Day Hike - Sourdough Gap

Meet at 9 AM at the Enumclaw Ranger Station on Roosevelt Ave. (SR 410).

From the Enumclaw Ranger Station we will caravan to the Crystal Lakes trailhead, where we will leave half our cars.  Then we will all get into the other cars  to continue the drive to the trailhead parking lot on the east side of Chinook Pass (north side of the road).  We will hike from there to Sheep Lake, our lunch stop and swimming opportunity.  Then we will continue to Sourdough Gap, where we stop for pictures and then continue to an overlook below Bear Gap for more picture opportunities before heading down to Upper Crystal Lake for a swim and snack break.  Then we continue down to Lower Crystal Lake and then down to SR 410, where we all get into the cars parked there for the drive back to Chinook Pass.  At Chinook Pass everyone will get back into the cars they left the Ranger Station in.  On the drive back we will have an optional stop at the Naches Tavern or Wapiti Woolies or both, depending on the group's food preferences.  Each car parked at Chinook Pass will need to display the Northwest Forest Pass or equivalent.  No pass need be displayed by cars parked at the Crystal Lakes trailhead or the Enumclaw Ranger Station.  This hike requires twice as many cars as an out and back hike, so if you are able to drive, you may be asked to.  Restrooms are located at the Enumclaw Ranger Station the Chinook Pass trailhead parking lot and the restaurants in Greenwater, but not at the Crystal Lakes trailhead.   This hike has 1,000 feet elevation gain going up, but 3,200 feet elevation loss going down.  If your body cannot handle a 3.200 feet elevation loss on a well switchbacked trail, please do not sign up for this hike.  The uphill portion of this hike will be mostly in the open and the downhill portion will be mostly under a forest canopy.