Eagle Lakes: Angel Staircase Tr431
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Overall: 9
Aerobic: 10
Technical: 6
Steepness: 8
Flow: 7
Singletrack: 100%
South of Twisp Washington, the CW Eagle Lakes loop starts on Crater Creek Tr416 to Eagle Lakes Tr431 to Martin Creek Tr429, then uses Angel Staircase Tr1259.32 and Summit Tr1259.3 to loop over to Eagle Lakes Tr431 for the return.
Type
Loop
Length
Avg: 19mi
Ascent
Mt Goat
Elevation Change
TH:4750'
Avg Ascent:6800'
Ascent Incline
13%
Duration
Avg: 3hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
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USFS
Trail
Review
The ride includes several challenging 1mi, 22% climbs.
Crater Creek Tr416, Eagle Lakes Tr431, Martin Creek Tr429 and Foggy Dew Tr417 extend from the base of the this trail system like spokes on a wheel, connected at the top by Summit Tr1259.3 and Angel Staircase Tr1259.32.
Crater Creek Tr416 is a 7mi OAB to Crater Lake, with a 13%, 2400' ascent.
The other great Eagle Lakes area ride is Foggy Dew Tr417 to Cooney Lake.
Due to high elevation, these trails may only be rideable in August.
North of the Eagle Lakes area, hikers can access East Fork Buttermilk Tr420 and Libby Creek Trail 415 in the Sawtooth Wilderness area, from FR43. Black Pine Lake CG is well positioned as a basecamp for exploring Sawtooth Wilderness terrain.
To the west, the Prince Creek campground is accessible by ferry, and offers a great CCW loop hiking trail with Summit Trail 1259, Fish Creek Trail 1248, Indianhead Basin Trail 1250 and Horton Butte Trail 1250.1, returning on Lakeshore Trail 1247.
Mosquitoes are ferocious in this area until August. Feel free to try the natural repellents, and avoid drinking carbonated drinks prior to riding, but Deet 100 may be the only protection from 'the swarm'.
Directions: NW Forest Pass required right at the TH. Eagle Lakes TH: SR153S 14.6mi from Twisp turn right onto Gold Creek Loop Road, then turn right onto Gold Creek Road, which becomes FR4340. Follow the signs for Crater Creek and Eagle Lakes trails. Go 5.5mi then bear left at the Y and follow FR4340-300 2.9mi to the TH. View Larger Map. No Map?.
Loop Directions
heavenly
- TH: Climb Crater Creek Tr416 to Eagle Lakes Tr431.
- 0.7mi: Climb Eagle Lakes Tr431 to Martin Creek Tr429.
- 2.5mi: Climb Martin Creek Tr429 to Cooney Lake.
- 7.2mi: From Cooney Lake climb Tr434 to the ridgeline then descend on Angel Staircase Tr1259.32. Climbing from the lake involves loose, steep, rocky conditions, with an unmarked intersection at the top of the ridge. Go right and maintain elevation. Do not go left into the valley.
- 9.3mi: Go right on Summit Tr1259.3, then go to Boiling Lake junction.
- 11.4mi: Go right and climb Prince Creek Tr1255.1 past Boiling Lake and over Horsehead Pass.
- 12mi: Go on Eagle Lakes Tr431 past Eagle Lakes, back to the TH.
Trail Index
This Ride
Angel Staircase Trail 1259.32, Crater Creek Trail 416, Eagle Lakes Trail 431, Martin Creek Trail 429, Prince Creek Trail 1255.1, Summit Trail 1259.3
Area
Bear Mountain Trail, Blue Buck Trail 421, Buck Mountain Trail, Foggy Dew Trail 417, Foggy Dew Ridge Trail 438, Golden Stairway Trail 354, Lightning Creek Trail 425, Lower Eagle Lake Trail 431B, Martin Lake Trail 429A, Middle Fork Beaver Creek Trail 406, Pearrygin Peak Trail 526, Pipestone Canyon Trail, Safety Harbor Creek Trail 1261, Summer Blossom Trail 1258, Twisp River Trail 440, Uno Peak Trail 1260, Upper Eagle Lake Trail 431A
Wilderness
Bernice Lake Trail 1259.14, East Fork Buttermilk Trail 420, East Fork Prince Creek Trail 1257, Fish Creek Trail 1248, Hoodoo Pass Trail 1259.31, Hoodoo Spur Trail 1255.12, Horton Butte Trail 1250.1, Indianhead Basin Trail 1250, Lakeshore Trail 1247, Libby Creek Trail 415, North Fork Prince Creek Trail 1254, Prince Creek Trail 1255, Summit Trail 1259, Sunrise Lake Trail 417B, Surprise Lake Trail 1249, West Fork Buttermilk Trail 411
Campgrounds
Black Pine Lake Campground, Crater Creek Campground, Cub Lake Campground, Foggy Dew Campground, Miners Basin Campground, Moore Point Campground, Prince Creek Campground, South Navarre Campground, Surprise Lake Campground
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
