides access; fire closures affected this area in 2025. Northwest Forest Pass required. Late July through September is the primary window, though snow conditions on Spider Glacier dictate the exact opening each year.