Hannegan Pass Trail 674

Start out in second growth forest, which quickly opens to grand views of the Ruth Creek Valley within Mt. Baker Wilderness. The trail grade is fairly level for the first mile and then begins a gentle climb for the next 2.5 miles. In early summer see numerous waterfalls and the occasional avalanche cascade down the steep cliffs of the Mt. Sefrit and the Nooksack Ridge to the south. The white dome of Ruth Mountain appears after the first mile. Open views are almost continuous as the trail only briefly enters small patches of forest. Approximately a half mile below the pass is the turnoff to the right for the Hannegan Camp. To continue to the pass, stay left, as the trail steeply switchbacks through sub-alpine forest.

At Hannegan Pass, encounter a signed junction with Hannegan Peak Trail 674.1, which gains 1,200 feet in one mile to the summit of Hannegan Peak. To the east is an unmaintained mountaineering route leading to Ruth Mountain and Icy Peak. One mile north of Hannegan Pass the trail enters the North Cascades National Park. This is the first leg of the very popular Copper Ridge loop. The trail also accesses Whatcom Pass, Easy Ridge, an extended trip across the North Cascades Picket Range to Ross Lake Reservoir, and other less traveled locations in the North Cascades National Park.

There is one dispersed campsite with a picnic table and fire ring, and a day-use shelter located at the trailhead but no vehicular access to that site due to a washout this is the only site available at this location

At a Glance