Gothic Basin is one of the more spectacular alpine destinations within a short drive of the Puget Sound basin. It can also be one of the most difficult of these getaways to reach. From its start on the deceptively tame Monte Cristo Road, the trail generally follows the route of an aerial tram that ran to mines in the basin early in the 20th century.
- Distance: 9.2 miles, round-trip (out-and-back)
- Elevation:
- High point – 5,200 feet
- Elevation change – 4,800 feet
- Best Season: August-September
Not far up the trail, you understand why the miners didn’t want to haul rock in and out of here on foot. This trail is very steep in places, and from early to midsummer you have to make as many as three potentially tricky snow-gully crossings. Bring the ice ax and dress warmly; it’s not uncommon for snow to linger in the basin until mid-September.
For those who persevere, Gothic Basin, nestled between the craggy peaks of Del Campo (elevation 6,610 feet) and Gothic (elevation 6,213 feet), is a spectacular mix of carved stone and crystal-clear lakes. In season, the basin around Foggy Lake is filled with a rainbow of wildflowers, which sprout amid the healthy display of mining artifacts. Don’t plan on making this a day hike, because you’ll really regret it. And don’t even think about making the climb before late summer. The total elevation gain to Foggy Pass is 2,600
Map Data (.kml & .gpx track logs)
Directions: From Seattle drive 28 miles north on I-5 to Exit 194/City Center/Stevens Pass. Drive six miles east on U.S. 2 to the Highway 9 exit near Snohomish. Follow Highway 9 north to U.S. 92. Turn right and follow U.S. 92 eight miles east to Granite Falls. At the end of town, turn left (north) on the Mountain Loop Highway. Drive 12 miles to the Verlot Public Service Center and another 19.5 miles to Barlow Pass. Parking is on the left side of the highway. Walk 1.2 miles up to Monte Cristo Road to the Gothic Basin trailhead on the right (south) side of the road, just before the bridge over the Sauk River.
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