Day Hike - Cispus Pass

Trip

Day Hike - Cispus Pass

#1 of three day-hikes in the Goat Rocks & Mt Adams Wilderness. A steep, strenuous hike that rewards with huckleberries, stunning mountain views and charming Sheep Lake before joining the Pacific Crest Trail and heading to Cispus Pass. Views toward Gilbert Peak & Ives Peak of the Goat Rocks, autumn hues in Cispus Basin and Mt. Adams will make our hard work all worthwhile. READ LEADER’S NOTES BEFORE REGISTERING

  • Very Strenuous
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 13.5 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 3,500 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 6,400 ft
  • Pace: 1.5-2 MPH (overall avg moving pace)
  • Only open to those adequately conditioned & satisfied with 1.5-2.0 mph pace. Leader's permission is required.
  • This trip is NOT for you if your pace is slower or faster than 1.5-2.0 mph. AND, you must have completed a strenuous hike between July-Sept 2025 (strenuous: 10-14 miles and 3500’ elevation gain round trip). Your hike(s) must be recorded on your Mountaineers activity profile or you must provide a GPS track if the hike(s) were not a Mountaineers activity. This is an absolute requirement to join this trip.
  • Preference given to those who stay at Walupt campground (or Packwood) and register for all 3 hikes.
  • Participants are responsible for their own transportation and accommodation arrangements.
  • To the Walupt campground, it is a 3-4 hr drive from the Seattle area or ~1 hr drive from Packwood. From the campground it’s ~1 hr to hike #2 and #3 on Sept 18 & Sept 19
  • Leader will be camping at Walupt Lake campground Tues night through Friday night (16-19 Sept) departing on Saturday Sept 20.  I am in site #6.
  • This September week is the last week this campground is open. Reservations open on a rolling basis. As of 3-16-25, reservations were open for Sept 16. There are also first-come-first-serve campsites. See https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232860

Style of this trip: I am adventurous and curious about places I have not yet visited. Although I have previously hiked in the Goat Rocks Wilderness & Mt Adams Wilderness, I have never hiked these particular trails. For me, safety is a high priority – in this respect, I am a meticulous researcher & planner. I tend to be quiet, but am passionate about the outdoors: views, flora, fauna, earth science and local culture. I love to spend time with others who are curious, prepared, joyful about the outdoors and willingly share their knowledge. I feel the journey & our time together are as important as the destination.

  • 7AM ready to hike, meet at Walupt Campground. Exact meeting location will be provided in Hello Hiker message.
  • Weather – from NWS,  from Windy.com
  • Pass - Northwest Forest Pass or equivalent (btw Discover Pass is not equivalent)
  • Toilet – vault toilet at campground, arrive early enough to use it before we meet.
Route/Place

Cispus Pass



  • Green Trails Goat Rocks William O Douglas Wilderness No. 303S

    Green Trails Walupt Lake No. 335
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials

  • Navigation
  • Headlamp
  • Sun protection
  • First aid
  • Knife
  • Fire
  • Shelter
  • Extra food
  • Extra water
  • Extra clothes
Trip Reports