Paddy-Go-Easy Pass & Sprite Lake

getting there

Take Exit 80 off of I-90 (Roslyn/Salmon la Sac) and drive north on Bullfrog Road. Turn left onto SR-903, drive through Roslyn, and then 16 miles to Salmon la Sac. Take the right fork onto Forest Road 4330 (Cle Elum Valley Road) and drive 9.5 miles. Cross the vehicle ford across Scatter Creek, drive on the Fish Creek Ranger Station and then continue past it to the Paddy-Go-Easy Trailhead on the right (3,400 ft).

on the trail

The trail leaves the roadside meadows and heads into a stand of forest right off the bat. About 0.5 mi up the trail cross a small creek and then start climbing with vigor. Within the next 0.5 mi the trail becomes even steeper, leaving the last big section of forest and entering steep hillside meadows, just over 1 mile from the trailhead. At 2.5 miles the trail splits. Both paths go to the pass. Take either, then come back on the other. Go right to swing out past an old hard-rock mine (Gold? Silver? Not much of either was ever found here.) and a small creek. The trails merge for the final 0.25 mi to the pass.

Paddy-Go-Easy Pass (6,100 ft) is nestled below the 400-foot red-rock cliffs of an unnamed peak. Sprite Lake lies a short distance to the south/southeast.  Follow the ridge south about 0.25 mi before descending to the lake at 6,000 ft.

• Suitable Activities: Day Hiking
• Seasons: July, August, September, October
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous
• Length: 7.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 2,700 ft
• High Point: 6,100 ft

• Land Manager: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests
  Cle Elum Ranger District (OWNF)
• Parking Permit Required: Northwest Forest Pass
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12