Cutthroat Pass Tr483
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Overall: 6
Aerobic: 7
Technical: 7
Steepness: 7
Flow: 5
Singletrack: 100%
West of Winthrop Washington, the Cutthroat Pass Trail ascends Cutthroat Creek, to meet the Pacific Crest Tr2000 at Cutthroat Pass.
Type
OAB
Length
Avg: 11.5mi
Ascent
Moderate
Elevation Change
TH:4500'
Avg Ascent:2650'
Ascent Incline
10%
Duration
Avg: 3hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
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USFS
Trail
Review
If just riding 1.7mi to the lake then this would be a short, easy trail. Expect to share the trail with families, requiring moderate speed and some riding courtesy on the way to and from the lake.
The trail crosses a bridge over Cutthroat Creek and begins a gentle uphill climb to a trail junction at 1.7mi. The left trail continues .25mi to the lake.
From the lake junction the trail gains 1900' in the next 3.8mi to the pass where it meets the PCT. The 10% grade may be too relentless for intermediate riders and the ride distance is a little short to be a destination ride, but those seeking a steep climbing challenge will get what they came for, and might even see a mountain goat near Cutthroat Pass.
Hiking options: There are several moderate-distance hikes in the area, the shortest of which is Lone Fir Tr535, from the Lone Fir CG.
The 4.4mi (1100' ascent) Blue Lake Tr314 OAB is a challenging, short hike through big timber to the scenic, deep turquoise, Blue Lake. There are some side trails to Liberty Bell Mountain, not drawn on the map.
The 5.5mi (2900' ascent) Maple Pass Tr740 CCW Loop ascends past an avalanche meadow, Lake Ann and Heather Pass before turning south on a Frisco Mountain ridgeline (above the treeline), then descending along a ridgeline above Rainy Lake and back to the Rainy Lake TH.
At Heather Pass there is an unmaintained trail leading to Lewis lake.
Directions: NW Forest Pass required right at the TH. SR20W for 26mi from Winthrop (1.5mi west of Lone Fir Campground). Turn right on FR400 and go for 1mi to the TH. View Larger Map. No Map?.
OAB Directions
cutthroat switchbacks
- TH: Cross Cutthroat Creek and ascend the easy but technical terrain to the 1.5mi Cutthroat Lake intersection. Venture out to the lake and back.
- 1.5mi: Cross Cutthroat Creek tributaries, then grind the relentless switchbacks to Cutthroat Pass.
- 5.7mi: Turn around at the Pacific Crest Tr2000 intersection and enjoy the technical switchback ride to the lake intersection and the easy terrain back to the TH.
Trail Index
This Ride
Cutthroat Pass Trail 483
Area
Bear Mountain Trail, Blue Buck Trail 421, Buck Mountain Trail, Cedar Creek Trail 476, Early Winters Trail 522, Golden Stairway Trail 354, Lightning Creek Trail 425, Middle Fork Beaver Creek Trail 406, Pearrygin Peak Trail 526, Pipestone Canyon Trail, Sun Mountain Trails, Twisp River Trail 440, West Fork Methow River Trail 480
Wilderness
Blue Lake Trail 314, Copper Pass Trail 426, Driveway Butte Trail 481, Lake Ann Trail 740.1, Lone Fir Trail 535, Maple Pass Trail 740, North Creek Trail 413, Rainy Lake Trail 310, Twisp Pass Trail 432, Wolf Creek Trail 527
XC Ski
Aqua Loop Trail, Beaver Pond Trail, Black Bear Trail, Bluejay Trail, Cabin Trail, Chickadee Trail, Criss Cross Trail, Fox Trail, Horse Trail, Inside Passage Trail, Kraule Trail, Lakeview Trail, Magpie Trail, Meadowlark Trail, Moose Trail, Little Wolf Trail, Overland Trail, Patterson Lake Trail, Pine Forest Trail, Rader Creek Trail, Raven Trail, Rodeo Trail, Sunnyside Trail, View Ridge Trail, Wolf Creek Trail, Yellowjacket Trail
Trail Rankings
Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.
- Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
- Aerobic: Ascent challenge
- Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
- Steepness: Average incline
- Flow: Uninterrupted riding
- Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
- Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge
