Upper Mad River Trail
Central CascadesBest Jul–Sep
A backcountry corridor from Maverick Saddle into the Entiat Range's alpine lake country.
About This Trail
The Upper Mad River Trail runs 12.2 miles one-way from Maverick Saddle down into the Mad River drainage, serving as a gateway to some of the Entiat Range's most rewarding alpine country. The trail descends through former burn areas that have opened up expansive views, then follows the Mad River through recovering forest to junctions with the Shetipo Trail and Garland Peak Trail. From those junctions, hikers can access Mad Lake, Blue Creek Meadows (known for lewisia), and a string of high-elevation lakes.
This is primarily a backpacking connector trail rather than a day-hike destination. The one-way distance, point-to-point layout, and rough forest road access make it best suited for multi-day loops that link up with Garland Peak, Larch Lakes, or the Entiat River corridor. Trip reports describe excellent loop options combining the Shetipo Trail, Garland Peak Trail, and Entiat River Trail with a climb of Rampart Mountain along the way.
Forest Road 6101 to the Maverick Saddle trailhead is rough and potholed. A high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended, and 4WD may be needed for some sections. Seasonal closures prohibit stock, mountain bikes, and motorcycles from October through approximately mid-July.
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“We saw in a previous comment that the trail was washed a few miles in and planned to take the Hi Yu trail as a detour.”
Last report: Jul 5, 2026
Scorecard
Very low traffic. The rough road access and long distances keep most hikers away.
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended; water reflection adds glare near the lake
Persistent Hazards
- Rough forest road with deep potholes to trailhead
- Creek crossings that may be difficult in high water
- Seasonal closures for stock/bikes/motos (Oct through mid-July)
Getting There
High-clearance vehicle recommended
From Leavenworth, take Chumstick Highway north 14 miles to Plain, then Chiwawa Loop Road about 4 miles to Thousand Trails Campground. Continue on forest service roads to Maverick Saddle. FR 6101 is rough with potholes -- high-clearance recommended.
Recent Reports
From the end of the Chikamin Ridge Rd, we took the Upper Chikamin Tie Trail to the Upper Mad River Trail, which we followed to the Garland Peak Trail. Found a semi-established site along the Garland Peak Trail on the first bump along the ridge (Pt 6,542).
Decided to give this trail a go in hopes of reaching mad meadows. We saw in a previous comment that the trail was washed a few miles in and planned to take the Hi Yu trail as a detour.
I didn't hike this, just want to share what I learned in a call to the Chelan Ranger Station (sadly, Entiat is closed due to lack of staffing). I asked about access to Upper Mad River Trailhead because USFS page shows Site Closed: https://www.
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